Every parent wants their kids to grow up with the skills they need to be successful in life. To help them become more confident and independent as they grow older, it’s important to teach them essential life skills.
One of the biggest milestones in a child’s journey to independence is the ability to put on shoes and socks by themselves. It may seem silly, but this is a major step in a child’s ability to perform ADLs or “Activities of Daily Living.” It gives children the opportunity to gain a sense of control over their own lives. When your child is first beginning to learn this skill, it can feel like they will never be able to get a grasp on the concept. Figuring out which way the socks go, maneuvering their foot into the right position, or getting their toes to the very tip can be very overwhelming. This increases body awareness, balance, coordination, fine motor skills, and hand strength, and improves grasp.
Our EY 3 children today learnt the right way to put on their shoes and socks and thus crossed the big milestone with flying colours. The pride in their face and excitement to compete with their friends as to who would accomplish it first was a sight.
When a child learns how to put on their shoes, it is like a small weight has been lifted. It’s one thing you can remove from your “to-do” list before leaving the house. It is wonderful! They’ll enjoy feeling “big” when they can do things themselves.