Montessori Self-Help Skills Part 1
As we begin this new school year and we have some new faces, I thought it would be appropriate to write my welcome back post on self-help skills. I recently had a teacher ask me for advice on how to teach parents the skills that the kids should be working on and how to help them be successful. That is a great question and one that has many answers. To make this more understandable for all I will make a list of skills that they should be working on and how we work with them at our Montessori school based on their planes of development. Every child is different, so it is also important to take into consideration individualization.
1. 5 reasons why self-help skills are essential
a. Children Learn by doing.
Research has shown us time and time again that children learn best through doing not by being told. For children to learn how to do a task for themselves, we must allow them time to practice it and let them make their mistakes.
b. Children need and thrive on small successes
If you are constantly doing everything for your child, you aren’t giving them the opportunity to succeed on their own. When they accomplish these little tasks, make sure to get excited about what they did.
c. Self-help skills are problem-solving skills
Sadly, the world we live in today is fast paced, and everyone wants everything instantly. Because of this, we are losing our problem-solving skills. Teaching children to do things themselves at a young age enables them to use problem solving and critical thinking skills. These skills will be vital to life and will help them have greater executive functioning skills which will assist them in school as well.
d. Independence builds self-confidence!
Self-confidence doesn’t happen overnight. You will notice as children get older their lack of confidence can hinder them in many ways. It is our job to build them up and give them the skills they need to prepare them. Once a child becomes for independent they will be more confident and ready to tackle the next task.
e. Independence teaches them responsibility and breeds good habits.
We all want our children to be responsible and have good practices. Unfortunately, in our fast and overscheduled lives, we don’t take the time to teach our kids how to become responsible. This is why it is so important to learn these skills when they are small. They will thank you, and you will thank yourself.
2. Ages and Stages of Self-help Skills
a. Self-help Skills for Babies (crawlers) to 12 months
Tell you when all done eating with sign language
Put shoes and socks away
Put own bib in laundry basket
Wash face and hands with a wipe
Feed self, finger foods and a snack
Hold a spoon and toothbrush
b. Self-help Skills from 12-18 months
Wash hands and begin to make “bubble gloves.”
Start practicing dressing self with practical life lessons
Brush Teeth (with help)
Start brushing hair and doll hair
Drink from a lidless cup
Eat independently with a fork
c. Self-Care Skills from 18 months- 2-year-olds
Take off pants/shorts with elastic waist
Learn how to put on and take off shirt
Continue washing hands and making bubble gloves almost independently
Put clothes in a drawer
Take off and put away shoes
Brush own hair
Hang up coat and look for name with picture
Begin family style eating with scoops and pouring small amounts
Use a napkin at meal times
Learn how to wipe up spills
After eating scrape plate in trash and put dishes in dish tub or sink
d. Self-Care Skills for 3-year-olds
Begin dressing boards to practice using Snaps, zippers, and buttons
Dress self without snaps, zippers, and buttons
Put on coat, snow pants, hats and mittens
Put on shoes
Put away some of their own laundry in specified drawers. (label for more direction)
Learn beginning cooking (measuring, pouring, mixing)
Begin pouring water/milk/juice from a pitcher
Wipe up own spills (keep small squares of shammy or towels within reach)
Family style eating which includes setting the table and serving self.
Learn first and last name and what town they live in
Fold socks and put away
Ask to be excused from table and push chair in
Once fully potty trained learn to wipe bottom correctly without assistance
e. Self-Care Skills for 4-year-olds
Begin learning to tie shoes
Master the dressing boards
Put sheets on cots and fold blankets
Start learning more advanced cooking skills (cracking eggs alone, spreading butter and jam, cutting banana slices)
Learn to wash dishes
Learn to sweep and mop
Memorize phone number and address
Can wipe bottom correctly
f. Self-Care Skills for 5-year-olds
Learn emergency numbers and what to do in case of a fire
Master dressing independently
Brush hair independently
Brush teeth independently
Replace toilet paper roll if finished
Understand and choose weather appropriate clothing
Master tying shoes
Learn the food plate and how to make healthy food choices
Use the sink to wash fruits, veggies, plates, cups
Learn how to use microwave (with supervision)
Learn more cooking skills (peeling vegetables, chopping ingredients with safe knife)
Learn how to place small items in oven using mitts (with supervision)
This blog post is part one of two. Part two will go into ideas and tips for teaching self-help skills. I also want to hear from all of you on what you would like to know. I have thousands of pictures of works, classroom environments, lessons and parent tips. The hardest part for me is deciding what to write on.
I am part of a Facebook group and this is the title. When childcare in most states was “deemed” essential during this Covid-19 crisis over the last few weeks we got excited! Finally, someone noticed how valuable we are and what we do! However, as the days and weeks go on we have been slapped with more regulations and less funding. Montana, for example, increased the regulations to the point that few can stay open under such rigor and the ones who are forced to close out of lack of staff or any other means will lose all funding while they are closed. Many programs will not survive this and won’t be able to reopen. The few that remain open are forced to maintain those standards with zero extra funding.
Meanwhile, they increased unemployment benefits so people staying at home are making more than the essential workers who are on the front lines every day. Early childhood is an undervalued and underpaid field we aren’t getting hazard pay and because our margins are so tight most owners can’t afford hazard pay and are not even taking a paycheck themselves. People ask why do you stay in a field with those statistics? The truth is, we do it because we love it and we are essential to the hearts and minds of the children we care for. We provide peace of mind for the parents as they leave their most valued possessions with us every day. 
Being essential is much more than a title given by the government, it is a state of mind, it is the fact that we know what we do is bigger than all of us! The children and families need us but the world needs us too. Childcare is the heartbeat of our economy. Without quality care and education for young children, parents either can’t work or won’t feel comfortable doing so. Early childhood needs the recognition we deserve to run the amazing programs we do and properly compensate our hardworking, self-sacrificing teachers! 
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