A Pediatric Therapist’s Guide to Building Independence

Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) are the everyday skills children need to become more independent— eating, dressing, brushing teeth, washing hands, toileting, wearing shoes, and more.

As a pediatric therapist, I often encourage parents to start practising these skills early rather than waiting for a child to “be ready.”

Start Small, Start Early

ADL training can begin in the toddler years. At first, children may need full assistance, but gradually they can participate in small parts of the activity.

For example:

• Let your child hold the spoon during meals.
• Encourage them to pull up their trousers.
• Let them wash their hands with guidance.
• Encourage them to put on or remove their shoes.
• Allow them to participate in brushing their teeth.
• Introduce simple toileting routines.

Why Is ADL Training Important?

ADLs are not just about completing daily tasks. They help children develop:

For children who have developmental or physical challenges, these activities may require additional support and structured practice.

A Therapist’s Approach

As pediatric therapists, we break a task into small, achievable steps and work on the physical and motor skills needed to complete it.

The goal isn’t to do everything for the child. The goal is to gradually reduce assistance and help the child become more independent.