Children’s physical care requires a great deal of attention, especially for the under-twos. Mealtimes, nappy-changing, washing and dressing occupy a lot more time in a practitioner’s day than with older children. But rather than being viewed as ‘lost time’, these daily routines not only help to support children’s emotional development but also provide the building blocks for managing their own care needs.
ALL IN GOOD TIME
Children will reach the milestones of being toilet trained and able to put on their coats and pour themselves a glass of milk at their own pace.
‘There’s no point rushing them,’ explains early years consultant and trainer Kathryn Solly, ‘because it’s likely to backfire and they will regress later.’ Metaphorically speaking, she says, ‘our role is to give children the key to the door and resist the temptation to try and push them through it. Open the door for them if necessary and encourage them to walk through it themselves at their own pace.’
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