Real-World Life Skills for Kids

1. Real-World Life Skills for Kids Teaching kids how to take care of themselves and others is so important for their development as healthy, productive humans. Today, we’ll share life skills for kids (from preschoolers to 18 year-olds). From young children to tweens to young adults, here are real-world life skills to help any child succeed in life! Importance of Teaching Kids Life Skills Life skills help you find happiness & success in school, work, and personal life! Unlike technical skills, including math, science, and other subjects we learn in school, life skills are often not taught in a traditional classroom setting. These skills are nonetheless vital in the proper development of children and adults. Interested in books on life skills? Check out 8 great books for kids that teach life skills! And now, let’s take a look at essential life skills for children! 15 Real-World Life Skills for Kids Crucial to child development, and preparing for the real world, these essential life skills help prepare kids for successful adulthood. Whether you’re in elementary school or high school, the following 30 life skills will help you find success! 1. Basic First Aid Basic first aid consists of knowing how to handle an emergency. A kid should know how to use a first aid kit (as well as know where it’s located at home and other places). Basic first aid also includes knowing how to call 911 in case of an emergency. It’s important to practice through role-playing. That way, you’ll be ready to lend a helping hand! 2. Basic Hygiene Learning how to perform basic hygiene without being told is an important life skill. Here are some examples of basic hygiene: brushing teeth, bathing, combing or brushing hair, washing face, and getting dressed. You can add knowing when to clean clothes in there, too (more on cleaning below). Pre-teens can add using deodorant to the list as well. 3. Caring for Pets and Plants

2. This is something even adults have a hard time with, but if you can take care of a pet or plant, you’re ready to tackle much more in life! Along with being responsible, caring for another living thing provides opportunities to learn empathy. You don’t need to get a big dog or cat, though. Start easy with a houseplant or goldfish! 4. Cleaning and Chores Doing chores doesn’t have to be a pain! The key is to perform tasks that are age appropriate. Sometimes there’s allowance, but money does not have to be involved. How to do laundry, for example, is one of the top things to learn. That includes using the washing machine and dryer, as well as properly folding clothes. Cleaning one’s room is another chore. 5. Communication Skills Kids require high-touch personal interaction throughout the day. This includes being able to understand and communicate with other people. Listening intently and reading social cues help to develop strong communication skills. Conversation skills and writing letters all fall under communication (more on those skills below). Juni learning provides best Communication classes for kids Explore communications courses! 6. Conversation Skills Holding a conversation with friends, family, and acquaintances is crucial when it comes to developing relationships. Unfortunately, a lot of kids text and don’t do many face-to-face conversations. Strong conversation skills help for school, job interviews, work, and life in general. Tip: try practicing conversation at the dinner table! 7. Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving Skills Don’t worry, these are skills that even adults struggle with. The key is to learn problem-solving skills (and adaptation) at an early age. This can result in a person that can be resilient and bounce back with confidence! The key is to be patient and positive. This goes for the adults teaching critical thinking and problem-solving skills, too. 8. Contact Info Memorization Know how to find your way back home? If not, this is definitely a skill to learn. Along with a phone number, a child should also memorize their home address. Smartphones and GPS offer easy access to contact info and directions, but you can’t count on it working (or having a device with you) all the time. 9. Coping with Failure It can be hard to deal with, but failure is part of life. Those that embrace failure, however, are much more likely to find success and be happy. Be open to corrections from parents and teachers (just as long as those corrections are warranted). A kid that can handle failure (and criticism) is much more emotionally, mentally, and socially prepared for adulthood! 10. Decision-Making Skills Making a decision can be tough. It also doesn’t come naturally to everyone, so it’s something that should be learned early on. Indecision can lead to anxiety and procrastination. Being decisive helps

3. build confidence. It also makes the process much more efficient. It’s important for kids to learn how to make healthy decisions at an early age. 11. Driving Safely and Taking Care of Vehicle Of course, this only applies to teenagers that can drive. Driving and taking care of a vehicle is a big responsibility. Some basics include how to pump gas, change a flat tire, and check the engine oil (and other fluids). Even if a teen doesn’t own a car, it’s still a good idea to learn about car maintenance and ownership. 12. Finding a Job Again, this applies to teenagers of appropriate age. Teens should learn the proper steps, including how to create resumes and submit applications. For instance, college applicants that have a summer job tend to be more desirable. Kids of all ages can make money without getting a “job.” Read about more than 70 ideas on how kids can make money. 13. Getting Dressed and Ready We briefly mentioned this during basic hygiene. Children are able to learn how to dress themselves and get ready for the day at an early age. Some ways to help with this process include laying out an outfit the night before and getting an alarm clock that’s easy to use. You can also pin up pictures or flashcards that show how to perform the process! 14. Good Manners Proper etiquette is a lifelong skill set that everyone should learn. Saying “please” and “thank you” are examples of good manners. Another example are table manners, including how to appropriately use a napkin and utensils. It’s also helpful to learn what’s appropriate in other countries and cultures, especially if you travel. 15. Interaction with Others Appropriate interaction with other people is one of the most important life skills. This includes clear communication and good manners, which we discuss above. One of the key things is to be a good listener. Wait your turn to talk, and while you’re doing so, be present and really take in what the other person has to say. This can go a long way! Source Url https://junilearning.com/blog/guide/life-skills-for-kids/