October Parenting Tip

Encouraging Self Help Skills

 

The weather is getting colder!  Here come the coats, hats, mittens, and boots.  Well, hopefully, no boots for a while!  It is the perfect time to start teaching your child some self-help skills.  Yes, you can do it faster than they can, but they need to start learning how to do it on their own!  Children become more independent and confident as they learn to do more for themselves.  Dressing and grooming skills are learned by early and consistent routines in which children are expected to gradually become more and more independent.  Start now!  Kids will not learn how to do these tasks unless someone teaches them how and lets them try it and practice it.

  

Check out this link for a short video on how to teach your child to put on their coat http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=434598023253630&id=173804442657081.  It’s a fun and fast trick!  Make sure the coat is the correct size.  It is incredibly frustrating for a child when the fit is not correct.

 

Mittens are much easier for children to put on then gloves.  Getting those fingers in the right spot can be frustrating for kids and parents.  Remember slip-on or velcro boots are much easier than tying.

 

Zipping

This can be a difficult task.  Start the zipper for them.  Only zip it up a little bit and let them do the rest!  Have your child unzip when they take off their coat.  Once they get the feel of how the zipper slides you can starting working on getting the zipper connected.  Encourage your child to bring the sides of the coat together at the bottom and “match up” the zipper case.  While they are holding the bottom of the jacket with one hand, have them pull the zipper up with the other hand.  You may have to hold the coat down for them a few times.  Put some Vaseline on the teeth of the zipper, it really does help the sliding process!

  

Parents need to be:

• Patient—it takes a lot of practice.
• Praising—everyone loves to hear when they are trying hard or doing the task  correctly.
• Consistent—don’t make them do it one day and then do it for them another day.
• Reasonable—allow for more time and don’t expect them to get it all right away. 

For further information, questions, or

concerns, you can contact

Mary Bartusek, Parent Educator,

at 952-758-1673 or email Mary at

mabartusek@np.k12.mn.us