Daily Self-Care Skills Hub
Milestones and activities of daily living (ADL) tailored to Indian families—helping children master independence from infancy to primary school.
Independence Matters
Self-care skills boost confidence and are strongly linked to school readiness and executive functioning.Tip for Parents
Invite children to help rather than “do it perfectly”—shared tasks accelerate mastery by up to 6 months.Core Self-Care Domains
- Dressing: choosing clothes, managing fasteners, folding uniform.
- Feeding: self-spooning, eating dal-chawal with hand, using tiffin box.
- Toileting: recognising cues, using Indian or western toilet, hand-washing.
- Personal Hygiene: teeth-brushing, bathing, oiling & combing hair.
- Household Participation: tidying toys, carrying school water bottle, helping serve chapati.
Age-Wise ADL Milestone Chart (Indian Context)
| Age Range | Typical Self-Care Skills | Everyday Practice Ideas |
|---|---|---|
| 6–12 m | Holds feeding bottle briefly • Finger-feeds soft banana pieces • Tries to pull hat off | Offer soft roti bits to pick up • Let baby hold spoon during porridge feeding |
| 12–18 m | Drinks from small steel tumbler with spills • Removes shoes/socks • Assists in wiping mouth | Keep child-sized tumbler at meals • Play “take off socks” after outdoor play |
| 18–24 m | Scoops rice with spoon 50% success • Helps pull down elastic pants before potty • Carries small tiffin to table | Colourful spoons at mealtime • Potty time song to cue pulling pants |
| 2–3 y | Puts on loose tee • Opens flip lid of water bottle • Indicates toilet need consistently | Lay out two tees and let child choose • Practice bottle-opening race |
| 3–4 y | Buttons front on school shirt • Eats chapati with curry using hand neatly • Uses Indian squat toilet with prompt | Button frames in play corner • Small bowls of curry for hand practice |
| 4–5 y | Zips jacket/start zip • Packs own napkin & spoon into tiffin bag • Brushes teeth with minimal help | Zip dolls for speed game • 2-min sand timer for brushing |
| 5–6 y | Bathes with bucket & mug supervision • Opens snack packets • Knots shoelace once | Picture sequence for bath steps • Snack “open & share” practice |
| 6–7 y | Laces and ties shoes • Folds school uniform • Counts bus fare & gives coins | “Bunny-ears” lace song • Folding race after laundry • Play “kirana shop” with coins |
| 7–8 y | Bathes independently incl. shampoo • Prepares simple snack (bread-jam, poha) • Packs schoolbag per timetable | Family snack day—child chef • Evening bag-packing checklist chart |
Common Challenges & Sensory/Motor Links
- Tactile sensitivity: avoids socks or tags → seamless socks, deep-pressure towel rub.
- Motor planning: struggles with buttons → start with large poppers, grade down gradually.
- Oral sensitivity: tooth-brushing refusal → flavoured gauze wipes, silicone finger brush, then regular brush.
- Postural instability: slumps while dressing → core play (wheelbarrow walks) before task.
Quick Wins for Parents
- Break tasks into 1–2-step chunks.
- Use visual schedules and simple Hindi/English words.
- Offer choices: “red kurta or blue shirt?”.
- Try backward chaining: child completes last step first for instant success.