Find your stage

Can bathe/wash independently, sometimes with a little help to start

Needs soap put on flannel and one-step-at-a-time directions to wash

Mainly relies on others but will wipe own face and hands if encouraged

Totally dependent and needs full assistance to wash or bathe

Plans what to wear; selects own clothing from cupboard; dresses in correct order

Needs help to plan what to wear but recognises items and how to wear them: needs help with order

Needs help to plan, and with order of, dressing, but can carry out small tasks if someone directs each step

Totally dependent on someone to plan, sequence and complete dressing; may move limbs to assist

Eats independently and appropriately using the correct cutlery

Eats using a spoon and/or needs food to be cut up into small pieces

Only uses fingers to eat food

Relies on others to be fed

Initiates social contact and responds to the needs of others

Aware of others and will seek interaction, but may be more concerned with own needs

Aware of others but waits for others to make the first social contact

May not show an awareness of the presence of others unless in direct physical contact

Engages with others in a group activity, can take turns with the activity/tools

Occasionally engages with others in a group, moving in and out of the group at whim

Aware of others in the group and will work alongside others although tends to focus on own activity

Does not show awareness of others in the group unless close one-to-one attention is experienced

Is aware of appropriate interaction, can chat coherently and is able to use complex language skills

Body language may be inappropriate and may not always be coherent, but can use simple language skills

Responses to verbal interaction may be mainly through body language; comprehension is limited

Can only respond to direct physical contact from others through touch, eye contact or facial expression

Can plan to carry out an activity, hold the goal in mind and work through a familiar sequence; may need help solving problems

More interested in the making or doing than in the end result, needs prompting to remember purpose, can get distracted

Activities need to be broken down and presented one step at a time; multisensory stimulation can help to hold the attention

Unable to ‘do’ activities, but responds to the close contact of others and experiencing physical sensations

Plans to use and looks for objects that are not visible; may struggle if objects are not in usual/familiar place (i.e. toiletries in a cupboard below washbasin)

Selects objects appropriately only if in view (i.e. toiletries on a shelf next to washbasin)

Randomly uses objects as chances upon them; may use inappropriately

May grip objects when placed in the hand but will not attempt to use them

Comprehends and shows interest in the content, turns the pages and looks at headlines and pictures

Turns the pages randomly, only attending to items pointed out by others

Will hold and may feel the paper, but will not turn the pages unless directed and will not show interest in the content

May grip the paper if it is placed in the hand but may not be able to release grip; or may not take hold of the paper