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