This Week at the Forest Bus Stop… about teaching self-care skills

Big Beaver: I read last night that I need to help little beaver brush their teeth until they are in middle school! Does that sound right?

Big Fox: I thought that was why you chewed on trees.

Story From the Trail

Summertime and hygiene can get extra tricky. On one hand if a kid wants to practice self-care skills independently I’m excited plus it doesn’t need to be perfect. If baths are taken and someone want to wash their own hair but doesn’t do a great job… that’s perfect.

We had a guest staying in the room where a bathtub is accessible making the regular bath schedule change. The fun that a group cubs have while navigating the waterfall called a shower is amusing. Maybe not great for actually cleaning.

Personally, I am actually okay with that. Yes bathing is important but this week we took a moment to see what happens. Surprisingly I think I might implement a weekly on your own shower to the mix. Possibly with a followup sink hair washing.

Field Notes

I assumed only I could make sure a child under 8 could was themselves in the shower. It turns out between 2 and 7 they can handle it too.

They might not wash behind their ears. Also, very willing to try.

They might not have been the cleanest after but beamed with pride.

Trail Marker

Its important to make sure to stay on the right trail. Look for signs like:

Does my child give me their arm to wash?

Do they want to try to wash their hair?

What part do they enjoy?

Where is it immediately frustrating?

10 Minute Side Trail

Washing your face after a sticky meal. The nice thing about it is when kids get to be a certain age (different for everyone which doesn’t help). They naturally want their face to be cleaner. They do not always want some other Fox taking a wet towel to their face.

After your icecream with chocolate syrup and sprinkles desert is complete simply offer a wet napkin.

The coolest part of a side trail is that we are only on it to see what happens.

Watch your child without interference. No prompting to wash their face, no telling them they missed a spot. We are just going to watch and see what happens. Take in all the views.

Fox Discovery Trail

This is where we later ask our child about receiving the wet napkin. We are not trying to steer their answers in any direction. Our goal is to give our child a chance to practice thinking about something that happened. And give our child a chance to try something without our help.

What did you notice

Where did you get stuck?

What will you try next time?

What will you do if something doesn’t go as planned?

How can I help?

(end of month) What are you proud of?

Little Fox and Big Fox After Trail

Big Fox: What did you notice when you had the wet napkin?

Little Fox: It was cold

Big Fox: What was the trickiest part?

Little Fox: Finishing the ice cream before it melted.

Big Fox: What will you try next time?

Little Fox: Mixing it to make soup!

Big Fox: Next time you try washing your face with a wet wash cloth what will you do if it doesn’t go as planned?

Little Fox: I don’t know

Big Fox: How can I help?

Little Fox: You could do it

Nearby Trails

If this trail seemed interesting to you. Try keeping an extra eye out for the following:

Desire to brush their hair

Interest in using the bathroom

Washing their body

Forest Committee Minutes

Raccoon: I wouldn’t let my babies wash their own faces.

Rabbit: Are my babies faces dirty? Which one?

Badger: I once knew a baby that always had a dirty face. It was a sign they had important things they were working on.