Wellies Off

What you need

• their wellies

How to do it

1. After a stomp in the garden or along the path, come in and sit them down on the mat.
2. Hold the welly by the heel and let them pull their foot back out of it.
3. Let them have a go at the second one with less help.
4. Stand the wellies together by the door.

Why it matters

A welly has no fastening and comes off in one pull, so it's the shoe a toddler is most likely to manage, and the one where pulling their foot out works as well as pulling the boot off.

What they're learning

Pull strength

Pulling a foot out of a snug boot uses the whole leg, not just the hands.

Sitting steady

Staying upright while one leg pulls hard is proper trunk work.

Finishing the job

A boot that comes off in one go is a very clear win.

What to look for

Watch for them bracing with their other foot on the floor. That's them solving the balance part themselves.

A tip

Wellies are the easiest shoe to learn on. If shoes are a battle, come home in wellies for a week and start there.

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