Teaching your child the everyday essentials

When children play, they’re learning what they want to learn. Often these will be things you want them to learn too.  Sometimes, though, they may need some extra help from you. For example, when they’re learning to use a potty, how to wash and dress themselves or what not to touch and where it’s not safe to run.

The following suggestions can make life easier for both of you: 

•Wait until you think your child is ready. If you try to teach them something too soon, you’ll both end up getting frustrated. If you try teaching them something and it doesn’t work out, leave it for a few weeks and try again.

•Don’t make it into a big deal. Your child might learn to eat with a spoon very quickly but still want to be fed when they’re tired. They might use the potty a few times then want to go back to nappies. Don’t worry. It doesn’t mean you’ve failed. It won’t take them long to realise that they want to learn to be grown up and independent.

•Keep them safe. Children under three can’t understand why they shouldn’t fiddle with electrical goods or breakable objects. It’s easier to keep things you don’t want touched well out of their way.

•Be encouraging. Your child wants to please you. If you give them a big smile, a cuddle or praise when they do something right, they’re much more likely to do it again. This works a lot better than telling them off for doing something wrong.

•Be realistic. Don't expect perfection or instant results. If you assume everything is going to take a bit longer than you thought, you will be pleasantly surprised if it doesn't.

•Set an example. Your child wants to be like you and do what you do. Let them see you washing, brushing your teeth and using the loo.

•Be firm. Children need firm, consistent guidelines. Once you’ve made a decision, stick to it. For example, if you start potty training but decide your child isn’t ready, it’s fine to give up and try again a few weeks later. But a child who’s in nappies one day, out of them the next day and back in them the day after is bound to get confused.

•Be consistent. For the same reason, it’s important that everyone who looks after your child teaches them the same things in more or less the same way. If you and your partner, or you and your childminder, do things very differently, your child won’t learn as easily.

•Do what’s right for your child, for you and the way you live. Don’t worry about what the child next door can or can’t do. It’s not a competition.

NHS UK