Tips for fostering self-help skills:
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Watch for signs of readiness to learn a new task. Have your
children watch you do a task. Then, allow them to help you
complete it.

Switch roles and help your child with the task. For example,
give children child-sized pitchers, cups, and plates with which
they can use to practice pouring and serving themselves.

Provide many opportunities to practice the new skill. Give
occasional reminders. Soon the child will do the task on his/her
own. Occasional reminders may still be needed.

Resist the urge to redo a task once a child has done it. If
necessary, return to a “re-teaching” stage to demonstrate and
improve skills.

Play the game, “What Can I Do By Myself?” Ask your child
three things that he wants you to do for him. Then ask her to
pick one thing she can do herself. Be available to help if
needed, but urge your child to do the task alone. Tasks may be
anything from pouring their own cereal and milk to putting a
movie into the TV. Make a game out of it and see how easily
your child cooperates with you. Chances are this will cut down
on your doing things for your child that he can do for himself.
Self-Help Skills
Preschool children grow and learn at an amazing pace. They can’t
wait to feel busy, successful, grown-up, and independent. They
begin practicing self-help skills at age two during the “me do it
myself” stage. Even though this is annoying to adults at times, it
paves the way for their development of essential skills for school
success.
What are Self-Help Skills?
Self-Help skills are those skills that help a child gain control over
his/her body over time. They include:
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
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Performing simple two and three step tasks
(put your things in your cubby and come sit
down)
Taking care of personal bathroom needs
(wearing easily maneuvered clothes)
Cleaning up after snack and play
Dressing oneself with limited help from
adults (putting on coat, tying shoes)
Learning to concentrate in a group setting for fifteen to twenty
minutes
Learning and reciting personal information such as name,
address, phone number, birthday, and names of parents
Adults need to take the time to teach preschoolers how to do a job
or task. Children will take more responsibility over time as they
practice these skills. Eventually, adults will supervise and help
only when needed.
Author: Angela Reinhart, Family Life Educator, Champaign Unit, Fall 2006
Editor: Patti Faughn, Family Life Educator, Springfield Center, Fall 2006
For more information contact:
Angela Reinhart, Family Life Educator
University of Illinois Extension
Champaign County Unit
801 N. Country Fair Drive, Suite D
Champaign, IL 61821
217/333-7672
University of Illinois  US Dept of Agriculture
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