How To Foster Life Skills That Get Kids Ready To Grow

Helping children with activities of daily life

- Malia Jacobson

When it comes to selfies, your child may be a pro. But what about self-care? Also called activities of daily living, self-care skills are everyday tasks that get kids ready for life like eating, washing and dressing. But self-care can also mean dialing back stress, getting more rest, practicing mindfulness and increasing joy. Whether your child is a toddler, a teenager or somewhere in between, age-appropriate self-care is an important way to promote independence, says licensed educational psychologist, guidance counselor and author Reena B. Patel of San Diego, California. Here’s how to foster life skills that get kids ready to grow, age by age.

EARLY YEARS

Brushing up

Amid the morning rush, it may seem easier to rush your tot through self-care tasks or do the tasks for them. Though toddlers and preschoolers may show interest in personal care tasks, they still need supervision and help from caregivers for tasks like handwashing, bathing, teeth-brushing and wiping after using the toilet until age 5 or so, says pediatrician Adam Faizi of Atrium Health Levine Children’s Charlotte Pediatric Clinic – SouthPark.