Functional Self-Help
Self-help skills are abilities that children gradually attain to give them more independence across multiple environments.
HOW IT IMPACTS SCHOOL FUNCTION
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Builds confidence and self-esteem
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Increases independence to allow students to carry out daily tasks without the assistance of an adult/teacher
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Reduces stress
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It helps them with following directions and understanding what is asked of them
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Helps with social interaction of peers to compromise with others, and be able to recognize and follow social norms
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Helps with organization skills:
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Ability to know what a task involves, the materials required, and how to collate them such as packing a backpack, getting dressed, etc.
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It helps with executive functioning skills
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A process that allows us to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks successfully
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Negotiating the classroom furniture, the cafeteria, and the bus
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Finding their way to other rooms, bathrooms, the nurse, etc.
Examples of self-help skills needed for school:
- Buttoning
- Zipping
- Shoe Tying
- Belt Buckling
- Dressing sequence for outdoor clothes
- Opening packages like a milk carton
- Utensil use
- Putting papers into a folder
- Packing up backpack
- Hand washing
- Eating/feeding and drinking
- Skills may include holding and using utensils properly, drinking without spilling, eating a variety of foods, proper use of a napkin, table manners, and other mealtime routines
- Grooming
- This area includes skills such as brushing hair, shaving, and dressing (e.g., selecting clothing, putting clothes on and off without assistance, and managing fasteners)
- Personal hygiene
- Skills include those such as bathing, brushing teeth, washing hair, and applying deodorant
- Toileting
- Skills related to toileting include managing clothing, cleaning oneself, as well as overall bowel and bladder management
AGE-APPROPRIATE CHORES
As you view it, remember that every child matures at a different pace. Adjust this chart to what you know about your children's skills and talents, and realize that no child should do all of the chores listed below every day.
Ages
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Personal Chores
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Family Chores
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2 & 3
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Take their dirty laundry to the laundry basket
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Fill a pet's water and food bowls (with supervision)
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Help a parent clean up spills and dirt
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Dust
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4 & 5
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Get dressed with minimal parental help
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Make their bed with minimal parental help
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Bring their things from the car to the house
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PIck up their toys
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Wash hands
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Set the table with supervision
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Clear the table with supervision
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Help a parent prepare food
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Help a parent carry in the lighter groceries
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Sort colors for the laundry
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Match socks after clothing is washed
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Answer the phone with parental assistance
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Be responsible for a pet's food and water bowl
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Hang up towels in the bathroom
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Clean floors with a dry mop
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6 & 7
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Be responsible for a pet's food, water and exercise
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Vacuum individual rooms
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Wet mop individual rooms
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Fold laundry with supervision
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Put their laundry in their drawers and closets
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Put away dishes from the dishwasher
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Help prepare food with supervision
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Empty indoor trash cans
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Answer the phone with supervision
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8 - 11
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Take care of personal hygiene
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Keep bedroom clean
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Be responsible for homework
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Be responsible for belongings
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Write thank you notes for gifts
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Wake up using an alarm clock
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Wash dishes
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Wash the family car with supervision
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Prepare a few easy meals on their own
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Clean the bathroom with supervision
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Rake leaves
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Learn to use the washer and dryer
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Put all laundry away with supervision
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Take the trash can to the curb for pick up
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Test smoke alarms once a month with supervision
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Screen phone calls using caller ID and answer when appropriate
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12 & 13
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Take care of personal hygiene, belongings and homework
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Write invitations and thank you notes
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Set their alarm clock
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Maintain personal items, such as recharging batteries
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Change bed sheets
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Keep their rooms tidy and do a biannual deep cleaning
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Change light bulbs
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Change the vacuum bag
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Dust, vacuum, clean bathrooms and do dishes
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Clean mirrors
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Mow the lawn with supervision
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Baby sit (in most states)
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Prepare an occasional family meal
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14 & 15
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- Responsible for all personal chores for ages 12 and 13
- Responsible for library card and books
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- Do assigned housework without prompting
- Do yard work as needed
- Baby sit
- Prepare food — from making a grocery list and buying the items (with supervision) to serving a meal — occasionally
- Wash windows with supervision
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16 - 18
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- Responsible for all personal chores for ages 14 and 15
- Responsible to earn spending money
- Responsible for purchasing their own clothes
- Responsible for maintaining any car they drive (e.g., gas, oil changes, tire pressure, etc.)
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- Do housework as needed
- Do yard work as needed
- Prepare family meals — from grocery list to serving it — as needed
- Deep cleaning of household appliances, such as defrosting the freezer, as needed
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