How Do You Nurture Self–Help Skills In Your Child?

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 "To succeed in the real world, you need to be able to fail," Dr Ken Ginsburg, a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, once said. For children - as they learn to take the initiative to manage themselves, they begin to learn vital life skills essential for the 21st century.

There are 4 general categories of self-help skills children attain - self-feeding, independent dressing and grooming, hygiene and toileting, and helping with daily chores.  These skills enable children to meet their own needs and developing these skills involves experiences that lead to independence.  Confidence also plays a significant role in the journey toward independence and maturity.

Children have an innate desire to be independent. With time, as children grow in self awareness and develops skills, it is common to see them attempting to do certain things without their parents' assistance as they discover their own ability to navigate the world around them. 

How, then, can you raise your child to be creative, confident and in control of the environment around him/her?

Here are 5 ways you can support your child in learning self-help skills: 

• Believe in your child
• Be patient in the learning process 
• Recognise the right moment to teach a skill 
• Let your child try and only step in when necessary
• Give the gift of time to a child to rehearse and practice the skills

There are 3 considerations to understanding the teaching and learning process.

1. Things your child can do on his/her own,
2. Things your child can do with a bit of help, guidance and encouragement from a knowledgeable person, and,
3. Things your child can’t do no matter how much support you give them

“What a child can do in cooperation today, he can do alone tomorrow”

- Lev Vygotsky (Psychologist)

There is a zone of learning between what a child can do independently (actual developmental level) and what a child cannot do with assistance (level of potential development) - Vygotsky calls this the Zone of Proximal Development (refer to diagram below), where the child recieves the best conditions for success. This learning process requires demonstration, modelling, support to try and practice. 

Parents play a crucial role in promoting and supporting the development of self-help skills in children.  Yes, at times the process can be a little messy, and it is not as easy as simply doing the task for your child but there is a secret to success- ensure that you give your child age-appropriate experiences and provide appropriate support to help your child be successful. Remember, independence is the goal, time is the answer. 

Source: How Do You Nurture Self-Help Skills In Your Child?