In OT, self help skills refers to the physical skills needed to perform daily tasks, such as dressing, hygiene, feeding and basic life skills, independently. Teaching children age appropriate self help skills can build self esteem and confidence to complete these tasks on their own. In the school setting, self helps skills involve the activities students perform throughout their school day, such as putting on and buttoning/zipping a coat, washing hands after going to the bathroom, opening containers for lunch or hanging up a backpack and organizing papers to go home for homework. Below are the areas we work on to improve self help skills.
Fine motor skills: Refers to the movements of the small muscles of the hand, wrists and fingers that allow us to grasp and manipulate small objects such as buttons, zippers, laces, food containers and eating utensils
Bilateral coordination: Refers to the use of both hands simultaneously in a coordinated manner to complete 2-handed activities such as tying your shoe, buttoning buttons and washing your hands
Visual motor skills: Refers to the use of our eyes (visual) and hands (motor) together to complete tasks such as buttoning, shoe tying, and using eating utensils
Sequencing skills: Refers to the ability to identify and perform in order the steps needed to complete a task such as tying a shoe, cooking with a recipe and washing your hands
Stereognosis: Refers to the ability to recognize an object using only tactile cues such as texture, size and shape. This is used when buttoning, tying or pulling objects out of a backpack when our vision is obscured
Executive functioning skills: Refer to the skills which include working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control that allow us to plan and get things done for the school, home and work setting
Follow the links below for more information to strength each area:
Click on the links to review Fine motor, Bilateral, Visual motor and Sequencing skills. Proper grasp as well as good strength, coordination and sequencing skills are essential when performing self help tasks. You will also find lists of activities to help strengthen these skill areas.
Breaking activities down into smaller steps can make self help tasks easier for children. As you teach a task you would explain what to do first, then second and so on. This won't be necessary as they become more competent at sequencing the task. If they continue to have difficulty learning a sequence, you can prompt them by telling them a step and then asking "What comes next?"
It can be helpful for a child to master each step in a task before moving on to the next step. Breaking tasks down and mastering each step one at a time can build confidence and may not seem so daunting for the child
Make sure you use the same words or terms each time you practice a skill
For additional support, make a picture sequence of the activity on a strip of paper and have it in view when they are completing the task. You can photograph your own child completing the task for picture prompts, use pictures from the internet or draw the steps yourself. Point to each picture before you start the next step
Check this Link for more helpful tips!!
Using larger buttons, zippers, snaps and longer laces on shoes when teaching dressing skills can make it easier
Practice different closures and shoe tying in front of your child first, rather than on their body. Once the skill is mastered, practice with the item on
Teach your child how to pull clothing right side out if sleeves or pant legs are inside out
Practice putting clothes on and using closures in front of a mirror
Watch this Video on how to put on your coat! For younger children watch this Video on an easy trick method to putting on their coat!
Watch this Video on how to put on your pants!
Watch this Video on how to put on your shirt!
Watch this Video on how to button, zip and tie your shoes!
Buttoning:
Introduce the concept of sliding objects through by pushing coins in a bank, milk caps through a slot in a container
Make sure your child pinches the button with one hand while pinching the material next to the button hole with the other hand
Use a button string, a button board or a shirt in front of your child on a table first or have them button on you
When the child is wearing the clothing, starting with the bottom buttons first may be easier
Zipping:
Start by using a zipper board or a jacket on a table first, making sure the bottom of the zipper is facing away from them
Make sure they are pinching the zipper pull and zipper head together securely when feeding the other side in
Some zippers can be right or left handed making it confusing at times, if your child suddenly has difficulty zipping check which side the zipper pulls up on
Shoe tying:
Make sure to break down this task into several steps, mastering each step before moving to the next one
Start by using a lacing board or a shoe on the table in front of them first
Use longer laces or 2 different colored laces to start
If your child is having difficulty making an X, have them cross their arms and drop the laces, then thread the right lace under and pull to form the knot
Snaps:
Plastic snaps are easier, work on having your child line up the 2 sides first before pushing together
Start by using a snap board or a piece of clothing with snaps at a table first
Snaps can be difficult for young children because they require a lot force to snap closed, as they grow and build finger strength this skills will become easier
Watch this Video on how to wash your hands!
Washing your hands:
At a sink use a stool to stand on to raise him/her to a comfortable height
Practice in front of a mirror using picture cues and consistent phrases when prompting for each step
Use built up handles on cups or eating utensils to make it easier for younger children to grasp
Encourage your child to use a mature grasp rather than a fisted grasp when using an eating utensil
Use a mirror when wiping their mouth and face after they have eaten so they see where to wipe
Encourage your child to open containers on their own such as snack packs, twist caps, straws, zip lock bags and zippered lunch bags
Use shorter straws or cut them in half to make it easier for younger ones as they learn how to suck through a straw
Use a daily chore or self help chart with things you do throughout the day
Use organizers, binders and calendars to remember homework, classwork and keep subject papers in one area
Use calendar apps
Have an area at home to store and do homework
Keep a check off list on your desk or in your binder for daily things to do
Dressing:
Play dress up games using play clothes or mommy and daddy's clothes
Dress dolls or stuffed animals in toy clothes
Play lacing and stringing games
Place coins in piggy banks or milk caps in slots cut into the top of containers
Practice on dressing boards
Practice tying your shoes
Tie a bow on presents, on packages or someone else's hair
Play dressing Colorforms or dressing apps
Practice putting your boots, shoes, coats, hats, mittens, etc. when leaving the house
Get dressed in the morning and undressed at night without as much help as you can!
Use books or puzzles that have different types of closures in them
Play this fun Stereognosis Game that teaches children how to use their sense of touch to find objects! Similar and smaller shapes will make it more challenging!
Hygiene:
Play games in the bath tub using bubbles, soap and water toys
Play at a water table with sand toys
Wash hands before snacks and meals
Wash the car, toys or your pet
Do the dishes
Feeding supports:
Practice opening and closing a variety of containers i.e. Ziplocs, screw caps, potato chip bags, lunch packs
Scoop beads, rice, cereal etc. from one bowl to another
Make sand castles with shovels and spoons
Plant a garden or potted plants, scooping dirt with spoons or a garden shovel
Use construction type toys that use nuts and bolts that twist and screw together
Play with whistles or blow bubbles
Use straws to blow cotton balls or pom poms or make these crafty caterpillars to race!
Executive functioning:
Make a recipe at home to eat for a meal
Do the laundry from sorting, washing and folding
Make a chore chart and see what you can do to help around the house
Mark a daily activity chart with the the self help skills you do
Plan a garden, list the supplies and build it
Reorganize or create a binder with all your homework and subject notes
Play board or card games, learn the rules and teach your family