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by Kimberly Mielke, MSOT, OTR/L
Self-care skills are the basic tasks we perform every day. Self-care skills are
also known as Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). The self-care skills children learn
early on are self-feeding, dressing, bathing, and grooming. This handout will give
a basic guideline for the development of self-feeding skills.
Self-feeding provides a fun and easy way for a child to explore different sensory
experiences and feels. This is a great opportunity for the child to play with and
feel crumbly, rough, wet, squishy, spongy, and slippery textures. Foods also provide
different sounds, smells, and tastes. Self-feeding can be messy, but being allowed
to be messy will help a child gain confidence, become comfortable with different
textures, and develop strength and coordination in the hands and fingers.
In addition, using forks, spoons, and cups are some of the earliest opportunities
for a child to learn how to use tools. Learning to use tools is important as the
child grows and starts to draw with crayons, write with pencils, and cut with scissors.
A child who is practicing and learning self-feeding skills is also improving:
- Strength in his/her back, arms, and hands.
- Using both arms and hands together.
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Coordination in his/her arms and hands.
- Eye-hand coordination.
Drinking from a Bottle/Cup
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Age
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Milestone
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2 to 4 months
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Moves hand/hands up to the bottle/breast while feeding
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6 to 9 months
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Holds a bottle with both hands
Uses a cup with help
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12 to 15 months
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Holds a cup with both hands
Takes a few sips without help
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15 to 18 months
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Uses a straw
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2 to 3 years
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Drinks from a cup (no lid) without spilling
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Self-Feeding
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Age
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Milestone
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6 to 9 months
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Wants to help with feeding
Starts holding and mouthing large crackers/cookies
Plays with spoon; grabs/bangs spoon; puts both ends in mouth
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9 to 13 months
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Finger feeds soft foods and foods that melt quickly
Enjoys finger feeding
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12 to 14 months
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Dips spoon in food
Moves spoon to mouth but is messy and spills
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15 to 18 months
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Scoops food with a spoon and feeds self
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18 to 24 months
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Wants to feed himself/herself
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2 to 3 years
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Stabs food with fork
Uses spoon without spilling
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3 to 5 years
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Eats by himself/herself
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Children with impaired motor skills and/or developmental disabilities may have a
harder time learning these skills. Let the child's abilities guide the speed they
acquire self-feeding skills and gradually progress from the simpler skills to more
complex ones.
Games/Activities
Imitation and play can also help children develop self-feeding skills. Include the
following games/activities into your child's day to help your child learn to feed
himself/herself.
- Scoop and pour water in the bathtub using stacking or measuring cups.
- Use
a spoon to scoop marshmallows.
- Use scoops and shovels in a sandbox.
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Put small objects through holes into containers.
- Play with play dough—scooping,
stabbing, cutting, and pinching pieces.
- Pretend to feed a baby doll.
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Have imaginary tea parties, picnics, or meals.
Resource
Case-Smith, J. (2005). Occupational therapy for children: Fifth edition.
St. Louis: Elsevier Inc.
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