Building Self Help Skills

Believe it or not, your baby isn’t a baby anymore!  It is time to start encouraging more and more ways for your little one to become more independent and self reliant.  Two year olds are in an interesting stage where in so many ways they are very much like babies, yet they are asserting themselves more and more and determining how much they can do on their own.  Well on their way to being a pre-schooler, your toddler is in this in-between stage that is both exciting and scary.

• Is your child trying to drink from a cup yet?  Although the sippy cup is definitely still a necessary “tool” for all moms to control messy drinking, have your child practice drinking from an open cup.  When you start to work on this, be sure to fill the glass only about 1/3 full or you will have a mess!  Encourage your child to drink from the cup and then set it back on the table (setting it back on the table is often tricky!)
• If you child is still eating with his hands, let’s try using forks like adults!  At dinner time, show your child how to “stab” the food with a fork and then place it in your mouth.  Most children should be able to hold the fork at this age in a gross grasp with the palm down.  You can use hold his hand and then decrease that physical assistance as quickly as possible.
• If you haven’t already, start encouraging your child to dress himself.  Lay a piece of clothing in front of your child and encourage him to try to put it on all by himself.  If you need to give assistance, sit behind him so he can get the correct point of view to work towards independence.  Give simple verbal directions as you help your child such as “put one leg in first….then the other..” You should also give him simple praises like “great job!” You can also assist by putting the piece of clothing ½ on and then having him finish independently.                                                                                                                                    

Parents always struggle on determining the amount of responsibility they should be giving their child and how much is too much.  Remember to take your lead from your child and expecting a little more, a little bit at a time will be a recipe for success!