Self Care

ACTIVITIS TO SUPPORT YOUR CHILD WITH SELF CARE

Practise getting dressed and undressed with a range of clothes – show your child how to tackle buttons, buckles, zips, press studs and over time let them take control of this. 

Using a knife and fork to eat a meal sat at a table.  Show your child how to go about ‘cutting’ food as this is a tricky skill.  They can probably manage softer foods to begin with. 

Drink from an open cup rather than a bottle or beaker. 

How to feel when they need to clean their face, after mealtimes as such or when their nose needs blowing.  Rather than automatically cleaning them up, take time to use a mirror to show them and allow them to do it them self by using a wipe, flannel or tissue.   In time, you’ll be able to prompt them with ‘does your face feel clean or messy?’ 

How to twist, tear, open packets such as for crisps and yoghurts or to open straws and puncture cartons.  Show them but let your child have a go. 

Eating a whole piece of fruit as opposed to a cut-up piece so they get used to how it looks at snack time and at lunch times. 

Regular and healthy oral hygiene – talk about brushing teeth, healthy diets and the need to not put anything in our mouths because of germs and safety.  It’s important we discourage toys and resources being put into mouths whilst with us in school to stop the spread of germs and stop risk of choking so we often talk about ways to keep themselves and everyone safe.  

Using a jug to pour a cup ‘half full’ so not overly full and difficult to lift without spilling. 

What to do if they create a mess at the table/on the floor using clothes or dustpans and brushes.

Talk about staying safe as we often do in school and that it is important to listen at home: 

• near roads (holding hands, walking not running) 

• in shops (near strangers, not touching items on shelves incase of breakages, wet floor signs) 

• at swimming pools/beaches  

• the park (near dog poo, rubbish, on large equipment) 

• in the home (near medicines/equipment such as pans, candles) 

• in a car (wearing seat belts, sitting still and quietly) 

• using technology safely rules (near a responsible person in family, what to do if they are worried by things they have viewed) 

Encourage your child to find their own belongings when going out and put away when arriving home. 

Encourage your child to clear their plate and cup after a meal. 

We often talk to the children about becoming ‘independent’ meaning to do something trying for themselves and ‘persistence’ by explaining sometimes we have to keep practising of trying to do something.