Self Care Skills

What should my child know and be able to do?

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DRESSING

• Dress/undress with minimal help
• Put shoes on (may need help to tie)
• Manage buttons, zippers, buckles

TOILETING

• Wash & dry hands
• Use a toilet

MEAL TIMES

• Help to prepare snacks & meals
• Attempts to open packages
• With adult support, pours drinks into a cup

Self Care Skills

What can I do to help my child at home?

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DRESSING:

• Have your child help pick out their outfit the night before
• Practice buttons, zippers and buckles during play times, such as on clothing for a doll or stuffed animal

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TOILETING:

• Practice proper hand washing techniques
• Turn on water, wet hands, get soap, scrub for 20 seconds, rinse hands, dry hands with paper towel, use paper towel to turn off water
• Sing the hand washing song while scrubbing hands
• Practice sitting on the toilet, you can use a timer
• Help children learn to wipe after using the toilet

MEAL TIMES:

• Set the table together. This helps to promote 1 to 1 correspondence (1 cup/plate/fork per person)
• Encourage self-service by pouring liquids from a small pitcher to a cup. Practice serving foods onto the plate.
• Practice opening packages to snacks