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Welcome to episode 113! Today’s episode is all about the daily tasks that our children complete - activities of daily living (aka ADLs). We discuss the reasons WHY a child might struggle with these tasks as well as our fav tips, tricks, and strategies to help improve success and independence. We also share our fav products that can help make these tasks more motivating!
SHOW NOTES
This episode was sponsored by: Sensory Thera Play Box
*Products talked about during this episode:
To Do - Done! Visual Schedule (downloadable)
Dinner Winner Kid’s Dinner Tray (Amazon)
Spin Meal Plate (Amazon)
8 the Plate (Amazon)
Z-Vibe (ARK)
Warheads Sour Spray (Amazon)
Too Tarts Sugar Free Sour Spray (Amazon)
TalkTools Horn Kit (whistles) (Amazon)
Squatty Potty (Amazon)
Vibrating Hair Brush (Amazon)
Head Massager (Amazon)
The Wet Brush (Amazon)
Apps talked about during this episode:
Other podcast episodes related to this topic:
*This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. Thank you!
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Self-care skills—also called Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)—are the everyday tasks we all perform to take care of ourselves. These include dressing, brushing teeth, toileting, mealtime participation, and more.
For many children, especially those with sensory processing challenges, autism, ADHD, or retained primitive reflexes, mastering these tasks doesn’t always come naturally.
Difficulties with ADLs often stem from underlying sensory, motor, or cognitive challenges. Children may appear resistant or avoidant—but often, it's not defiance. Instead, these behaviors can signal that something deeper is happening.
Common contributing factors include:
Sensory sensitivities (e.g., aversion to textures, sounds, smells).
Poor bilateral coordination and core stability.
Fine motor delays (making tasks like buttoning or using utensils difficult).
Executive functioning and sequencing challenges.
Emotional or behavioral regulation difficulties.
Understanding the “why” behind the struggle is the first step in offering meaningful support.
Sensory strategies help regulate the nervous system and promote body awareness, laying a strong foundation for mastering ADLs. Through consistent, supportive interventions—both in therapy and at home—children begin to build the confidence and motor control needed to succeed.
Here are actionable strategies for supporting your child’s self-care development at home.
Helping your child get dressed involves more than choosing clothes—it’s about teaching motor planning, sequencing, and sensory tolerance.
Sensory-Informed Tips For Dressing Skills:
Use a full-length mirror so your child can visually guide themselves.
Let them choose their clothes, fostering autonomy and ownership.
Try forward or backward chaining: you complete some steps while they gradually take over the rest.
Make it fun: add music, use timers, or create a “dressing race.”
Add sensory support: compression garments like Harkla’s body socks or weighted vests can help with body awareness and calming.
OT Tip: If your child insists on wearing shorts on a freezing day, let them learn from natural consequences when safe to do so—this fosters decision-making and self-awareness.
Children who struggle to self-feed often have challenges with oral sensitivity, postural control, or utensil coordination.
Strategies to Promote Mealtime Success:
Practice utensil use during play (e.g., scooping beans or playdough).
Use mirrors to help with mouth awareness.
Explore textures and smells gradually to reduce sensory defensiveness.
Use a visual menu or checklist for steps like washing hands, sitting, and eating.
Let them serve themselves—even small servings give a sense of control.
Encouraging self-feeding isn't just about nutrition—it's about developing fine motor control, oral-motor coordination, and confidence.
Toothbrushing is a common challenge for children with oral hypersensitivities or poor oral-motor awareness.
Strategies for Success:
Start with finger brushes and oral desensitization tools like vibrating toothbrushes or ARK Z-Vibes.
Play oral motor games (blowing bubbles, kazoo play, or silly faces) to increase awareness and control.
Use visual timers and fun songs like Brush Ease to create a consistent, enjoyable routine.
Try different flavors of toothpaste until you find one your child tolerates.
Consistency, fun, and gradual exposure are key.
Toileting is often one of the last ADLs children master due to its complexity and reliance on interoception—the ability to sense internal body cues.
Toileting Tips for Sensory Success:
Use a footstool for proper alignment and stability.
Practice wiping techniques using shaving cream on a balloon to simulate reach and trunk rotation.
Integrate vestibular activities (like swinging or downward dog pose) to promote interoceptive awareness.
Offer visual sequences and social stories to outline each step.
Flushable wipes and gloves can also support sensory-sensitive children learning to clean themselves independently.
Personal hygiene can be daunting for older children, especially those with sensory or executive functioning difficulties.
Practical Sensory-Friendly Supports:
Social stories that explain the “why” behind hygiene.
Visual task checklists: move shampoo to the “done” basket after use.
Create a spa-like atmosphere with music, lights, and choice of soaps or candles.
Install mirrors in the shower for easier rinsing and visual feedback.
For those overwhelmed by showers, baths may be a more manageable stepping stone.
For many tweens and teens, hygiene tasks like applying deodorant are confusing or not motivating.
Strategies to Encourage Independence:
Include deodorant in a daily visual schedule.
Let your child choose their preferred brand or scent (spray, roll-on, etc.).
Pair with a social narrative to explain the social significance.
Reinforce with praise and build it into a daily habit alongside brushing and dressing.
For sensitive children, tactile play (e.g., finger painting with shaving cream or sensory bins) can desensitize them to messy sensations involved in bathroom tasks.
Hair brushing, styling, and washing can trigger tactile sensitivity or motor planning difficulties.
Ways to Make Haircare Easier:
Use wet brushes, vibrating combs, or detangle in the shower with conditioner.
Teach brushing techniques using dolls, mirrors, and slow repetition.
Encourage upper body strengthening (rock climbing, therapy ball exercises) to support hair styling independence.
Celebrate progress, no matter how small. Consistent practice leads to long-term independence.
BORING, BUT NECESSARY LEGAL DISCLAIMERS
While we make every effort to share correct information, we are still learning. We will double check all of our facts but realize that medicine is a constantly changing science and art. One doctor / therapist may have a different way of doing things from another. We are simply presenting our views and opinions on how to address common sensory challenges, health related difficulties and what we have found to be beneficial that will be as evidenced based as possible. By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or your children. Consult your child’s pediatrician/ therapist for any medical issues that he or she may be having. This entire disclaimer also applies to any guests or contributors to the podcast. Under no circumstances shall Rachel Harrington, Harkla, Jessica Hill, or any guests or contributors to the podcast, as well as any employees, associates, or affiliates of Harkla, be responsible for damages arising from use of the podcast.
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