What can your 9 and a half yrs old can do (own responsibilities - ie brushing own hair without reminding her, etc)

[biglips]

as it seems that she cant do any of them!! brushing her hair, brushing her teeth without reminding her which had been going on for a very long time.

We noticed that she is very smelly when we pick her up too as she doesnt seem to have baths/showers often.

thanks as i cant remember what i was doing at that age

[biglips]

she is my stepdaughter and comes to our house every fortnight

[Hecate]

nowt. I remind him to do everything. Lots of prompting and encouraging. Stand over him to ensure he does it. He sometimes goes off and does stuff, but you can't rely on it!

[foofi]

biglips, my 9yr old is hopeless so I sympathise. She is my baby though and I supposed I always treated her like that, so I probably made it worse!

[biglips]

i do hope it is normal as we dont know whats goes on at her home...ie what her reponsibilites are...

[biglips]

bump

[pickledparsnips]

my 9 yr old remembers to brush her hair and teeth as part of her daily routine of getting ready...she needs prompting to go in the shower regularly though! Maybe a word with her mum about her routine when she's with her to ask her advice.Why not buy her some smellies and a special brush and hair accessories may be a good idea, or when she's with you doing girly things like soaking feet and foot massage and painting nails. Talk about caring for herself and personal hygeine? My 9 yr old dd is very sporty and is beginning to get sweaty, she is starting to use deodorant.

[NumberJill]

I couldn't remember anything when I was nine because I didn't care.

[biglips]

pickledparsnips - aww thats a lovely idea as i think i will try that to buy her some smellies to feel 'grown up'. i did asked her if she ask her mum that she can/is having a shower/bath but said never but she does at her Nans. whats the difference??

[ivykaty44]

my 9 year old brushes her teeth sometimes on her own and sometimes needs reminding. Gets herslef ready for school in the morning, does her own reading, hates having a shower bnut will if forced and washes under her arms etc.

I get her to swim three times a week to get her in the shower at swimming - loves swimming

Brushes her own hair but its a mess...... even after brushing

[bigTillyMint]

My nearly 9yo has to be reminded to bathe, brush hair/teeth, asks what kind of clothes she should wear if not a school uniform day (can't judge the weather / what's best for different activities, but has a growing sense of her own fashion / style)
But she can do all those things herself once reminded, and she is able to walk herself to and from swimming lesson (round corner!), shower and wash hair.

I think giving her some nice smellies is a great idea - and you could have a chat about personal hygiene at the same time, and repeat it every time she comes round till you think she's got the message!

It would be sad if other kids started to tease her about being smelly.