Teaching Your Child Life Skills
Teaching Your Child Life Skills
Are you preparing your child to be independent? Teaching your child life skills is not only important for self-care and sufficiency— it also allows him to feel empowered, works on socialization and reasoning, and helps develop healthy self-esteem. This list of age-appropriate skills will help prepare your child for each stage of his life from preschool until the day he flies the coop.
Ages 2 and 3: Small Chores and Basic Grooming
This is the age when your child will start to learn basic life skills. By the age of three, your child should be able to
- Help put his toys away.
- Dress himself (with some help from you)
- Put his clothes in the hamper when he undresses
- Clear his plate after meals
- Assist in setting the table
- Brush his teeth and wash his face with assistance
Ages 4 and 5: Important Names and Numbers
Safety skills are high on the list, now. She should know
- Her full name, address and a phone number to reach you
- How to make an emergency call
Your child should also learn how to
- Perform simple cleaning chores like dusting in easy-to-reach places and clearing the table after meals
- Feed pets
- Identify money denominations and understand the very basic concept of how money is used
- Brush her teeth, comb her hair and wash her face without help
- Help with basic laundry chores, such as putting her clothes away and bringing her dirty clothes to the laundry
- Choose her own clothes to wear
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