Fostering Independence in Toddlers

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Teaching our children to be strong, independent people is one of the most important, if not daunting, parts of parenthood. There are hundreds of ways we can help them to learn essential life lessons at home from an early age, including teaching basic care of self-skills. If you are looking for ways to encourage your child to develop her self-care rituals, setting up a self-care station is a fantastic way to start. Here are some of the things you will need to think about when helping your child take this vital step on the path to independence.

Why Self-Care?

Care of self is one of the most basic parts of child development. Encompassing bathing, dressing, and grooming, self-care is all about keeping your body happy, healthy, and equipped for daily life. Self-care activities and the traditional self-care station are embraced by the Montessori style of child development. With a mantra of “Teach me to do it myself”, Montessori self-care stations foster independence in children from an early age.

Stocking Your Station

In order to prepare your toddler’s self-care station, you will first need to stock it with everything your child might need for her various care of self-activities. For a basic setup, include a wash basin, washcloth, towel, soap, and mirror. If you want to expand the activity, add a toothbrush and toothpaste, hairbrush, and grooming accessories. Dressing stations and independent toileting stations are other add-ons that might help your toddler to further develop her care of self-skills, but these are optional.

Organization Tips

Organization is paramount in traditional Montessori style learning activities, so consider placing your care of self-items on a wooden or metal tray next to the wash basin. Other alternatives for organizing your self-care station are wicker baskets or shelves for easy and compartmentalized storage. Label the storage with picture labels if you like to help your toddler easily find her supplies every time.

Accessibility is Key

Keep your toddler’s self-care station low to the ground and accessible. If you’re making the station yourself, this is easy to do. If, on the other hand, you are working with a bathroom sink or higher table, make sure your station is also stocked with a step stool. Just make sure to keep the area surrounding the station safe, free from hazards, and stocked with safe supplies such as kid-friendly soap and toothpaste.

Keep it Tidy

Cleanliness will help your child to remain focused on proper self-care technique. By keeping your toddler’s self-care station well stocked with supplies and encouraging her to tidy up her space after every use, you both will stand a better chance at successful care of self every time.

Teach Me to Do it Myself

Once your station is stocked, organized, and tidy, invite your toddler to watch you wash your face (or comb your hair, or put on your shoes). Go through the motions slowly and silently in a step-by-step fashion. After you have finished, give your child a turn. Repeat these steps with any other self-care activities you expect your child will perform here. After a few sessions of guided learning, your toddler will get the gist and be able to explore this important part of child development herself.

How did you teach your child to brush their teeth?

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