What are Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)?
They are the things we do every day such as getting dressed, going to the bathroom, putting our shoes on, brushing our teeth, etc. The following are some strategies for how to best complete getting dressed and undressed to practice them at home so that your child can dress themselves independently.
Click the button below to download the instructions below!
Some Tips:
- Use simple words
- Don’t give too much help, allow child to complete as much of task as possible
- Demonstrate task (i.e. rubbing hands together to wash hands) for child, modeling good technique
- Teach the same sequence each time you practice the task and practice often
- Use music or rhymes to make the task fun!
SHOES
TAKING SHOES OFF
Position your child seated on chair of appropriate height.
STEP 1
PLACE LEG OVER OPPOSITE KNEE
WHAT YOU SAY:
“Shoes off!”
WHAT YOU DO:
Tap the knee where the leg should rest.
STEP 2
LOOSEN ANY VELCRO, LACES, OR ZIPPERS
WHAT YOU SAY:
“Unzip!” for zipper or “Pull off!” for Velcro (Child may require more assistance with this task until they gain necessary skills)
WHAT YOU DO:
Tug on zipper or tap Velcro, may also place child’s hand in the appropriate place.
STEP 3
HOOK FINGERS INTO BACK OF SHOE AND PUSH SHOE UNTIL SHOE HAS BEEN FULLY REMOVED
WHAT YOU SAY:
“Push!”
WHAT YOU DO:
Tap the back of the shoe or place child’s hand in appropriate place.
PUTTING SHOES ON
Position your child seated on chair of appropriate height.
STEP 1
PICK UP SHOE
WHAT YOU SAY:
“Get shoe!”
WHAT YOU DO:
Tap or motion to nearby shoe.
STEP 2
PLACE LEG OVER OPPOSITE LEG
WHAT YOU SAY:
“Shoes on!”
WHAT YOU DO:
Tap the knee where the leg should rest.
STEP 3
PULL SHOE ONTO FOOT, HOOKING FINGER IN THE BACK TO KEEP IT FROM FOLDING OVER
WHAT YOU SAY:
“Pull!”
WHAT YOU DO:
Place finger in back of shoe with child’s hand to demonstrate how the motion should be done.
STEP 4
PLACE FOOT ONTO FLOOR AND PUSH UNTIL THE SHOE IS COMPLETELY ON
WHAT YOU SAY:
“Push down!”
WHAT YOU DO:
Push down on child’s knee with the palm of your hand.
STEP 5
FASTEN VELCRO, ZIPPER, ETC.
WHAT YOU SAY:
“Zip!” or “Pull!” (child may require more assistance with this task until they gain the necessary skills)
WHAT YOU DO:
Tug on zipper or tap Velcro, may also place child’s hand in the appropriate place.
Resources:
Putting on Shoes and Socks
Put on Shoes Song
Teaching Your Child How to Get Dressed
Let’s Get Dressed Song
