Overview

When children practice self-help skills such as feeding and dressing themselves, they practice their large and small motor skills, gain confidence in their ability to try new things, and build their self-esteem and pride in their independence.

When independence grows, a child's confidence also grows. As they master new skills or take on more responsibility, they begin to see themselves as being capable. This gives them added confidence and makes them more likely to try out new things.

Learning life skills will also help your child's physical development, particularly their hand-eye coordination. Many everyday tasks, such as hanging up clothes, pouring drinks and tidying away toys, all involve using physical coordination and make an excellent foundation for later skills such as handwriting and drawing.