This back-to-school season is like no other. But kids are still kids. And, they should know how to care for themselves when we’re not around. Here are some activities the whole family can do together to prep for the inevitable scrape or cut away from home.
As a Behavior Scientist I like to teach kids independence skills. We focus on what they can control: their own actions. I invite you to do the same when working on building hygiene skills at home. Remember: practice makes perfect. Skills aren’t gained on the first try. Instead, we gradually get better through practice. So, practice at home, the park, grandma’s, everywhere you can so that your little one feels ready when you’re not around.
Here’s how you can start:
1.) The Humpty Dumpty:
Let’s face it: kids get hurt. And so does Humpty Dumpty. So, when teaching children about self-care, I start off with this old time favorite. We take time to learn the story and rhyme, and then we use bandaids to patch up a Humpty Dumpty cardboard cut-out. (Be advised, my art skills are lacking) Through this activity children work on their fine motor and real-life problem-solving skills.
Make sure to get the inexpensive bandaids for this craft because your kids will go to town on those bandages, and Humpty will get put back together again.
2.) What’s Up, Doc?:
Now your kid is ready to be the real thing: a toy doctor. Line up everyone from the toy chest, and with a pencil or pen draw different size “scrapes” on them. Have your little one clean the wound from start to finish. Check if they know how to use their gloves, wipes, “antiseptic ointment” and most importantly, line up the cotton part of the bandage with the cut. Now they’re practicing proper placement.
As an add on, take time to teach them “how doctors wash their hands”. Get all the fingers, nails, palms and wrists. The CDC suggests washing hands for at least 20 seconds. Have fun and sing a memorable tune through the process!
It’s Go Time:
In Behavior Science it’s called Natural Environment Training. In real life, I call it “Go Time”. We haven’t been patching up cardboard eggs and toy cars to stop there. That was practice to get the kinks out. Now you need to get a kid-friendly First-Aid kit or make your own kit with the tools your child KNOWS HOW TO HANDLE. Practice at home so that s/he is ready to handle when you’re not around.
Here’s what I suggest:
Ziploc bag or other small container,
Hand sanitizing wipes,
First-Aid Antibiotic ointment, (I would avoid spray because kids can accidentally spray an eye or two)
Bandaids (try different kinds and sizes: waterproof, true to skin color, or favorite cartoon),
Gauze,
Instant Ice pack,
Stickers/ Get well soon notes (leave a heart or a note to boost morale for your future boo-booed baby),
Small visual or infographic of how to clean and dress a scrape or cut.
*Feel free to include small scissors and medical tape. I’ve shown my kids to just use bandaids to keep gauze in place should the cut be bigger than the Bandages in their pack.
**Make sure to adjust this list for your needs. This may be a good place to pack an extra face mask if your child is using one in school.
BONUS HOW TO: : Keep a First-Aid kit around so that your little one has access to it when they get their inevitable boo boo. If you’re around, here are the steps you can take to encourage them to clean and dress their own wound:
Acknowledge their pain and tears: “Oh no! I see you’re hurt!”
Ask them to push through and point to where the scrape/cut is: “I know it hurts, hunny. I want to help you get better. Can you point to where it hurts?”
Check to see if it’s mild enough to handle with your First Aid skills. “I see we can fix your boo-boo with our First Aid kit. Want to go together or wait for me here while I go get our kit?” or if it’s a wound that requires medical help, try to stay calm, breathe and say: “I think this needs a real doctor because it’s bigger than what we can handle right now, let’s get one.”
Once you have the kit, take out your infographic and follow the steps in your plan. Encourage your child to do as many of the steps s/he can properly, and cheer them on along the way. Start like this: “OK. Here’s our kit. Let’s get our plan and see what the first step is.” Point to the first step and say: “First we _______” (wait 3 seconds to see if your child is going to respond). If s/he does, say: “Yes. That’s right, the first step is to clean our hands. Let’s do that. If s/he doesn’t respond within the 3 seconds, finish the sentence: “First we (3 seconds are up) clean our hands. Let’s do that.” Continue through your infographic steps and allow your little one to be as independent in this process as s/he’s ready to be.
The first time may be scary for your sweet baby to get involved in cleaning and dressing their cut. THAT’S OK. Sometimes we don’t want to jump right in even if we’ve practiced our skill. Just keep practicing.
Take note of any behaviors that s/he demonstrates interest in participating: stops crying, looks at the infographic, reaches for an item on the kit, looks into your eyes for reassurance, smiles.
Also take note of any behaviors that s/he demonstrates s/he’s not interested in participating: crying continues or gets worse, screams or looks away when you’re going through the steps, screams “No!” or doesn’t respond to your cues.
* Remember to practice when tensions are low. When your child is going through a crisis or tantrum, do NOT attempt to teach.
*Also, if the wound is infected, large, and out of the scope of what you or your child can handle, get medical help. During your teaching phase, make sure to teach your child how to ask for help and/or how to dial 911 in emergencies. The more you practice the easier it is to stay calm when a crisis really occurs because you have a plan.
I suggest every adult take First Aid/ CPR classes. It’s absolutely necessary especially if you have little ones depending on you. With a quick online search, you’ll find one in your community.
Meet ms. wendy
Wendy Toribio-Baez lives and breathes for the wholesomeness of early childhood. She is a Behavior and Learning Scientist, who guides parents and teachers in providing optimal learning experiences for young children. In her personal practice, Wendy creates and implements individualized plans to help her students efficiently acquire communication, independence, learning and academic skills. With almost 10 years of experience as a Founder and Educational Director of various early childhood learning havens, Wendy has partnered with hundreds of educators, psychologists and other professionals to become a resource for the families she supports. And, she also walks the walk. A millennial mom, Wendy and her two little girls have a ton of fun homeschooling, unschooling and re-schooling; always with intent, curiosity and goodness.
Wendy Toribio-Baez is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) who earned her Masters of Science in Teaching (MST) in Early Childhood-Early Childhood Special Education from Fordham University, where she was President of Kappa Delta Pi, International Honor Society in Education. If you’d like extra support with your little one, feel free to email her at info@labschoolrd.com