Self help and independence is a huge part of the Pre-K year. Self care skills are the everyday tasks undertaken so children are ready to participate in life activities (including dressing, eating, cleaning teeth). While these are activities are typically supported by adults in young children, during the prekindergarten year it is expected that children develop independence in these tasks.
Why are self care skills important?
Self care skills are one of the first ways that children develop the ability to plan and sequence task performance, to organize the necessary materials and to develop the refined physical control required to carry out daily tasks (e.g. opening lunch boxes, drawing or standing to pull up pants). Self care skills act as precursors for many school related tasks as well as life skills. The term ‘self care’ would suggest that these skills are expected to be done independently and in many cases it becomes inappropriate for others to assist for such tasks (KidSense, 2021).
Every day in Ganon, the children participate in many self help skills.
Here are just some of the tasks the children completed today.
Hanging supplies in the cubbies.
Sorting snacks and lunch into the proper containers.
Hanging up coats.
Organizing snacks and materials.
Washing hands.
Making sure the caps are on the markers.
Caring for their own school supplies.
Cleaning up the toys.
Cleaning the tables.
Opening their own snacks.
Cleaning up after spills.
Throwing away trash.
Cleaning up their spaces after meals.
Sweeping the floor around/under their table after meals.
Putting on their own coats.
Zipping their own coats.
Cleaning their chairs.
Putting their chairs on the table.
Today during our morning meeting, we discussed the many new daily skills that the children have learned this school year. We talked about how many of the tasks that are now a habit, the children did not know how to do at the beginning of the school year.
The children dictated self help skills that they are able to do all by them themselves.
Indiana Learning Foundations
PHG4.1: Demonstrate increased independence in personal care routines
PHG1.1: Demonstrate development of healthy practices
SS5.1: Demonstrate awareness of citizenship
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