Independent Living Skills

 

Our curriculum is designed to support our pupils in their life, to encourage greater independence and prepare them for their futures.

Below, we have included some ideas and activities to inspire our learners whilst they are at home.  We have tried to include activities that you can incorporate into your daily routine whilst supporting your child with everyday tasks.  

 

Cleaning 2

 

Tidying

Get your child moving: physical activity is an important part of their school day.  Show your child how to put away their toys, this will be helpful for you both.  Remember, simple activities and instructions are much more achievable and less overwhelming. “Pick up the cars.” is much more effective than, “Tidy your room.” and repetition will support your child with this activity. 

Cleaning

Let your child have a cloth to hold when helping you clean. Spray it with something that smells nice to encourage them. 

Hoovering

Encourage your child to handle the hoover and turn it on and off.  Build anticipation by turning it on and off near them and eventually, whilst they hold the suction tube, let them feel the suction on their skin and clothing. 

Cooking

Cooking at home can be a fun activity for our pupils.  Whether they are supported in their standing frames, standing at the kitchen counter or seated at the table, they will enjoy the chance to handle the cooking equipment.  This can be as simple as banging the pots and pans with a whisk or other utensil whilst they watch you cook, right up to allowing them to mix the ingredients themselves.  Let them handle a range of textures with their fingers and explore the mixed ingredients as the textures change.  

 

Cooking

 

Make simple foods, like toast or try following a recipe.  You could even make playdough together! For our more sensory learners, hide items for them to find in flour or fill a bowl with water and add some food colouring. 

Help them to turn the microwave or oven on and off and let them feel the heat as you open the oven door.  Fill their senses by letting them smell the food as it is cooking. 

Recipes

Cooking Board

Banana Muffin Recipe

Tablespoon Biscuit Recipe

 

Gardening

Gardening

 

Whether you have a garden or pots on a window sill, encourage your child to feel the different textures available.  Let them handle the garden utensils and feel the soil.  Make a ‘mud-pie’ by mixing soil and water or hide items in the soil for them to find. 

If you can, enjoy letting your child be outside.  Take their shoes off and let them feel the grass or they could help you mow it.  Smell the fresh-cut-grass.  You could even do a nature-trail. 

Let them hold and smell flowers and plants or plant seeds and take responsibility for watering them every day. 

Washing the Car

Car wash

If you are enjoying the extra time at home by doing chores that might otherwise have been left, then why not encourage your child to help.  Wear waterproofs and let them enjoy splashing the water.  Encourage them to squeeze the sponge or flicking water with the brush.  Let them feel the water splashing up the car or even give them the hose! Sensory learners love bubbles.  Give them their own bucket with a little soapy water and make the activity fun with inexpensive bubble blowers. 

Hand Washing

In the current climate hand washing is paramount so we have included songs and you tube clips to support your child with this activity. 

Hand Washing Instructions

When to Wash Hands

Hand Washing Song 1

Hand Washing Song 2

Hand Washing Song 3

Getting Dressed 

Getting Dressed

Offer your child the choice of what to wear.  Above, you will see a communication board to support our pupils communicate their ideas around getting dressed. 

Whilst dressing, name parts of the body or take it a step further and complete a virtual experiment online to name the body parts (1A):

https://www.lgfl.net/learning-resources/summary-page/virtual-experiments-years-1-and-2

Personal Hygiene Stories

Hygiene

Brushing your teeth