MOVE
Self-Care
At A Glance
Young children rely on their caregivers to meet their basic needs. As they grow, children may seek opportunities to take care of themselves. While we want children to feel safe and trust that we will always meet their needs, we also want to support their developing self-care skills. We can do this by encouraging them to take responsibility whenever possible, especially with self-care skills. We can also gradually shift away from doing things for children (e.g., blowing their nose) to modeling and encouraging children to use their developing skills.What It Looks Like
A quick glance at how you can support toddlers' self-help skills
Support Independence
Note where children are and what they can do. Then, provide hints and questions that allow them to do as much independently as possible, like this educator does while the child works to put on the vest.
Use Visuals
Encourage Self-Care
EXPLORING SELF-CARE THROUGH BOOKS
Please, Baby, Please
EXPLORING SELF-CARE THROUGH BOOKS
Up, Up, Up, Down
TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE
Learned Helplessness
FAMILY CONNECTION
Self-Help Skills at Home
This article from the Extension Alliance for Better Child Care shares ways educators and families can help young children become independent by encouraging various self-help activities.
CONSIDERING EQUITY
Culture and Caregiving
This article from Zero to Three explores the influence of culture on caregiving and how we can work respectfully and effectively with all young children and their families to support self-help skills.
Activity Cards for Toddler Classrooms
Part of the STREAMin3 curriculum, these activity cards provide simple and fun ways to foster self-care
Scrub-a-Dub
Cleaning tasks can be a fun way for children to help take care of toys and the learning space.
Set the Table
When children help set the table for meals, it makes them feel involved and grows their independence.
Weather Dress-Up
Encourage children to use their self-care skills as they pull on clothes and fasten zippers, buttons, and snaps.
Get Our Resource Guide
Includes questions and activities to guide your use of the videos, book suggestions, and activity cards featured for each of the Core Skills
