Helping kids snap their own jeans?

My 5 & 8 yr olds and even my 11 yr old have issues with that. They just dont have the hand and finger strength to snap them. Does not help that they are all small for their age as well. I have used a few things that seem to help.

One is pencil lead, aka graphite It helsp make them slide together easier jsut make sure that after you snap them a few times, that you look for any marks, or else dont let your son wear a light shirt with them (lite colored shirts here are a rare thing, esp for my younger boys as they show way too much dirt and stains...Boys will be boys!!)

I have also used babyoil on them. I put it on it and then snap it and pull apart 2-3 times and then wipe any excess away and it works really well. I often will do that to the pants they will wear the night before since I had the oil out when I change them and get them diapered for bed. And then in the morning they snap pretty easy for them.

WD40 works but makes a bigger mess!!!

I have gone to elastic waists when possible or even a button and draw strings as those are easier for them. And the other problem with snaps is sometimes when they are roughing around and such, (the boys) the snaps will pop open. Normally its not a big deal because the zipper will keep them from falling too fast but it can be an issue, Esp when they sometimes are in pullups and such for school and they dont want firneds or schoolmates to find out....

Also sweat pants are an in thing, and the ones with lots of pockets work well but the Jeans with eleastic waists seem toe be the best. Those and the gym pants that have snaps ont eh sides. My boys love them, even got some jeans like that for some of the older ones.

Hope this helps you out.

My son has problems with them still too. Here are a few things I have tried and some work better than others I think depending on the snap. But I try to buy him elastic waste stuff more often now or even with a button. He is small and slender so its kinda hard to get him the right size because of it.

Wax, like from a candle. Rub it on the inside and outside of the snap and that will help them slide better. but they also seem to stick more when you try to pop them off.

pencil lead. A friend suggested this to me and it works really well. its my 2nd favorite.

baby oil. works wonders!! I do it a few times to a pair of his jeans that snap or the like and they are good for a while, even after a wash normally. I just do use the oil on them all at once. I take and sent out his regular ones and then one night after his bath and I have gotten him changed and ready for bed, I will put some oil on them then, since I already have it out, and it seems to work the best yet! One of the ladles in my foster care support group suggested it to me for this and for zippers that sometimes like jam. Like on snowpants and sleepers, and it helps them a lot too.

Try rubbing a dry bar of soap (or a sliver of soap) around the snap. Wax will work too (a birthday candle is the perfect size). I tried it with my own kindergarten son's jeans and it seemed to work quite well. If you come up with anything else, please let me know.