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What can your 5yo do independently?

2 replies

thepinkcow · 02/11/2024 23:14

A conversation with a friend got me thinking about what my 5yo DD can or will do independently and what we should be encouraging her to do independently and I wondered if we should be encouraging her to do more than she currently does.
It's a struggle really to get her to do anything she's asked to do, I think I do a lot for her to avoid the argument most of the time and I think I definitely need to stop this and encourage a bit more independence.
Currently she will:
Set the table for dinner
Pack away her toys (although this is a struggle)
Help get her younger sibling dressed
Brush her teeth (I do go over them after)
Tidy her room
Sort clean washing into piles per person
Pick out clothes for the day
Take dirty washing to basket
She can dress herself however it's a real struggle to get her to do it by herself

What more should we be encouraging at this age? Should she be able to brush her hair herself, make her own bed etc

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Catsonskis · 02/11/2024 23:24

Mine is 4, and quite independent and self sufficient but can’t do half of what you’ve listed/I haven’t tried her on them.

she will put cutlery on the table, but not set it ie table mats and cutlery in correct place or salt and pepper and waters out.
shell pack away toys if she wants to get something else out!
her idea of tidying her room would be to shove everything along the edge of her room or under her bed.
she’ll brush her teeth but I always go over
ive never even considered her sorting the washing but probably as I fold as I sort, or separate stuff for ironing.
she can dress her self but 90% of the time it’s in outfits I wouldn’t want others to see her in haha.

but she will:
sit for hour to try and write a story or draw a story
make up and perform a show
say thank you for dinner and ask to get down from the table before carrying her plate to the kitchen work top,
will help herself to apples and fruit from the bowl
go to the toilet and wipe her bum, flush and wash hands (but needs help wiping after number 2s)
feed herself holding and using cutlery correctly
get into the car and put her seatbelt on/take it off independently
put shoes and coat on without help
drive me crackers with singing the same song over and over

welshweasel · 02/11/2024 23:34

My 5 year old can dress themselves, toilet themselves including wiping after a poo, get into car and put seatbelt on, tidy up with much encouragement. Needs help with showering but will do his own teeth. Never asked him to lay the table but will help clear up.

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