Children enjoy spending time on anything that gives them the ability to do things on their own. However, trying to achieve tasks can cause frustration. Children get frustrated when their objectives aren’t achieved in the first few attempts, and parents can sometimes get frustrated in the time it takes. Nevertheless, time and patience in the early years certainly pay off in the long run.
Bathing, dressing, undressing, going to the lavatory, hand-washing, teeth-brushing, tidying up, and eating and drinking at mealtimes are all daily routines that, when mastered, give a child increasing independence. Our range of products aims to support such activities and is continuously growing.
Self-reliance is the long-term objective of mastering these routines. In the short term, these activities have another important role to play. Children learn different skills through them; they develop fine motor skills and learn about sequences, and learning how these work improves concentration and aids motivation.
Even tasks like tidying up are beneficial. As they tidy their belongings, children learn about their similarities and differences - what fits and what doesn't - and they learn about colours, shapes and counting. Praise and feedback will keep them motivated.
It takes plenty of time and practice for children to gain their independence, so try not to rush any of the activities that are part of the process. Instead, build them into your life as part of your time together. In this way, parent and child will be richly rewarded.
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