Can you tell me when your children began to bathe independently (shampoo and body washing) and was able to master tying his/her shoes independently? I'm ready but not sure if its too soon to expect her to do these things on her own.
EDIT: Body washing, shampooing & conditioner (using just enough shampoo/conditioner and not emptying the bottles with the first try), rinsing hair and body, exiting tub/shower safely, towel drying.
Thank you to everyone who responded. Your replies have given me the push I have needed to make these items a priority. My oldest daughter is very bright so I have no doubt she can do these things independently. A Christmas or 2 ago she received Red Lace, Yellow Lace. We have since pulled out this book and she is determined to master this skill. As far as the bathing: we are offering tons of positive encouragement, allowing her choices in soaps, shampoos etc. Since she has long hair and regularly is at a swimming pool, I have done most of the shampooing because her hair becomes brittle from the pool chemicals. She also tends to "dilly dally" and by evening I am ready for quality time alone or with my husband. As a result, I have been assisting her with the bathing when I really should just allow her do it...mistakes and all!! Again, thank you!
Tying shoes depends on her fine motor skills. Most children are able to tie shoes around 5. My first daughter tied her shoes at 3, my second daughter at 4, and my step son at 5. So it really does depend on the child.
My children started bathing themselves alone by the time they were 5 1/2 - 6. Around 5 is when we started slowly teaching them and letting them become more independent.
My son did not learn to tie his shoes till he was in school. He learned because my husband would not let him have Velcro shoes till he could tie his shoes. The funny thing is that the minute he learned to tie his shoes he did not want velcro shoes anymore.
He started taking showers by him self about age 4. One of use was in the bathroom at first but then we just started the water but left the door open. He loved baths also because he had all his bathtub toys.
S.
My just turned 6 yr old still needs help. We turn on the water for her, give her the shampoo in her hand (and the conditioner when it's time for that) and put the soap on the bath puff thing. We check that she has rinsed all the way too. She does the actual washing of her hair and body. After we put her conditioner on she can rinse, turn off the water and towel dry on her own.
My 9 1/2 yr old can do everything herself except for turn the water to the right temp, so once we get the water on she is fine on her own for everything else. She's been doing it completely on her own for about 9 mos now, so since age 8 1/2.
Both my girls learned to tie their shoes completely by age 5. By 6 1/2 they should be able to do this skill. Get her eager to learn by making a reward attached to it. Tell her she can go someplace special or something like that once she learns. Try the bunny ears method as well as the traditional loop around method.
N.
My youngest daughter just turned 5 and we are working on the shoe tying, I'm pretty sure my oldest was about 5 or so when she started. As for the bathing, my 5 year old does everything herself, i just check before she rinses her hair and after she rinses. My oldest daughter has been doing everything independently since she was about 7 or so.
My daughter was able to tie her shoes by herself right before her 5th birthday. I never tried earlier because her velcro shoes were just easier to do, but the Kindergarten requirements said they had to tie their shoes so we taught her in about a month.
As for bathing she was somewhere after her 4th birthday when she could bath herself except her hair. I still do her hair because it is really long (past her bottom) so i do it to keep the knots to a minimum, but otherwise she washes herself.
I made sure she knows how to clean everthing and then gets herself out and drys off and gets dressed. I brush her hair because it is so long and i have to condition it, but otherwise she is self sufficient. She really got the hang of it right after her 5th birthday this summer. She seemed to really get independent this summer.
Hi Michelle,
By about 5 years old she should be able to tie her own shoes.
Aroung 5 or so, she should also be able to bath herself with minimal help. Couple suggestions for not wasting shampoo and conditioner: You could put just enough of each in two small paper cups for her to use until she gets used to the amount to use. Another suggestion is to put the shampoo and conditioner into pump bottles and tell her to just use one squirt of each. You will probably have to check her hair for a while to make sure all the shampoo is rinsed out, but before long, she will be self-sufficient! Good luck.
M. :)
Hi Michelle,
My son will be 5 next month and he learned to tie his shoes this summer.
He still takes a bath, but has been able to take a shower on his own for about 6 months or so. I do have to make sure that everything gets clean . . .I hand him the washcloth with soap on it (we have soap in a pump, but sometimes its hard to pump, so I pump it).
Hope this helps.
B.
Well, during kindergarden is the year where they learn to tie their shoes and to wash themselves. Each kid is different about using just enough shampoo without using the whole bottle. My son did a good job my daughter wasted until she was in 2nd grade, not all the time but twice a year she did it. Towel drying is 1st grade because they don't do a good enough job and then they get frustrated getting their pjs on because it sort of sticks, you know what i mean.
