“Wipe Your Own Bottom!” Or…Teaching independence to preschoolers

Teaching independence to preschoolers is difficult but so necessary. Helping my kids become more independent in the bathroom has been a goal of mine for awhile. I remember the first time I could tell my oldest to go take a shower and she came back 20 minutes later clean and in pajamas. I was giddy with excitement! With four kids bath time is a chore so anything I could do to help the kids help themselves is fantastic!
Whether it is washing their own hands, wiping their own bottoms, or washing their own bodies, I’ve learned a trick or two about teaching independence to preschoolers. The biggest thing I’ve learned is to use the products on the market to make it easier for kids to do more things themselves.

My 3 favorite products for teaching independence to preschoolers:

1. Kandoo soap. Kandoo soap comes in an easy to use dispenser so kids can learn how to wash their hands or their bodies themselves. (Kandoo also has a hair detangler but with our curly hair that’s still something I do for them myself.) It smells great, comes in fun colors, and best of all, the kids can do it themselves! Parents can also be assured that the soap is mild and hypoallergenic.
2. SoapSox. This is one of those genius products that you wish you would have thought of. SoapSox is a 2-in-1 toy and wash cloth all in one. Just add some soap and this cuddly toy becomes your child’s washing companion. I tell my three year old to use his duckie to get bubbles all over him and he gets it! The SoapSox animals are machine washable but they also dry quickly hanging in the bath each night.
3. Flushable wipes. Yes, these wipes are more expensive but they are so useful! They help my kids become more independent after going to the bathroom and has (virtually) eliminated the “Mommy I need help!” call from my youngest boys. Kandoo has a flushable wipes line as do many of the name-brand toilet paper companies. Do NOT use regular wipes in the bathroom lest one of them gets accidentally flushed down the toilet. Don’t do that to your plumbing!What do you do to teaching independence to preschoolers?