I can do it myself.

Even if children can’t say it, they’re thinking it.

[quote author_name=”Jenni Rice” author_description=”Director & Owner” author_image=”https://halseyschools.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Jenni-Rice-Owner-Director.jpg” size=”small” style=”solid”]

As children grow & learn they should be encouraged to do age appropriate tasks & activities on their own. Doing so allows children to develop, among other things, self competence.  Here are some things we encourage your Infants, Toddlers & Preschoolers to do themselves. You can encourage them at home too.

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Infants

• Use sign language to communicate
• Grasp or hold objects in hand
• Support their own head
• Lift head and chest when lying on their tummy
• Scoot to get something they want
• Hold bottle during feeding
• Push food away when done

Toddlers

• Close a door
• Drink with sippy cups
• Clap hands to music
• Collect Toys and other items into buckets, containers, etc – “clean-up”
• Start to use their words instead of pushing, hitting, screaming or crying
• Make choices between what they want to play with or eat

Preschoolers

2-3

• Drink from cups without lids
• Wash their own hands
• Feed themselves
• Use words to express what they want
• Put toys on shelves or in buckets
• Throw away their own trash in trash cans
• Wipe their face with a napkin
• Put on their own clothes

3-4

• Pedal a tricycle instead of being pushed
• Button clothes
• Put on shoes and socks
• Use toilet on own all the time
• Clean up after themselves
• Open & close containers

4-5

• Help set table for eating
• Clear off table
• Pour water from a pitcher
• Brush teeth
• Make bed
• Get dressed all by themselves
• Brush their hair
• Use a fork to eat
• Help take out the trash
• Help feed little brother or sister
• Put straw in fruit drink

[quote author_name=”Jenni Rice” author_description=”Director & Owner” author_image=”https://halseyschools.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Jenni-Rice-Owner-Director.jpg” size=”small” style=”solid”]

With our encouragement and support, they really can do it themselves.

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Jenni Rice - Owner & Director

I hope you like this post. I love helping parents, teachers and children learn, grow and become better people! Everyday I'm delighted to spend my day in the place I love with the people I love. If you don't know me already, please read my Teacher Feature.

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