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Welcome to the Independence Skills information library. We hope you and your child will find these resources useful.
Independence skills are everyday tasks such as dressing, brushing teeth, tying shoelaces and using a knife and fork. The following videos and resources provide tips and advice around how to teach these skills.
Some children can find everyday tasks such as dressing, brushing teeth, tying shoe laces and using a knife and fork really difficult.
Having clear instructions and a step by step approach really helps. Lots of children find it hard to process verbal instructions. Try sitting next to your child and demonstrate the skill slowly, breaking it down into small steps. Your child will need to focus on learning one new skill at a time and they will need lots of practice!
Backward chaining is a technique used to help teach tasks. It involves breaking a task down into step by step chunks and then teaching the last step first.
For example:
Zips: Engage the bottom of the zip on your child’s coat but let them finish off by pulling the zip up to the top.
Once they are confident in zipping up, they can have a go at the step that comes before this.
For example:
Parent holds the bottom of the zip securely while the child pushes the bottom of the zip in place and pulls up the zip.
By letting the child do a little more of the task, one step at a time, and only when they have mastered the previous step, the child will be more likely to experience success. This will increase their confidence and willingness to have another go.
More information on backwards chaining can be found here: www.nhsggc.org.uk/kids/life-skills/self-care/dressing-myself/backward-chaining
Parents and carers can help by encouraging your child to develop a daily routine. Make sure you give your child regular opportunities and time to practice new skills. We find that practicing little and often works best. It can be hard for busy parents to make time for practice. Sometimes it’s just quicker to do it ourselves! Try to think long term and remember that if you put the work in now, your child will develop their independence sooner.
Children (and parents!) can find it really difficult to keep motivated when learning a new skill. Your child may benefit from using a sticker chart or tick chart to keep them motivated and to monitor their progress each week. You can download and print charts and certificates from our website to help keep your child on track.
Now take a look at our videos which teach everyday skills using a step by step approach. Ask your child which skill they would like to get better at and start with their chosen skill. Find a quiet moment, free from distractions to watch the video together with your child. Some of the videos are more suited to younger children and some to older children.
Once you have watched the video, plan a regular time every day to practice the skill together for a few minutes. Build this practice time into your daily routine. Don’t worry if your child doesn’t want to practice for very long. Give them praise for trying. Let them put a tick on their chart. Remember, your child will have “off” days when they can’t manage it or they need a break. That’s fine too, just get back to practicing the next day. Once your child has achieved their skill or filled their chart with stickers, they have earned a certificate. Sometimes letting your child choose a small treat, such as having their favourite thing for tea or watching a favourite TV show together, can be a great motivator.
Remember, your child will find some skills easier to learn than others. It’s a good idea to start by encouraging your child to learn a skill that isn’t too challenging for them. This way, they are more likely to succeed quickly and be more motivated to carry on learning other skills. We call this a “quick win”.
1) Click the Google Translate button:
2) Click on your home language. The text will then change
Google Translate may not translate all words correctly. Please contact us on 0114 271 7645 if you are unable to translate or access the videos.
1) Click the subtitles icon
2) Click the settings icon then ‘subtitles/CC’
3) Click Auto-translate
4) Choose your language
You need to turn on the subtitles for all the videos.
The subtitles are translated through YouTube, again some words may not be translated correctly. Please contact us on 0114 271 7645 if you are unable to translate or access the videos.