“Help me help myself”

Quick hacks for around the home:

• Stools that can be easily moved around for your child to reach light switches, sinks for hand washing, shelving in the closet or bookshelf, kitchen countertops, etc.

• Low hooks by the door for your child to hang jackets and backpacks when arriving at home

  • add loops to your child’s jacket tag so they can easily hang on the hook

• Low shoe shelf or shoe basket by the door for your child to place shoes

• 3 low drawers in their bedroom that hold all clothes. Filter clothes out by season so your child can still exercise choice but with appropriate options. Reference tip #8 for self-dressing.

• Small laundry hamper in the bedroom so your child can discard soiled clothes at the end of the day, and contribute to laundering chores at a later time.

• In the bath, your child may practice washing a baby doll or bath animal, scrubbing the whole body using a washcloth with some soap on it. Your child can then try to wash their own body.

• Demonstrate for your child how to blow your nose in front of the mirror. Encouraging your child to check to see if there is anything on their face after a meal or during flu season will foster self-awareness.

• Set up your child's toothbrush and a small tube of toothpaste so that your child may learn to brush his teeth. You can give a lesson on "brushing your teeth." Singing a song (Happy Birthday, Twinkle Twinkle…) can mark the length of time needed to brush.