Behavior Modification Using Shaping Technique to Improve Self-Care Skills (Independent Dressing) in Children with Down Syndrome

Abstract

Self-care skills are one of the adaptive abilities that children with Down syndrome need to master in order to achieve independence in daily life. One important self-care skill is dressing independently. However, many children with Down syndrome experience delays in adaptive behavior due to cognitive limitations, muscle hypotonia, and difficulties in sequencing activities. One behavioral intervention that has been widely applied to improve adaptive skills is the shaping technique, which is based on behavior modification principles. This technique develops complex behaviors by reinforcing every small improvement that gradually approaches the desired target behavior. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of the shaping technique in improving independent dressing skills among children with Down syndrome through a literature review approach. The study reviewed ten national and international journal articles published between 2020 and 2026 that discussed behavior modification, shaping, adaptive behavior, self-care skills, and interventions for children with Down syndrome. The articles were selected using predefined inclusion criteria and analyzed through thematic content analysis. The findings indicate that the shaping technique consistently improves dressing skills by breaking the activity into sequential learning steps, providing immediate positive reinforcement, and ensuring repeated practice. The intervention also enhances children's motivation, self-confidence, attention, and independence. Success is influenced by consistency in implementation, collaboration between teachers and parents, individualized instruction, and appropriate reinforcement strategies. The study concludes that shaping is an effective, practical, and evidence-based behavioral intervention for improving dressing independence among children with Down syndrome. Future studies are encouraged to investigate long-term implementation and integrate shaping with digital learning media to further support adaptive skill development.