Embedded Files
What is Self-Care?
What is Self-Care?
Self-care skills/needs change as a child grows. Research shows that gaining these skills predicts better chance of getting a job or getting into college for youth with disabilities. For this reason alone, working on these skills is time well-spent. In our time away from school, working on these skills at home will help your child's abilities at school. Continue talking to your therapist about your child's development and individual abilities. When you ask for help in particular areas, this helps us as therapists know what is most important to you!
Self-care skills/needs change as a child grows. Research shows that gaining these skills predicts better chance of getting a job or getting into college for youth with disabilities. For this reason alone, working on these skills is time well-spent. In our time away from school, working on these skills at home will help your child's abilities at school. Continue talking to your therapist about your child's development and individual abilities. When you ask for help in particular areas, this helps us as therapists know what is most important to you!
Self-Care for Children
Self-Care for Children
Self-Care for Older Students
Self-Care for Older Students
As Physical and Occupation Therapists, we are not equipped to teach or assist in all of these skills. With our school teams and parents, we can help our students with physical activity, learning skills in healthy behaviors and good hygiene.
As Physical and Occupation Therapists, we are not equipped to teach or assist in all of these skills. With our school teams and parents, we can help our students with physical activity, learning skills in healthy behaviors and good hygiene.
Video Modeling is a great way to help children learn self-care skills. This means the child is shown a video of someone performing the skill well. Your therapist can provide this type of support!
Video Modeling is a great way to help children learn self-care skills. This means the child is shown a video of someone performing the skill well. Your therapist can provide this type of support!
What can be done to improve self care skills?
- Visual schedule of the steps involved.
- Reward chart for independent completion of tasks (or attempt at, in the early stages).
- Small steps: Breaking down self-care skills into smaller steps and supporting the child through each step so that, in time, they can do more for themselves.
- Routine: Use the same routine or strategy each time you complete the same task to help them learn it faster.
- Consistency: Be consistent with the words and signs used to assist the child, and keep instructions short and simple.
- Allow enough time: Ensure that there is enough time available for the child to participate in self care activities without feeling rushed (e.g. practice dressing on the weekend to start with before then doing it before rushing to preschool or school).
What activities can help improve self care skills?
- Small parts of activities: Practice doing a small part of a task each day as it is easier to learn new skills in smaller sections.
- Observation: Have your child to observe other family members performing everyday self care skills.
- Role play self care tasks such as eating, dressing or brushing teeth with teddy bears. Doing it on others can help learning it before then doing it on yourself.
- Take care of others: Allow the child to brush your hair or teeth first, before brushing their own.
- Timers to indicate how long they must tolerate an activity they may not enjoy, such as teeth cleaning.
Activities of Daily Living
Activities of Daily Living
Physical and Occupational Therapists can assist students in developing skills in these areas.
Physical and Occupational Therapists can assist students in developing skills in these areas.
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
A child or young adult should learn skills in these categories to the best of their abilities. They are important skills for independent living and predict their greater of likelihood of getting and job and going to college.
A child or young adult should learn skills in these categories to the best of their abilities. They are important skills for independent living and predict their greater of likelihood of getting and job and going to college.
VIDEOS and VISUALS
VIDEOS and VISUALS
Link to Brushing Teeth printable
Link to Brushing Teeth printable
Link to hand washing printable
Link to hand washing printable
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