Question

Let's pretend that you are responsible for the Toddler Times, the electronic newsletter for parents of infants and toddlers in your program. Today, you're focusing on ways to support toddler self-help skill-building. The skills must be developmentally appropriate for children UNDER the age of three. No academic skills; self-help skills only.

In a brief paragraph, inform parents of two different self-help skills you're helping toddlers build and how you're doing it.

Answer 1

Children can be taught to feed themselves by encouraging them to practice feeding themselves from infancy on. This can be done by first offering older infants finger foods which they can pick up themselves and eat. During later stages, a spoon and fork can be introduced while giving children plenty of time to practice. Another skill that can be developed is dressing up independently by just providing minimal assistance. The initial stages can include encouraging children to help pull socks on and off, pull up pants after diapering and help put their arms through sleeves. As children mature, they can be taught slightly challenging tasks such as zipping and buttoning.