It is very important to teach your child positive social routines as early as possible. It is
easier to introduce the correct way to do things, now rather than try to change difficult
behaviours later on. Family life with your child should be much easier if he is introduced
to his part in daily living skills from the beginning. He needs to know

• What is the right thing to do
• Where he needs to do it
• He needs to understand finished
• How to move on to another place when he is ready.

To begin with, teach these new skills at home and only when he is ready practice them
in a new place.

Teaching your child to dress himself

It is never too early for you to encourage your child to actively participate in dressing.
You can encourage independence by putting the clothes that your child is going to wear into the correct order eg.
have his vest and pants ready first, then T-shirt, jeans, shoes, socks etc. make
it easy for him to see how they go on.

(Further Information)

Teaching your child positive routines at meal times

Some children may feed themselves but they may prefer to do it in their own way.They
might protest when you try to change the way they do it. If you want to teach your
child to use a spoon to feed himself you should introduce a positive routine as soon as
possible.

(Further Information)

Teaching Toilet Training

Teach your child to use the potty or the toilet only when he is showing signs of
readiness ie:-

• If he regularly stays dry for one and a half to two hours
• If he hides when having a 'poo'
• If he pulls off a wet nappy
• If he looks as if he knows he is wetting his nappy

Your child needs to be aware of these before you even consider thinking
about toilet training.

(Further Information)

Dealing with a fear of the toilet

Your child may refuse to sit on the toilet. He may seem quite terrified. Help your child
slowly learn to be able to cope with this new routine.

(Further Information)

Top Tips for Teaching Skills for Daily Living

• It is never too early to begin teaching important self-help skills
• Use a work system to help your child remember the steps in a new routine
• Keep verbal instructions to a minimum to allow your child to focus on learning the
  new skill
• Teach toilet training only when your child shows signs of readiness

A Guide for Childminders

This is a a Guide for Childminders that parents can complete.