Activities 0-3 years

Autonomy and exploration

The goal of this page is to give you some advice on how to approach some important goals for your child and how to support your child’s growing independence.

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Useful advices and curiosities about autonomy and exploration

But did you know that children 0-3 years old...?

Curiosity n. 1

At 12 months children begin to have skills that allow them to begin their own journey of increasing autonomy and exploration: the first word, the first steps... Parents must try to think of their safety, giving limits so as not to have (real) dangers, without hindering the continuous search to do it alone: the important thing is that the child knows you are there, that he continues to feel your support! Encourage him and make him feel that in case of need you are there, to share the moments, good and bad, and to reassure him.

Curiosity n. 2

A child who is able to spontaneously and with his own abilities achieve a goal, a new experience, will attribute to these a different meaning. This will make him gain confidence in himself and in his own abilities.

How to stimulate the child's autonomy?

Advice n. 1

"Help me to do it myself". Try to make your son/daughter capable of doing things by himself/herself, always taking into account his/her age and pace, trying not to replace him/her for everything: cutlery... let him/her use it! Teach him/her to pour water from a small container into a glass, to fold the tablecloth and napkins; teach him/her to use the bathroom on his/her own, to wash his/her hands and face, to undress and dress quietly. "Do we need to zipper up the jacket? well, I'll insert the zipper into the slider and you pull it on."

Advice n. 2

Involve him/her in small daily chores: propose setting the table for everyone or putting his/her toys in order! Setting the table develops counting skills: "there are three of us, we need 3 plates". Putting his toys in order will help him put his schoolwork in order!

Advice n. 3

Leave him/her free to take initiative, to try and to make mistakes: to err is human, give your child time to correct his/her behaviors! If he/she chooses a difficult game to play, help him/her only when he/she is the one asking for help but let him/her always manage the work.

Advice n. 4

Always remind him that making mistakes is normal and that you can always learn from them: NO ONE IS PERFECT.

Advice n. 5

If in the process of pouring their water they spill some on the tablecloth, do NOT tell them they can't pour their own water, show them where they went wrong and have them try again! Make them feel that you are glad they tried!

Advice n. 6

If in the process of pouring their water they spill some on the tablecloth, do NOT tell them they can't pour their own water, show them where they went wrong and have them try again! Make them feel that you are glad they tried! You can suggest the book (from 3 years old) "Nenè con l'acqua fa da sé" The story of a child who is not afraid of making mistakes and always tries, autonomous and curious: he knows that only through mistakes you can grow and discover new things!
ACQUISTA IL LIBRO

Advice n. 7

To learn to be careful, to coordinate their movements... children need to fall, to get dirty, to have new experiences! So why not... even falling, scraping their knees, getting dirty with mud, going up a slide in reverse: these are all experiences. If a child feels like going up a slide on his own, let him try it, the important thing is that he knows you will always be there to catch him if he falls! Give him useful advice on how to avoid dangers, the real ones: "Put your hands in front of your face if you fall", "when you go down the stairs, be careful and watch where you put your feet".

Advice n. 8

The child must learn to recognize his or her needs; the adult must know how to give children space and time, without forcing them to do certain actions (e.g., "say hello!", "smile," "let's go read," "play with this").

Advice n. 9

When he reaches goals, tell him, emphasize his commitment and the fact that he was able to do it even on his own!

But did you know that children 0-3 years old...?

Curiosity n. 1

At 12 months children begin to have skills that allow them to begin their own journey of increasing autonomy and exploration: the first word, the first steps... Parents must try to think of their safety, giving limits so as not to have (real) dangers, without hindering the continuous search to do it alone: the important thing is that the child knows you are there, that he continues to feel your support! Encourage him and make him feel that in case of need you are there, to share the moments, good and bad, and to reassure him.

Curiosity n.2

A child who is able to spontaneously and with his own abilities achieve a goal, a new experience, will attribute to these a different meaning. This will make him gain confidence in himself and in his own abilities.

How to stimulate the child's autonomy?

Advice n. 1

"Help me to do it myself". Try to make your son/daughter capable of doing things by himself/herself, always taking into account his/her age and pace, trying not to replace him/her for everything: cutlery... let him/her use it! Teach him/her to pour water from a small container into a glass, to fold the tablecloth and napkins; teach him/her to use the bathroom on his/her own, to wash his/her hands and face, to undress and dress quietly. "Do we need to zipper up the jacket? well, I'll insert the zipper into the slider and you pull it on."

Advice n. 2

Involve him/her in small daily chores: propose setting the table for everyone or putting his/her toys in order! Setting the table develops counting skills: "there are three of us, we need 3 plates". Putting his toys in order will help him put his schoolwork in order!

Advice n. 3

Leave him/her free to take initiative, to try and to make mistakes: to err is human, give your child time to correct his/her behaviors! If he/she chooses a difficult game to play, help him/her only when he/she is the one asking for help but let him/her always manage the work.

Advice n. 4

Always remind him that making mistakes is normal and that you can always learn from them: NO ONE IS PERFECT.

Advice n. 5

If in the process of pouring their water they spill some on the tablecloth, do NOT tell them they can't pour their own water, show them where they went wrong and have them try again! Make them feel that you are glad they tried!

Advice n. 6

If in the process of pouring their water they spill some on the tablecloth, do NOT tell them they can't pour their own water, show them where they went wrong and have them try again! Make them feel that you are glad they tried! You can suggest the book (from 3 years old) "Nenè con l'acqua fa da sé" The story of a child who is not afraid of making mistakes and always tries, autonomous and curious: he knows that only through mistakes you can grow and discover new things!
ACQUISTA IL LIBRO

Advice n. 7

To learn to be careful, to coordinate their movements... children need to fall, to get dirty, to have new experiences! So why not... even falling, scraping their knees, getting dirty with mud, going up a slide in reverse: these are all experiences. If a child feels like going up a slide on his own, let him try it, the important thing is that he knows you will always be there to catch him if he falls! Give him useful advice on how to avoid dangers, the real ones: "Put your hands in front of your face if you fall", "when you go down the stairs, be careful and watch where you put your feet".

Advice n. 8

The child must learn to recognize his or her needs; the adult must know how to give children space and time, without forcing them to do certain actions (e.g., "say hello!", "smile," "let's go read," "play with this").

Advice n. 9

When he reaches goals, tell him, emphasize his commitment and the fact that he was able to do it even on his own!