Parent and Teacher Info

Self-Help Skills

For Kids & Teens

AKA: ADLs (Activities of Daily Living or “Occupations”)

PROMOTE INDEPENDENCE!

Students with and without disabilities should be encouraged to grow and succeed in all ways possible. Kids often surprise us with what they can and want to do. We won’t know their abilities unless we encourage, support, and challenge them. Here are the basic skills we should help them learn for increased independence, regardless of ability/disability.

Be mindful of the level of assistance you are offering, help them master each step in sequential order (aka forward chaining), decreasing assistance as they learn each step. You can also reverse this method (aka backward chaining) by assisting with the initial steps, then have them complete the final step and work backwards. Try these steps and encourage practice when you are not rushed and have time to work through the steps. You can find more information on chaining here https://thesensorytoolbox.com/forward-chaining-vs-backward-chaining/

Below are just a few suggestions for each category of Basic ADLs (or BALDs) that we should encourage EVERY child to work towards and a brief example of IADLs (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living). These milestones are based on the general population, but some of our kids/teens continue to work on these skills. Some people with severe disabilities may need more assistance, but usually are able to participate in self-care to some capacity. Encourage as much as they are capable.

ADLs (Activities of Daily Living)

• Dressing

  • Most kids can take off clothes (13-24 mos) long before they can put on clothes (24-48 mos). Help them by concentrating on one new skill at a time.

  • Shoes always on the wrong feet? Put a sticker, smiley face, etc on the inside of each shoe and tell them to match up the items.

• Bathing

  • Teach them a washing sequence and encourage them to complete the sequence first before you do a final wash.

• Feeding

  • Using eating utensils takes practice. This skill usually develops as a toddler (13-18mos) and typically mimics adult untensil-use by age 4y.o.

  • Practice makes Perfect-let them practice with a plastic or dull butter knife on real food, fake food, cardboard or playdough.

• Brushing Teeth

  • Children can brush their teeth by 3-4 years of age, but usually do not do a good job. Create a sequence and encourage them to brush before you do a final brushing to get any missed areas. They also need help flossing.

IADLs (Instrumental Activities of Daily Living)

• Meal prep

  • Kids/teens can help gather supplies, pour, measure, stir, spread/cut (with a safety knife).

  • Kids should be able to pour their own cereal and milk (possibly from a smaller container) by the age of 4 y.o.

  • They can practice with water by providing measuring cups and bowls in the bath.

• Chores

  • Kids/teens should be encouraged to clean up after themselves to promote independence by cleaning their bedroom, making their bed, gathering laundry, cleaning bathroom, etc.

  • They can also help with family chores such as walk/feed pets, set the table, take out the garbage, take out/bring in garbage cans, carry in groceries, rake leaves, sweep, mop, etc

References:

Toddler Milestone https://www.babycenter.com/0_toddler-milestone-self-care_6503.bc

Chaining (Fwd/Bwd) https://thesensorytoolbox.com/forward-chaining-vs-backward-chaining/