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Hi! I was just wondering if any of you expect a 22 month old to do anything for themselves??? I have 3 this age and one of them will do nothing at all for himself. For example, I don't expect him to dress himself but he won't even put on his own hat or slide his arms into his sleeves when I hold the jacket. The other two will at least attempt everything. Just wondering if he is lazy, used to parents just doing everything, stubborn or if it is more of a concern than that! Thanks!
I have one like this too, Emily. He's 22 months, and basically goes limp when I try to dress him. It's better than the alternative he offers his mom though...thrashing and screaming. LOL
I think both are normal.
Mostly it has to do with the parents. If the parents don't treat them like a "big boy" you will have more trouble getting him to do it at your house - not impossible but definitely harder as in he will hold out as long as possible. WIthout the practice at home it will be harder too.
Normally I wait until they have turned 24 months before I worry too much about what they can and can't do as all develop at different rates too. Between 24-27 months I assess independence skills because I make it clear to parents that I will not begin potty training until some of these things like pulling pants down is learned which spurs them to realize the child should be doing these things for themselves.
Ya - hard to develop a 'skill' if you have not had opportunity to master it ... if you are the only one with the expectation of having self help skills emerging and your place is the only place he practices than he will not be at the same 'stage of mastery' as a child who has been encourage and expected to 'try' to help with dressing.
I have a child who will turn 2 in March ... since he started at one year of age both his parents and I have said things like 'help push your leg through' 'help push your arm through' and he has 'assisted' in his dressing more and more with less help from us ... when he masters something at home or here we communicate about it so we can 'expect' him to do it in both locations ... for this winter he can get his legs into his snowsuit and 'find his feet' which we have been playing since he started last winter only now he finds them all on his own pulling his snow-pant legs up and trying to find the 'holes' for the straps - I help him get the overalls up and he helps do the zipper. He can flip flop over the top his jacket to get his arms in I help with the zipper. He wiggle wiggle squish squishes his feet into his boots when I help line them up at the wall so they do not move and he has something to balance on. He puts on his own hat and I hold up his mitts and he pushes is his hands ... so yes at 22 months of age a child is perfectly CAPABLE of getting dressed given the time and tools to practice and master them.
My crew provided they started with me at a year by the time they are 2.5 self dress everything but zippers and buttons which I just have to help 'start'.
I agree that it all depends on the child and what's happening at home. I have a just turned 24 month old who has been putting a lot of her own stuff on for months and then I had a 30month old(2.6yrs) who couldn't do a thing (dressing wise) for himself. I expected him to so made him do it here but parents did everything for him at home. You could talk to the parents and ask them to encourage this independence at home and see what they say.
Most of my dck are first children and so most of them are babied so I get them started on self dressing and once they can sort of master a certain task I tell the parent and ask them to give the child time and encouragement at home to help things along. Most if the time I am met with a stunned look as they can't believe their child can do something for themselves. It's very good for the child's confidence. makes going outside not feel like such a chore.