At Woodland Pre-Schools, respecting the child’s image is at the heart of what we do. We believe that children are capable and competent, and self-care skills play a very important role in the growth and development of a child.  

Self-Care Skills  

After practising and introducing the process of self-help skills to children at the beginning of the year, they have become more confident in term 2. We have been encouraging our children to wash their hands, take off and stow away their shoes, put on their shoes, put the rubbish into a waste bin, tidy up the area after playtime, clean up spills and wipe the tables with a napkin.  

When children practise self-help skills, such as feeding and dressing themselves, they practise their gross and fine motor skills, gain confidence in their ability to try new things, and build their self-esteem and pride in their independence. Self-help skills are worth the time and effort in a childcare programme.  

Childcare providers can offer opportunities for children to develop self-help skills and give them ample time to work on these important tasks. Also, remember that adults are important role models, and children learn a great deal from their daily interactions with their caregivers.