Getting up seems hard enough; dressing up your daughter for kindergarten seems like a cruel and unusual punishment. Here is an article that will help get you through this.
Steps
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Pick out her favorite shirt. She always has a favorite shirt you hate– bless the stars and let her have it. You can always let her wear another one on it if it's cold.
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Ask her what she wants to wear. Her favorite shirt is in the laundry – don't panic. What is today's topic? Does she want animals? The color purple? Maybe she wants a red ribbon like her friend Lisa?
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Pick out a shirt if her other shirts are dirty or she can't wear them. The purple dinosaur with the red ribbon shirt is in the laundry, got it – don't bribe yet. Try reason, tell her about the wonderful day she is going to have today, the new story the kindergarten teacher is going to tell, her favorite toy in the kindergarten is waiting just for her. Emphasise how everyone is waiting for her, so she needs to hurry.
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Play the "mommy twin" game. Ask her if she wants to be your twin today. Be sure to check before if you have a matching outfit. Kids tend to be specific so don't be satisfied with colors only.
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Try the "racing to get ready" game. Tell her daddy is almost winning, he has his pants on, but she can still beat him, all she needs is to put on her clothes fast.
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Let her father try. If Daddy is ready and she is still in her pajamas, don't despair. Sometimes the dad can succeed.
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Take her shopping one day for her favorite shirts. She asks for mommy. Don't cry but remember to order online 365 purple dinosaur with red ribbon shirts after she leaves.
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Hug her. Tell her you love her more than anything in the world and she is the best daughter ever, can she be a good girl and dress for mommy?
Tips
- Always hold multiple bribes.
- Alternate version of "racing to get ready" - Use a stopwatch (a "real" one or the one in your cell phone if it has this feature) to race against the clock to get dressed. If it works and the child happily gets dressed, you can use a write on/wipe off board, chalkboard, or piece of paper to keep a running tally throughout the week of his/her "time" each day, giving a small present at the end of the week if he/she "beat the clock" a certain number of days (say, less than 2 minutes). Don't forget to cheer him/her on!
- Give the bribe only after she is dressed.
Warnings
- Don't threaten to leave her alone while you go to work – she will never buy into it. In fact threatening always makes you feel bad, so just avoid it.