Self-Care
Self-care skills include all the things your do everyday to take care of yourself. Depending on the age of your child, there may be more expectation in that skill performance. Below you will find a general self-care age appropriate list as well as ideas to help your child perform those skills!
Self-Care Milestones
This chart is designed to serve as a guide of developmental skills per age group. It is not an assessment nor reflect strictly standardized research. This information has been complied and summarized from many resources including clinical practice. For more detailed information please visit the CDC guidelines or reach out for an evaluation!
To print: Right click chart, 'save as' image, and print!
Shoe Tying
Click here for a modified shoe tying video
Use colored laces
Try with a jump rope around your legs first, work big movements to small
Practice with the shoe off first
Use "stiffer" laces like pipe cleaners
Dressing
Play barbies or dolls and change their outfits
Use larger clothes (i.e., play dress up, use dad's clothes etc.)
Hang a picture of your child dressed and ready to go, see if they can replicate it!
Play dress up in costumes to imitate a favorite movie
Teeth-brushing
Use a like a picture schedule or first/then like this one! (bottom of the page)
If your child is sensitive, try a vibrating toothbrush or flavorless toothpaste
Put a target in the sink to hit it when they spit
Use a timer
Let your child copy what you do!
Self-feeding
If your child has trouble holding their utensil, wrap a wash cloth around the end for stability
Use other non food items to practice like play doh
Use plates with built up edges to assist with scooping
Remember, it's okay to get messy!
BUTTONS, SNAPS AND ZIPPERS
Tips and Tricks
BUTTONS
Push coins in a piggy bank
Cut a slit in fabric and push buttons through
Stand buttons up in play doh
Work backward by learning the last step first
Use clothing that is not visually distracting (i.e., white with colored buttons
Start on you lap or table before on your body
Use larger buttons first
On an old shirt you can snip the button hole to make it slightly larger to start to facilitate success
SNAPS
Pop bubble wrap with thumb and index finger
Roll out play doh and pinch it in patterns like on these printouts
Use larger snaps
Play with finger tambourines
ZIPPERS
Start with hand over hand
Color the different parts so your kiddo can see
Use Wiki stick on fabric to show child where to hold it