Brushing skills in children with special needs: Personal hygiene & activities of daily living

The presentation above is an information guide on brushing skills in children with special needs.

As children grow older it is natural to let them take care of their everyday self-care needs. They brush their teeth, bathe and groom themselves with little help from their parent. Introducing your child to self-care early on will ensure they grow to become independent members of the family. Some children may learn better with visuals, some learn by imitating their siblings, while some children need a structured and organized mode of instruction. Whichever be the mode of instruction children will learn to get there and take care of their everyday needs by themselves with consistent practice.

Children will eventually learn depending on their level of understanding & gradually acquire skills for daily living activities. But, always make sure you remember to praise them along the way. A little prompting from you will encourage them to actively participate in the learning process.

Teaching these skills to the child requires systematic instructions, continuous guidance, modifications/adaptations, praise/reinforcement, and even assistance, as and when needed.

You may also seek tips from Occupational Therapist Ms. Snehal Vaidya about Activities of Daily Living.

Please note, that children with Autism are very receptive to learning from visual schedules which serve as a guide that visually illustrates steps of a given activity in a structured manner. Please use visual schedules where possible during the teaching process.

The Jai Vakeel Foundation has helped us compile a step-by-step process to walk your children with special needs through the act of brushing skills every day.

Do you want to teach your child bathing skills as well? Refer to the link here to learn.

If you have questions about Autism, Down Syndrome, ADHD, or other intellectual disabilities, or have concerns about developmental delays in a child, the Nayi Disha team is here to help. For any questions or queries, please contact our FREE Helpline at 844-844-8996. You can call or what’s app us.

DISCLAIMER: Please note that this guide is for information purposes only. Please consult a qualified health practitioner for safe management.