Showering Support Manual

The Showering Manual is a practical and supportive guide designed to help families build their child’s independence in showering and personal hygiene. Many children with disabilities or additional needs may face challenges around showering; from sensory sensitivities, sequencing tasks, to simply knowing where or when to start. This manual breaks the process down into manageable, child-friendly steps, offering both structure and flexibility. Inside, you’ll find clear visuals, step-by-step guides, and routines to support the development of a consistent and successful showering habits. The manual outlines how to introduce showering gradually, ways to prepare your child for the experience, and suggestions for creating a calming, sensory-friendly bathroom environment. You’ll learn how to tailor strategies to your child’s needs and their strengths, whether they’re struggling with water sensitivity, fear of new routines, or motor planning difficulties. Tips are provided for adapting the process across ages and abilities, and the tips that are included are to help your child build confidence as they master each step. The visuals included in the resource could also be modified into a “first–then” board concept to reinforce expectations and give your child a sense of control whilst reducing number of instructions to remember. It can be used alongside Occupational Therapy programs, or as a stand-alone tool to build skills at home. Ultimately, this manual aims to empower families to support the development of self-care independence, reduce resistance and anxiety around showering, and lay the foundation for lifelong personal hygiene habits.