Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) are skills that support a child’s ability to be more independent and self-sufficient as they grow. These skills go beyond basic self-care and include tasks such as managing money, completing household chores, preparing meals, organizing belongings, and even using public transportation. In OT, we focus on helping children develop these essential skills through engaging, age-appropriate activities that foster independence, problem-solving, and responsibility. Therapists might use cooking tasks to improve safety awareness and sequencing or practice shopping activities to work on budgeting and decision-making. For younger children, simple IADLs, like cleaning up toys, setting the table, or following a checklist for morning routines, are introduced to lay the foundation for more complex tasks in the future. By working on IADLs, we help children build functional independence and confidence to carry over these skills at home, school, and in the community.
Activities to Complete at Home:
- Setting the Table – Teach your child to set the table for meals, practicing organization and sequencing.
- Meal Prep – Involve them in preparing simple snacks or meals, like making a sandwich or making a microwavable mug cake.
- Cooking/Baking – Supervise them while following a simple recipe, helping them learn measurement, safety, and sequencing.
- Sorting Laundry – Have them sort laundry by color or type before washing.
- Folding Clothes – Encourage them to fold towels, socks, and basic clothing items to develop motor coordination and organization.
- Packing a Backpack – Teach them to pack their school or activity bag, ensuring they remember essential items.
- Making a Grocery List – Work together to make a list for an upcoming shopping trip, practicing memory and organization.
- Grocery Shopping – Give them a few items on the list to find in the store, building focus and independence.
- Putting Away Groceries – Get them involved in organizing groceries in the pantry or fridge. Great for heavy work too!
- Taking Out the Trash – Teach them to take out trash and recycling, learning responsibility and routine.
- Washing Dishes – Allow them to help wash or dry dishes, which strengthens hand coordination and responsibility.
- Feeding Pets – Have them measure and serve pet food on a schedule to build routine and responsibility.
- Watering Plants – Encourage them to water indoor or outdoor plants regularly.
- Cleaning Surfaces – Show them how to wipe down counters or tables, helping with basic household chores.
- Organizing Toys or Books – Guide them in arranging toys or books on shelves, promoting categorization and organization.
- Making a Bed – Teach them to make their own bed each morning as part of a daily routine.
- Sorting Mail – Involve them in sorting family mail into categories like letters, bills, and magazines.
- Using a Timer or Alarm – Let them set a timer for activities, like homework or screen time, to build time management skills.
- Creating a Daily Schedule – Work together to make a visual or written schedule for the day’s activities, helping with planning skills.
- Checking Expiration Dates – Show them how to check food expiration dates in the fridge or pantry, learning awareness and responsibility.