Top things every toddler by 5 should be taught

It is important to inculcate good habits in children and is essential that we should also teach them a few basic life skills in the best interest of both parent and child. A toddler being helpful is a good thing, because that nature of ‘being helpful’ only grows over a period of time. Regardless of the gender of the child, if the parent teaches these life skills, am sure they will only grow to learn more as they grow up and be better when they are adults. Indian parents have a habit of tagging the gender for anything to everything. Over the years, it is practised that male and female genders are limited to do certain chores. In this process, even children are not left out. So, you tend to see the little girls helping their mom and the boys do not even get a thought of placing a newspaper if it is lying on the floor. I remember my mother-in-law saying this to my 2 YO “Sweeping is not your job, why are you fiddling with the broomstick”. I was taken aback and replied in a subtle tone “things have changed now; everyone must know domestic chores too for the better”. So, I always believed in teaching my child a few life-skills as a fun activity which will eventually become habits over a period of time.

I am listing down a few life skills every toddler should be taught by the age of 5 years:

Brush the teeth. This is one activity most parents feel as a challenging one, especially on holidays. Children do not like to waste time in such acts like brushing the teeth, running to the washroom to answer nature’s call etc. I faced the same, so I started placing this chair at the washbasin and made him brush his teeth. Now he does not need me to brush his teeth, he usually does it by him but I keep a check once to ensure if he did properly and end up brushing once again. So, technically, by the time they are 5 yo, they master the art of cleaning their teeth and tongue properly.

Wash hands before and after a snack. This is something children would love to do. Mine places a chair to reach the tap of the washbasin, properly takes the liquid soap and cleans his hands. You happen to see a lot of water wasted, so tell them not to waste water. I did this, and now he corrects anybody who leaves the tap. He says “See, water is getting wasted”. In the process of teaching the life skills, we must also teach the basic things like this so that they learn the value of it. He even washes the fruits I give him to eat. He ends up washing the fruits again all by himself saying that I did not wash properly. At this age, they might simply enjoy it as a fun thing, it gradually becomes a habit.

Fetch water to drink when their water bottle is empty. Children love doing things on their own once they take those tiny footsteps. They should be allowed to do things on their own, you know those things that do not put them in trouble at least. In the beginning, every mother has that paranoia that her kid may get hurt doing things, trust me, as long as you have your eyes all set on them while they are trying something, nothing would go wrong. Gradually, they get habituated and grow up doing it and mother can rest assured. Allow them to fill their water bottle, few may have difficulty opening the lid of the bottle, you can certainly offer help.

Where should the dirty or soiled clothes go and what we must do with the washed clothes? I really did not teach this to him, he simply followed what I used to do. For a 1 and half year old, it was fun to keep the soiled clothes in the linen basket or the washing machine. I assumed that he would not do it later when he grows up Later. Touch wood, so far so good. He is aware of the fact where the soiled clothes should go. They also enjoy folding clothes like their hand towels, socks, and their tiny shirts, may not be to the level of perfection but yes, to an extent good enough for their age. It is better if they know where their closet is and what goes in there. Teach them to place the washed clothes in their closets. This is one way to be organized, it really helps.

Clean up their toys; put them back where they were. This used to be our favourite activity at the end of the day. In the beginning, I used to do it along with him so as to teach the fact “things must get back to their respective places once we are done”. Though I started this only to teach him to stack his toys, he eventually started applying the same principle to other things as well like his school bag, his comb, toothbrush, water bottle, shoes. In fact, now if a certain thing is not in its place, he asks “who kept this here?. Now he is 3 and a half year old. I find it good because when I start full-time work again, he is aware what goes where and what should go where?

Cleaning what he spilled. Again, this is the favourite for most kids to clean the wet floor using a mop or pieces of paper or snacks spilled on the floor with a broomstick. Remember, children learn by watching us and they follow us big time. At three and half years of age, he has an instinct that if he spills anything, it needs to be cleaned before mommy shouts. This sweeping and cleaning are usually an activity throughout the day because children spill some or the other thing. I end up cleaning it and he comes with another broom to help me. Sounds good, right!

Blow their nose and wipe with a hand towel or a tissue paper and wash too. Mother or a guardian cannot be expected all the time at a certain age. They must know to blow their nose and clean when they are attacked by the cold. My son knows the utility of a tissue and handkerchief right from the age of 13 months. He used to wipe his mouth soon after eating something and used to try wiping the nose with a soft tissue. It feels good to see them growing to be independent.

Remove the footwear and place it in the shoe rack before entering into the house. Make it a habit to remove the footwear/show before entering the house and neatly place it in the rack has started right from the time he started taking those tiny steps. It became a routine to remove, keep it in the rack than just throwing it anywhere. While going somewhere, my son usually gets his shoes from the rack and wears the socks, though kids at this age need help in putting their shoes on.

Dress and Undress. Putting the shirt on is a little difficult for a toddler, but wearing pants is much easier. Teach them what comes in from and what goes in the rear. Their shorts have some kind of print and if there is no print, for sure, the pants have the tag inside (which I often cut because it pricks). Show them that the print comes in front and the pockets go back, something that they can remember. I did it and yes it works great.