Life Skills

Imagine for a moment that you are completely unable to care for yourself. Someone has to dress you every day, change your diaper, make your food, brush your teeth, do your shopping... Wouldn't you be desperate for any amount of independence? This is comes when life skills are taught!!!! I want Chelsea to be able to live as independently as possible, and I will absolutely help her to get to that point!

Here is a list of a few things I am working with Chelsea on so she can learn to be more independent!

1. Personal hygiene! Washing hands correctly and frequently, toileting, bathing herself, and brushing her teeth.

2. Dressing and Undressing. Buttons and zippers are hard! We use various busy bags and a Minnie Mouse skills board to practice, as well as some different buttoning activities. We also have her dress and undress herself as often as possible, and she is getting better!

3. Following directions! I alternate this one a lot- give verbal directions "Spin around, sit down, then go find your shoes", and picture directions in list form, like visual prompts for washing hands, or making a peanut butter jelly sandwich

4. Budgeting! Right now, we keep it very simple; we have a picture list of chores she can do to earn money, then when we go to the store, she can find something she wants, we take a picture, and she can save up. It gives us an awesome way to practice counting and for her to learn to save and make purchases by herself!  

Chelsea at age 3

5. Say her name, address, and phone number. Right now, I have a lanyard she can hand to someone if she is lost, and I just put it on her whenever we leave the house. Luckily, we haven't had to use it in an emergency, but I still try and get her to practice.

6. Making purchases. Chelsea will need to find what she is looking for in the store, bring it to the cashier, make sure she has enough money, and pay for it. And when she is so cute and little, most people and cashiers are very patient with her!

One day I will get this project done for her!

Later on: There are lists and lists on this topic, some that I plan on teaching Chelsea later will be things like managing personal health (cooking, exercise, basic nutrition), pet care, calling 9-1-1, eating out, doing laundry and dishes, using public transportation, doing her hair and makeup, etc. Sooo many things to learn!