Activities of Daily Living

ADLs are basic tasks of everyday life. These tasks allow individuals independence over their environment and are skills needed throughout life. For most children, these skills occur naturally through observation and imitation, practice and repetition, and from expectation. However, some children struggle with the acquisition of these seemingly routine tasks.

ADLs for children can be grouped into four categories:

self help skills - toileting, eating, bathing, dressing, grooming, oral care, sleep
play skills - exercise, turn taking, following directions, motivation, hobbies, sensory experiences
home skills - chores (making bed, setting table, putting clothes/shoes away), cleaning up
school skills - attention, handwriting, reading, PE (coordination), homework, listening

	Self Help Skills - Those skills surrounding independence with bathing, toileting, grooming , dressing, oral motor care, eating. For specific strategies, click on the link below: Learn to Button Button bag Toilet training Tying Shoes Holding a spoon Feeding preference checklist Picky Eaters Feeding log Sleep
	School skills - Those skills surrounding participation with reading, writing, spelling, motor coordination for PE, attention and listening in the school setting. For specific strategies, click on the link below: Learning letters Pick your pencil Spelling Show me what you know Reading For the love of reading - assistive technology Writing Spacing