Life Skills Defined
Like all assignments, certain skills are necessary to complete them. The skills that enable people to survive and commune with others are most commonly called Life Skills. Life Skills include but are not limited to:
- Personal Care,
- Time Management,
- Organizational,
- Respect for Self and Others,
- Communication and Social Skills
The fact that the term Life Skills is typically used in English speaking societies to reference only the most basic of independent living skills communicates the low esteem that people hold for Life Skills and their impact on our lives.
Consider for a moment the last thing that troubled you:
- Was it your weight or appearance?
- Difficulty communicating with a work colleague or family member?
- Physical or financial health?
- Time management or organizational skills?
If your answer to any of these is yes, you were challenged by Life Skills. Now think about how you learned these all important Life Skills. Who were your teachers? In contrast to academics – which children may or may not learn depending on geography, gender, and economics – acquisition of Life Skills is mandatory.
Every individual on the planet, be they a world leader or a knife wielding gang member, learns and utilizes Life Skills. The only things optional about Life Skills development are your level of appreciation for their value, the time you dedicate to learning them, and the individuals you choose as your teachers.
Excerpt from The Life Skills Report Card