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水果有益健康，很多家長都

會想盡辦法到處選購、小心

洗淨，不辭勞苦地每天按時

把新鮮香甜的時果往孩子的

嘴裡送，可謂無微不至！然而，隨著孩子年紀漸

長，日常生活的自我照顧能力，諸如進食水果，

亦會發展起來，父母有必要減少他們對成人的倚

賴。因此，訓練孩子的自理能力和積極性，培養

每天進食水果的習慣，總比事事安排來得有效。

了解兒童的發展兒童自理能力會依循他們的成長階梯而發展。有

些現時未能應付自如的事情，他們只需假以時日

便能辦到。因此，日常生活中自理能力的訓練亦

需配合兒童心智體能的發展階段，才能取得理想

的效果。

要求要合理、錯誤要包容為孩子制訂過高的標準或因孩子的犯錯而生

氣，容易令孩子產生挫敗感，打擊他們的自

信。所以要記著，鼓勵遠勝於批評和責罵；對兒

童要求要合理，並要容許他們有犯錯的時候。

多讚賞、多鼓勵當孩子完成一項自理行為時，家長可用口頭讚

賞或稱許動作（例如豎起姆指、鼓掌或與他擊掌

等）來即時嘉許，以增强他們的自信；也可透過

短期獎賞計劃，激勵孩子持續良好的行為。當好

習慣建立之後，由於孩子得到了成功感，獎賞計

劃亦可告一段落。在進行訓練前，家長應與孩

子商討獎賞的方式，一些親子活動如遊戲、參觀

和探索等都是好的獎賞。家長可以先預備一張圖

表，以蓋印或貼紙標示好行為，並以累積特定數

量來換取獎賞。讓孩子及早獲得獎賞是成功

的關鍵，所以換取獎品的蓋印或貼紙數量宜

妥為釐定。

訓練自理能力的例子1. 訂定學習目標

• 孩子每天都參與為全家人預備水果的工作

2. 順序分拆訓練項目成簡單細小 的步驟

• 在家長陪同下到市場選購水果

• 幫忙把部分水果帶回家（所攜帶的重量

要配合孩子的能力）

• 把水果放進冰箱

• 在預備水果前，清潔雙手

• 從冰箱取出水果

• 清洗取出的水果

• 把水果去皮或分成小塊

• 清洗叉子和盤子

• 把水果放在盤子上

• 為家人奉上水果

3. 家長的角色• 向孩子發出清楚扼要的指示

• 作出示範

• 給孩子充裕的時間照著做

• 從旁教導或提醒（不要直接接替工作）

• 給予鼓勵

• 待孩子最終因能力所限而未能完成工作

時家長才施以援手，事後更要表示欣賞

及認同孩子所作出的努力，鼓勵孩子下

次再作嘗試

4. 在孩子成功完成所有小步驟後給予獎賞

WEBSITE http://school.eatsmart.gov.hk

Fruit is good for health. Parents often pay a lot of attention to the buying, cleaning and serving of fresh and tasty fruits for children. As children develop, so will their ability to take care of themselves which includes the serving of fruits, without over-relying on parents. Hence, it makes better sense for parents to motivate and develop children’s personal skills to help them develop a habit and liking for fruits.

Understand children’s developmental stagesChildren learn to take care of themselves as they grow. They will master actions that are otherwise incapable of doing today. Hence, it is important that personal skills are developed in accordance with their stage of physical and cognitive growth.

Get reasonable targets and tolerate mistakesSetting a standard which is too high or getting mad when children make mistakes can easily discourage them. Remember that encouragement is always better than criticism and negative remarks. Be realistic with your expectation and allow children to make mistakes.

Praise and EncouragementWhen children complete a task, parents can reward them with immediate praises or gestures such as putting up the thumb, clapping hands or ‘giving a five’. They may also devise and implement an award scheme to reinforce children’s positive behaviours. Once the habit has been developed, the act itself will be gratifying and self-sustaining so that rewards will no longer be necessary. When taking children through this training process, parents may discuss with them the nature of the award, e.g. the company of parents, family activities, games, visits and exploratory tours. Parents may prepare a record sheet and use stamps or stickers to keep log of positive behaviours. When a specified number of stamps or stickers have been collected, children will be rewarded as previously agreed. To sustain children’s interest in the award scheme, the number of stamps or stickers for

redemption of award should be appropriately set.

Try this on your children1. Establish a learning objective• Your child can assist in preparing fruit for

the whole family

2. Devise small and simple steps for your child

• Buy fruit from the market with parents• Assist to carry some of the fruits home

(subject to the child’s ability)• Put fruits into the refrigerator• Clean hands before preparing fruits• Take fruits out from the refrigerator• Clean fruits• Peel or cut fruits into small pieces• Clean the fork and plate• Put fruits on the plate• Serve fruit to family members

3. Role of parents• Give brief and clear instructions to the

child• Show how• Allow sufficient time for the child to do it

after you• Guide or give hints to the child without

taking over the task• Give encouragement• Offer help only if the child is unable to

complete the task due to limitations in ability, give appreciation and recognition for efforts made, and encourage future attempts

4. Reward as soon as the task is achieved