You know you are a burnt-out mom when you are trying to manage everything in your head. A burnt-out mom feels constantly behind. You are at the point where you cannot make another decision or answer another question… for anybody. Worst of all we feel as though as though we have no control. Using a 10 minute system can help regain control.
How do 10 minute systems help?
To begin with, when you complete a 10 minute system you FEEL as though you regained control. Do you feel completely in control? Obviously not! When everything is overwhelming and out of control though we will take any help we can get.
What qualifies as a 10 minute system?
Girl! That depends on what you need as a overwhelmed mom. Many of my personal 10 minute systems have a portion that just feels good at the end of a simple task. Think – Light a candle- Have a cup of tea- A nicely made bed- Generally the idea is at the end of the 10 minute task you will have something to feel good about.
What is the goal for burnt-out mom?
We can find pockets of 10 minutes but often it is hard to decide what to do with those 10 minutes when you find them. The goal is to know what to do that will make a difference while limiting the task or system to 10 minutes.
Why is the time limited to 10 minutes?
When limiting the amount of time to 10 minutes it makes the task feel doable even on a no energy day. On a high energy, everything is going fantastic, I must be dreaming sort of day? Well we can stack 10 minute tasks that way whenever we are near crashing we don’t have a mound of items with good intentions and no energy to deal with.
Who is this right for?
Any mom who is ready to accept something other than perfection. Any mom who struggles with decision fatigue. Especially burnt-out moms like me who start one task… then another… then another… then another but never quite finishes any. These systems will not leave everything 100% complete and that is the point. Finishing a preset task and giving yourself permission to appreciate where you are.
These 10 minute systems are not for perfect parenting or ensuring there are no problems throughout the day. 10 minute systems provide the opportunity to regain control and self confidence when nothing seems to work or there just isn’t time.
Many of laundry folding days with my kids looks like a blooper reel. I really think they ask me ridiculous questions just to see how soon I will crack. I still have a limit but when I started taking it less seriously and enjoying the show laundry day became fun.
1. Have that special pile of wash cloths to fold.
They don’t even need to be freshly washed. If they were already folded then unfold them and toss them in the pile. Odds are they wont get folded so don’t go crazy but give them something to help with.
2. Bury your kid in the laundry and pretend they are missing.
Not in the washer and dryer! Just dump that freshly washed laundry on them. Maybe not the nice stuff. Lets face it though they will be knocking over your freshly washed and folded laundry at least once today.
3. Fashion show.
My kid cannot watch laundry be folded without demanding an outfit change. Let them! When we really get into it we pull out the runway (yoga mat) and the commentator describes in full detail the outfit. The more accessories the better.
4. Insist their pants are yours and the pants shrunk in the wash.
It is okay to be very upset that your favorite pants are ruined. The more dramatic the more giggles. We want these kids on board with laundry day.
5. Let them organize and sort socks.
It’s my least favorite part of laundry folding and we go through a ton of socks. Sometimes it actual shorting other times its ‘find a green sock’.
6. Have them take SMALL piles of clothes to their destination.
This is keeping them involved and interested. Also, when you get lucky they get distracted on the way back (and you can finish super quick).
7. Throw a mid fold dance party.
Seriously when nothing is working call it what it is. Take a short break from laundry folding and have a quick dance party.
As a parent it can feel impossible to get everything done. And if you are like me with huge ambitions by the end of the day it can feel like a joke. Just have a little extra intentional fun in the daily chores.
Young children enjoy being responsible for themselves and their own space. What age should a child make their own bed? Well, that depends on what priorities and routines are in your house. Keep in mind the later you start having children be responsible for themselves the harder and more stressful it is for your child.
Why should a child make their bed?
The benefits of making beds is discussed for adults with claims of reducing stress and increasing productivity. When it comes to our children we aren’t trying to increase productivity but the activity does have plenty of benefits.
Promotes independence
Promotes responsibility
Provides sense of accomplishment
Improved sleep
Calm environment
When should kids start making their bed?
Kids should start making their bed when they show interest in it or can follow a simple one step instruction. These early stages of bed making do not look like a magazine but more on this later. Young children want to help and imitate the things they see their caregivers doing. If you routinely make beds and they see it then your child wants to try. Let them.
It is helpful to give the child the first and final step whenever they are excited to participate. Sometimes just putting the stuffed animal on the bed at the end gives the feeling of accomplishment. This feeling will encourage the desire to be responsible and independent.
What does toddler making bed look like?
When a toddler begins making their bed its a pretty awkward thing. Just getting the blanket and stuffy back onto the bed after they fell off can be a chore. It can also be a great place to start and a big win. After they learn to straighten blankets you might find the blanket isn’t actually much better off than it started. Still this is a big win.
This has probably been happening their whole life (unless you aren’t a bed maker but I’m going to guess you are if you are looking for your child to make theirs). As you get to the point where you feel your child will want to help soon you can provide very simple explanations of what you are doing. This is not meant to be in a teaching way. This provides vocabulary for the visual which will make the task easier to complete. Also, try to make the bed in the same order every time. Having a routine for bed making means the child doesn’t need to remember a whole list of task to do.
Do it together.
When practicing new skills together it is a good practice to break the task down into small sections. Start by having the child take part in any step they are interested in and encouraging a little extra help. This should be a no pressure situation. As they progress and have a good idea of the first or last step let them do it independently.
Let them do it themselves.
This is still meant to be pressure free! With young children we want to keep the activity short and timed right. One child may only make their bed as they are getting out of bed. Another child might need breakfast and playtime first. Adding one more task to do in the morning is not fun or easy. I have been known to include this in the after lunch cleanup on the weekends.
What age should a child make their own bed? If making beds isn’t a priority in your house then own that and don’t worry about it. You may find that your child actually enjoys their bed being made and it is calming and relaxing for them.
Have you ever found yourself wanting your toddler to clean up toys but it never goes as planned? You see them cleaning up toys at daycare but then they get home and nothing works? There are a few things the daycare center does that encourages the child picking up toys. Here are twelve ways to make the cleaning activity easier.
Preparation Phase
The preparation phase is the longest and hardest of the phases but it sets us up for the future. When cleaning up gets hard this is typically where the issue is.
1. Limit the number of toys. Our children acquire so many toys and it actually is a key problem to clean up toys. They are overwhelmed and over stimulated. I know some people use a toy rotation process to limit access and its a great idea. For me though I have found that it is a lot of work with no payoff.
2. Every toy has a home. If a child doesn’t know where a toy belongs then they will not be able to easily put them away. These should be clearly defined and as an added benefit helps our children to categorize and organize. What a gift!
3. Keep toy homes easy to access. There are some toys that need adult supervision and they can be kept out of reach. But the majority of the toys we are frustrated that we trip over aren’t those. Think Montessori toy storage. Low open shelves where the child can see everything, reach everything, and have control to put them back.
4. Use pictures. Have a picture on the shelves to remind where each item goes. Take after photos to show what clean looks like.
Create the Routine Phase
Now that you know what toys are in the house (because lets be honest unless everything had a place we really don’t know). It can be easy to create a plan to put in place for quick clean ups.
5. Set up times of day to pick up toys. Routines are great for toddlers it really helps them to feel safe and confident. We have an after lunch and after dinner schedule. Honestly I would prefer to do before lunch and before dinner but I have found everyone is in a better mood after a little food.
6. Create a pick up routine. I like a top down or bottom up approach. Start by cleaning under all items (beds, desks, chairs, tables). Then move to items on the floor. Finally on top of surfaces like tables and shelves. It works the same in reverse order. When first getting a toddler to join the cleanup though we work on specific items to pick up (blocks, dolls, play food…).
7. Create a checklist. Create a checklist with the pictures used earlier. A quick reminder of what clean looks like and how to get there makes a toddler feel great.
8. Set a limit for the amount of time you will allow cleaning to go on. This is by far my biggest hurdle and hardest to stick to. We are not going to expect a toddler to clean up and stay on task for an hour. If the toys have got out of hand then we need to break it down into smaller sections and stick to a 15 minute period that our child can stay on task. Each child is different… pay attention to your child’s abilities.
Maintenance Phase
Will our house’s always be clean with toys put away? Um probably not. When we trust that toys can be put away by toddlers and know that twice a day it will be done then we feel a bit less stressed.
9. Don’t let the toys get out of hand. Easier said than done am I right! It will happen from time to time but the more often we can make pick up simple the better.
10. Encourage putting toys away when done. If you are playing together with a toy. Practice putting the toy away as soon as you are done. Also, if they are requesting to play suggest that the prior toy is put away prior to new activity.
11. Start small and let the child have the win for completion. When starting the new pick up routine complete the tasks together. As they work on the skill they will be able to clean up for themselves. When cleaning up together always let the child finish the task themselves for the confidence boost.
12. Play music. If you are a toddler song kind of a parent then find a good toddler clean up song. My song choices look more like my running playlist and that’s fine too.
The key to any clean up routine is to stick to simple processes with a defined goal. When our toddlers know what clean looks like and when to do it… this became a simple process with a goal.
How to wash your hands for kids comes with some unique and often unexpected challenges. Toddlers washing hands has been one big frustration in my life. The biggest frustration with it is public bathrooms. When you have a handful of kids trying to wash their hands and you have to hold them superman style to reach the soap dispenser. Then mid pump some person selfishly chooses to dry their hands with the air dryer. At this time your noise sensitive child suspended mid air starts screaming and suddenly refuses to wash their hands. Public bathrooms are the worst when trying to promote positive toddler hand washing.
Importance of washing hands for kids
The first hurdle on the importance of washing hands for kids is teaching kids when to wash hands and the benefits of washing hands. When it comes to toddler washing hands I keep the explanation of benefits as simple as possible. I find that with a child when you give a simple answer they get curious and come up with questions and interest that you don’t expect. See what they think and give them just a little bit more.
With the list of when to wash hands it feels like you will be washing toddler hands all day. I personally avoid hand sanitizer as much as is possible.
Before cooking or preparing food
Before eating meals and snacks
After using the restroom
After coming in contact with germs (coughing, sneezing and such)
After feeding or touching animals
When coming in contact with a person who is sick
When coming back home
Toddlers washing hands
When it comes to toddlers washing hands it is the same process an adult uses. The huge difference is the drama and fanfare associated with the process. Since we are washing toddler hands about 52 times a day it is worthwhile to have a good sink set up at home. I get it… space is limited and we have to work with what we have. Make as much of the process available to your independent toddler as possible and it will pay off in relaxed hand washing.
Step one: Rinse hands. Can your child reach the sink? Can they reach the water? Can they turn the water on AND off?
Step two: Soap. To start with a young toddler I don’t mind so much if the soap is out of reach since they need a lot of assistance with the whole process. And they just keep pumping soap until its empty. As their ability to use an appropriate amount increases so does the access.
Step three: Scrub the hands. Let them scrub their hands themselves. Will they miss spots? Yup they sure will. The cool thing about washing your hands 50 times a day means they get lots of reps in quick. They will actually be reasonably proficient pretty quick if you let them. Start where they are at and give them extra tips to work on over time (when they are up for it… not while they are in a melt down). When focusing on washing for 20 seconds find a chorus for a song you could enjoy singing all day long.
Step four: Rinse hands. We keep the water off during the whole scrubbing process so they aren’t accidentally rinsed prematurely.
Step five: Dry hands. Give the hands two shakes in the sink (this is half the kids favorite part so its a must). Keeping a drying option within reach is a must. When a child can complete the process themselves they feel more independent in the process.
Hand washing is one of the musts in life. If there is an option about hand washing you can give like which type of soap to use or how to dry hands it can help. Being able to laugh at the ridiculous public bathroom set ups also really helps. Like when the paper towel dispenser is 5 feet off the floor. Parenting needs lots of support and laughs.
Toddlers teeth typically begin to erupt within the first year and the struggle of how to brush toddler teeth begins. Even a child who previously was excited to brush their teeth can suddenly refuse during the toddler years. Good dental hygiene is important so finding out how to brush toddler teeth is a must. These are not the permanent adult teeth but poor toddler teeth brushing habits can have a lasting effect.
Toddler Teeth Brushing Tip 1
Typically I stay away from using favorite characters to get my kids to do things but in the case of brushing habits I do let them pick out their favorite character (or color) toothbrush. This is only a temporary solution and helps with the mildest cases of toddler brushing teeth refusal. Sometimes even when you think you have a bad case this is actually just enough to change their mind.
Toddler Brushing Teeth Tip 2
Let them brush your teeth. Sound scary? For me it is. The tactic though… so worth it. This works on so many levels for converting the reluctant brusher. First, the pressure to brush teeth is off. When the pressure for toddler teeth brushing is off they can relax and enjoy it. Second, they get to practice the skills and SEE what they are doing. Third, its just fun for them! Kids at this stage love to mimic and attempt tasks you do.
Toddler Teeth Brushing Tip 3
Change the location. There are a few ways to change the location. One is to set up the bathroom so its a little more toddler friendly. If your child can reach the sink all by themselves and take a more independent role that can get our strong willed child excited to do it themselves. Or if all of the power struggles happen in the bathroom… try the kitchen.
Dental health is more than just brushing teething
Start flossing early. Flossing is a hard skill to learn. I would say much tougher than brushing. Floss before brushing and start before there is a need
After brushing for the night do not provide more food or drinks (except water). Food and drinks left in the mouth at bedtime is a significant cause of dental issues.
Take your toddler to the dentist regularly. Sticking with a regular dental visit will help catch any issues and help with proper brushing techniques.
Toddler teeth cleaning at the dentist
Kids first dentistry experience happens 6 months after getting their first tooth or by the time they are a year old. If you have passed this time-frame and still haven’t made it don’t stress just get them on the schedule and prepare your toddler for their first dental cleaning.
How do dentists clean toddler teeth? The toddler will sit on their caregivers lap and lay back. The dental hygienist uses a toddler toothbrush to clean and count teeth. The fist visits are very quick because the child has a short attention span and few teeth.
To make the toddler teeth cleaning experience easier there are a few steps you can take.
Prepare for the visit by playing dentist with a doll or stuffed animal.
Avoid using any negative words like “it wont hurt”. Odds are they weren’t worried about pain.
Let them practice being the dentist on you.
Explain what they may see or hear ahead of time.
Helping our children learn to care for their teeth in the toddler years will get easier with practice. Learning to take care of dental hygiene now will prepare for success with the permanent teeth. As they say only brush the teeth you want to keep.
When our children are 18 months old and lacking communication skills it is hard to imagine them being a self advocate. But when we think about self advocate meaning being about communication and knowing what the we want and need then we begin to see a way to help our children to get there. This starts with self awareness.
Toddler Self Awareness
One important change that happens in the toddler years is self awareness. They begin to see themselves in new light as an individual with their own interests and desires. This is the period where they begin experiencing new emotions and notice their thoughts are not the same as their caregivers. Children will start to say I and me ( this isn’t just because they are learning new words) this is toddler self awareness. During this time it is very important to model use of language to communicate feelings, needs, wants, likes, and dislikes. Providing the receptive language for self awareness assists in toddlers moving easily into a self advocate role. Although full self advocacy will not be achieved in the toddler years this is a good time to set the groundwork.
Self Advocate Meaning
Often self advocacy meaning is thought of in work, education, and healthcare but this is really a life skill. The ability to recognize strengths, weaknesses, needs, and wishes then communicate those with others. Teaching young children who they can go to for help and providing the language to communicate needs can boost our toddler’s confidence.
Self Advocacy Skills
The first self advocacy skills a toddler develops is saying no. This is our children speaking up for themselves. It is important to encourage the no’s even when no isn’t an option. For instance when buckling the child into the car seat but they do not want to. Use your words to explain their feelings, desires, and needs. This will not stop the no’s from coming and we don’t want them to.
Also, learning to solve problems independently promotes self advocacy. When your child is trying to carry more and an arm load of toys from one room to another. Watch how they resolve the problem. Children who gain confidence by solving problems independently have the confidence to speak up for themselves.
Self Advocacy Examples
Saying me or I
‘No!’
requesting help
Stating emotions or feelings
Problem solving
Although the journey to self advocacy is a long path. Starting our children off in the early years building self awareness and confidence will build a solid foundation. Providing the language and opportunities ask for help and express desires will continue to solidify their ability to grow the self advocacy muscle.
When I sat down to look deeper into toddlers and sharing I was shocked and confused by the fact this is a 4 year old milestone. It is stated the child isn’t capable of it until at least 3.5 years old. How to teach a child to share when voluntarily giving food to their caregiver isn’t sharing? This is happening in the first year of life and shows the importance of caring. If the definition of sharing is giving a toy to someone else whenever they want it… I still haven’t mastered it.
Why sharing is important
To begin with why sharing is important is because it strengthens relationships. For instance when the 9 month old tries to put the Cheerio in your mouth they are saying ‘I know, like and trust you’. This is spontaneous sharing and the type that we want to encourage. You can see this sharing happen in play as well. Completely unprompted a child will walk over to another child often without saying a word and give them a toy then walk away.
Sharing also teaches many communication skills. This is our child’s first attempts at negotiation, expressing understanding, and how to act in various social settings. I have found one of the best ways to navigate ‘sharing’ before they are developmentally ready for it (i.e. toddler years) is to have three simple rules.
1. We do not take things out of other peoples hands
2. Adults do not solve disputes about toys for children
3. If another child asks for a toy respond to themselves
And I will tell you what… they resolve the issue between themselves. Sometimes the 2 year old will say ‘Yeah sure’ and hand the toy over sometimes they will say ‘no’. But interestingly when they are finished with the toy they bring it to the child that asked. This is far from perfect but steps in the process of spontaneous sharing.
Learn to share
The first step to learn to share is for parents to release the worry about what other parents think. What a joke right! If we can look at sharing as a social interaction between two children that does not need adult involvement then the pressure of performance is released.
Next provide lots of opportunities to share. Some everyday examples would be to color a picture next to them and ask to borrow a crayon. When you are cooking offer to let them have a turn stirring. Ask if you can play with a toy next to them.
Model the behavior. When a stranger asks to borrower your truck just say yes and give them the keys. Then when your child has a stranger ask to borrower their truck they will hand it over and you don’t need to be embarrassed. How to teach a child to share when sharing looks different as an adult.
Toddler not sharing
Ask your child if you can have a bite of their dinner. I’m going to guess most likely they said yes and gave you their food. This is real genuine sharing. When you find your toddler not sharing ask yourself a few questions
1. Is my child actively using the item?
2. Does my child have a relationship with this child?
3. Am I worried about myself or the child right now?
4. Do I trust my child to resolve the situation?
5. Why sharing is important right now?
If in general your child lacks social skills and does not notice social queues pushing sharing in the toddler years will not solve these issues. Instead role play with them how to tell the other child not right now appropriately. Remember the importance of sharing comes in communication, relationships, and learning to understand social queues. There are a variety of ways we can work on these and it doesn’t have to be sharing everything. You and I both wouldn’t do that.
Self feeding wasn’t even a thought that crossed my mind with my first child. At the time I was young, clueless, and broke when I had my first child. At the time I made so many choices based on marketing and poor information provided from programs like WIC. I do believe the information provided now days is a whole lot clearer and more accessible. But at the time I was under the impression that you needed special kids food to feed children and I consulted the grocery store isle. What I didn’t know was I was spending extra money I didn’t have on food that wasn’t serving my child.
Toddler Self Feeding Tips
Toddler self feeding can be such a messy process. At first every meal time means a bath, fresh cloths, and hosing down the dining room. Okay maybe that’s a bit dramatic but it feels that way. In reality you do need to prepare for the mess and accept it. One of the best ways how to teach toddler self feeding is by allowing them to practice. A positive self feeding tips for toddlers is to have a clean outfit and towel prepared ahead of time.
The benefits of self feeding includes a long list of items like fine motor development, spacial reasoning and awareness, sense of self in relation to the world. The most important part for your toddler is they naturally stop when full. When your toddler stops eating try not to insist on one more bite unless you have already been advised by a doctor they need more calories.
Independent Eating
There comes a time when self feeding toddlers turn into independent eating toddlers. Self feeding turns into independent eating when some self feeding milestones have been hit. Your child can reliably use the utensil to consume enough food until full. Independent eating is when your child has a more active part in mealtimes. This can include asking for more food and serving themselves.
In my house this is when they can help set the table, serve food and drinks, ask for more, clear the table and wipe down after meals. This typically occurs by the age of 2 but they might only assist with one item. By the age of 3 they can help with the whole process. I have found this makes our children a bit more excited about the mealtime.
Toddler Self Feeding Meals
Toddler self feeding tips start with how you feel about toddlers eating. Personally I would avoid thinking of anything as a toddler meal. If there is food that I wouldn’t eat then I don’t really want to be feeding it to my children. There are days we do eat the typical french fry, chicken nugget, macaroni and cheese. Kids need nutrient dense food just like adults and they will be able to enjoy flavors in your families meals… in time.
What do 2 year olds eat? Some of whatever you feed them. What are eating habits for 2 year olds? They will insist on a favorite food one day and reject it the next. An important caution during the toddler years is to manage your reactions when our children eat food (or don’t). Our reaction to how much or which items can have negative effects on how they view food and meal times. Provide plenty of nutritious food and trust your child.
Toddler Eating Schedule
It is currently agreed upon that toddlers should be offered 3 meals and two snacks a day. It is understood that the child is being offered these but will not always eat all of them. And that is perfectly fine. If dinner happens to be the meal they do not eat then you are not sending them to bed without dinner. There is a difference between self choice and denying food. In my house we often follow a breakfast, snack, lunch, dinner, snack pattern because eating an early dinner fits into our lifestyle.
A typical feeding toddler menu for the day can look like this
Breakfast:
¼ cup plain yogurt with blueberries and granola (great protein/fiber start).
Snack:
½ apple with peanut butter and 1 cup of milk (provides healthy fats).
Lunch:
1 oz cheddar cheese, or cottage cheese 5 crackers, turkey slice, and ¼ cup broccoli (balanced protein and carbs).
Snack:
Cucumber slices with yogurt dip or hummus (hydrating and healthy).
Dinner:
1 oz salmon with ¼ cup sweet potatoes (packed with omega-3s and vitamins).
Toddler refuses to eat anything
If your child is actually refusing to eat anything all day or losing weight consult your child’s doctor. But typically when we say ‘my child refuses to eat anything’ we are talking about something completely different. Often this refers to how we feel about what the child is eating or their demands for specific foods. Most likely if your child at some part of what was on their plate at most meals they are okay.
How to get a child to eat when they refuse.
Don’t. When your child refuses to eat anything don’t try to get them to eat. Again if there are health concerns that are stopping your child from being able to eat consult your child’s doctor. Pay attention if there are consistently certain textures, smells, or temperatures they do not want to eat. It is important to keep the eating refusal pressure free and without comment. Do not gossip about the eating struggles with others while your toddler is around.
Why is my toddler not eating all of the sudden?
The development of toddlers can seem like a mystery to us parents. Verify your child is still as active as normal and generally acting like themselves. Sometimes eating less can happen because of teething or sickness. Generally the reduced amount of eating comes when our toddlers are trying to develop a new skill. This can appear as I toddler not eating anything but their focus is outside of mealtime.
How do you get a picky child to eat?
First notice if there is an underlying reason your child seems to be a picky eater. Is there a sensory concern and you can change the texture of the food? Typically repeated exposure to a variety of foods in a non pressured environment gives toddlers the ability to work through new flavors and textures.
There are many dressing skills that children need to meet within dressing milestones. These come from basic everyday curious moments our children have. Providing ample opportunities for diverse movements and coordination practice will improve toddlers ability to dress themselves.
Dressing skills
Dressing skills start with body awareness. Well before your child attempts to put a shirt on themselves they need to gain awareness of self. Dressing skills by age 1 can include removing socks. This movement includes pincer grasp, intentional movements of legs and feet, and importantly the knowledge there are socks on their feet. During this period your child will also begin to push their arms through the sleeve of a shirt.
Fine motor skills and coordination are an important part of moving to more advanced dressing skills. Dressing skills by age 2 can include fine motor skills as well as balance which will include pinching and pulling pants while staying upright in a seated position. Toddlers are increasing their awareness of their body, movements, and gaining strength. Providing many ways for your toddler to manipulate their bodies to gain strength and coordination will increase their ability for self dressing. Backward chaining is a good method to teach skills at this stage. With this method you will complete all but the final step as the child increases their ability to complete more of the process.
Dressing activities for 3 4 year olds
By the time our children are 3 they are beginning to self dress and can have a wide range of abilities and met dressing milestones. Quiet Books or Montessori Dressing Frames are a good way for preschool age children to practice tricky fine motor skills. These activities will include buttons, lacing, and zippers.
Provide opportunities to determine right from left shoes.
Dressing skills milestones
Undressing
Socks – Generally the first item to be undressed and many socks will go missing!
Hats – Removing hats is a close second. This can get very frustrating during winter months.
Shirts – Removing shirts can be a complicated process. Be as consistent as possible when assisting so the child can mimic the process.
Pants – Pulling down pants is an important step of the toilet training process.
Underwear – Typically by the time they are wearing underwear they have already mastered removing their pants. Often this skill is easier to grasp as they have already built a like skill.
shoes – Removing shoes can go right along with moving socks.
Dressing
Socks – It takes practice to put socks on so the heel is on the bottom.
Underwear-
Shirts – The first step learned when putting on the shirt you will see is pushing an arm through while dressing your toddler.
Pants –
Jackets – The jacket flip is a process which many toddlers use to learn to put on jackets. Lay jacket on the ground with head towards feet. When you put your hands through the sleeves flip the jacket overhead.
Shoes – There are so many challenges with shoes! Between choosing the right foot, laces, and holding the tongue.
Hats – Hats can be fun to practice with. This is a good step to learning where head is in relation to body to assist with other dressing skills.
Fasteners
Buttons – Practicing buttons can start with putting a coin into a slot. Then progressing to large then small buttons.
Snaps – Having a strong pincher grasp takes a lot of work! When they figure it out snaps are a great option.
Velcro – This fastener is easy to learn and provides quick wins.
Lacing –
Tying – Shoe tying is so tricky! This is a skill to use Back Chaining on. Always talk through the whole process then let them complete the final step. When they have a hang of that add the prior step.
Belts – Weaving? Pulling? The most complicated part is not being able to see clearly. Practice first where the buckle is clearly visible.
