The development of self-help skills is a step by step developmental process. Between the ages of twelve months and six years children work on a variety of selfhelp skills. For instance, a twelve month old child may be working on the self-help skill of feeding him/herself a cracker or cookie. On the other hand, an older child (four years old) may be working on buttoning buttons or lacing shoes. Some common self-help skills for young children (ages two to five) include drinking from a cup, zipping a zipper, using the potty, washing hands, brushing teeth, pouring water or milk from a pitcher, using a tissue, getting a drink from a water fountain, and putting on/taking off a coat. These are just a few of the self-help skills young children need to acquire.
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