Wipe the Highchair

What you need

• a damp cloth

How to do it

1. Hand your toddler a damp cloth after a meal.
2. Show them how to wipe the tray of their highchair in circles.
3. Let them wipe as much or as little as they like.
4. Rinse and wring the cloth together when done.

Why it matters

Wiping their own space after eating builds an early sense of responsibility for cleaning up after themselves.

What they're learning

Bilateral coordination

Moving the cloth in circles with a steady grip builds coordinated hand and arm control.

Routine & responsibility

Cleaning up their own space builds an early habit of taking care of shared belongings.

Contribution & pride

Finishing a visible cleaning task builds satisfaction in a job done, however imperfectly.

What to look for

Watch for them going back over a spot they missed — that's early self-checking of their own work.

A tip

Use a barely-damp cloth, not sopping wet, to keep the whole activity tidy.

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