Life skills for 5 year olds

Bright Horizons | Teaching Kids Life Skills: 7 Essential Life Skills to Help Your Child Succeed

What Are the Most Important Life Skills for Kids to Learn?

1. Focus and Self-Control
2. Perspective-Taking
3. Communication
4. Making Connections
5. Critical Thinking
6. Taking on Challenges
7. Self-Directed, Engaged Learning

What Are Life Skills?

Teachers sometimes describe these skills as “learning to learn” skills, which can be developed through intentional daily activities. 

Below, we explore the seven essential life skills and offer some simple ways to nurture them.

Life Skill Activities to Incorporate into Your Child’s Daily Routine

1. Focus and Self-Control

Children thrive on schedules, habits, and routines, which not only create a feeling of security, but also help children learn self-control and focus. Talk with your child about what to expect each day. Organize your home so your child knows where to put shoes, coats, and personal belongings. We live in a noisy, distraction-filled world, so quiet activities like reading a book, enjoying sensory activities, or completing a puzzle together can help your child slow down and increase focus.

2. Perspective-Taking

Thinking about another’s point of view doesn’t come naturally to most children, but it can be developed. Discuss characters’ feelings and motivations in the books you read, e.g., “I wonder why the cat and the pig wouldn’t help the little red hen.” Make observations about how others are feeling, e.g., “Alex was really sad that he didn’t get a turn. I wonder what we can do to make him feel better.”

3. Communication

Children need high-touch personal interactions every day to build healthy social-emotional skills, including the ability to understand and communicate with others. While the pace at which they develop these skills may vary, children need to learn how to “read” social cues and listen carefully. They must consider what they want to communicate and the most effective way to share it. Just talking with an interested adult can help build these skills. Spend time every day listening and responding to your child without distractions.

4. Making Connections

True learning, says Galinsky, occurs when we can see connections and patterns between seemingly disparate things. The more connections we make, the more sense and meaning we make of the world. Young children begin to see connections and patterns as they sort basic household items like toys and socks. Simple acts, such as choosing clothing appropriate for the weather, helps them build connections. Point out more abstract connections in life, or in stories you read, e.g., “This book reminds me of when we picked sea shells at the beach.”

5. Critical Thinking

We live in a complex world in which adults are required to analyze information and make decisions about myriad things every day. One of the best ways to build critical thinking is through rich, open-ended play. Make sure your child has time each day to play alone or with friends. This play might include taking on roles (pretending to be fire fighters or super heroes), building structures, playing board games, or playing outside physical games, such as tag or hide-and-go-seek. Through play, children formulate hypotheses, take risks, try out their ideas, make mistakes, and find solutions—all essential elements in building critical thinking.

6. Taking on Challenges

One of the most important traits we can develop in life is that of resilience—being able to take on challenges, bounce back from failure, and keep trying. Children learn to take on challenges when we create an environment with the right amount of structure—not so much as to be limiting, but enough to make them feel safe. Encourage your child to try new things and allow reasonable risk, such as climbing a tree or riding a bike. Offer a new challenge when she seems ready, e.g., “I think you’re ready to learn to tie your shoes. Let’s give it a try.” Focus more on effort than achievement, e.g. , “Learning to tie your shoes was really hard, but you kept trying. Well done.”

7. Self-Directed, Engaged Learning

A child who loves learning becomes an adult who is rarely bored in life. To encourage a love of learning, try to limit television and encourage plenty of reading, play, and open-ended exploration. Model curiosity and enthusiasm for learning in your own life by visiting the library together, keeping craft supplies, making games available, and allowing for some messes at home.

By following these simple tips, you can easily help your child build essential skills.

Bright Horizons Podcast: Lemons to Lemonade with Four Ingredients

On this episode of the Work-Life Equation, turn those parenting lemons into lemonade! It might not seem like it, but your child is more predictable than you think—and each stage of your child’s development, along with every meltdown, is a gateway to skill-building for your little one. Hear early childhood experts Ellen Galinsky and Rachel discuss the science behind parenting that can turn frustration into great skills for life.

More on Life Skills for Children

• Many of the skills children will need as adults to compete in a global economy are not easily taught in a typical classroom setting. Read more to learn about the lifelong benefits of play.
• One of the most important things you can do as a parent is to raise kind children and therefore, kind adults. Explore our list of everyday ways to encourage kindness in your preschooler.
• How can you give your children the life skills they need to cope in the modern world? Learn simple, everyday ways to build life skills in your children and help them manage stress.

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!

30 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

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.

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).

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 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.

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!

16. Learning to Swim

If you ever find yourself around or in a body of water, you should know how to swim. This is one of the best ways to keep safe and also have fun! Swimming is also one of the best low-impact sports. So if you’re looking to get some exercise and enjoy yourself in the water, make sure that you properly learn how to float, swim, and be comfortable in water!

17. Making Connections

The more we connect the dots (and see patterns), the more easily we can understand the world around us. This goes for concepts, things, and people! What’s one way to learn how to make connections? Sort through and organize toys. Another great way to learn is by choosing an outfit appropriate for the weather!

18. Money Management

Understanding money and having financial awareness is one of the most essential skills! This can be done at an early age. From saving in a piggy bank to bank accounts to credit cards, a child should learn how to manage finances wisely. As they get older, kids can also learn about investing and trading (including the exciting new world of cryptocurrency).

Discover investing courses!

19. Ordering at Restaurants

Adults tend to order for kids. They feel it’s quicker & easier that way. However, kids are more than capable of doing it themselves! This can boost self-esteem and confidence. Plus, you’ll probably get exactly what you want to eat. Children as young as preschoolers can take orders, as many restaurants have picture menus. It’s fun to order all by yourself!

20. Overall Independence

As mentioned about ordering, adults try to make things easier by doing them for kids. For example, a kid ages 10-13 is old enough to stay home by themselves for short periods of time. This is a good opportunity to practice independence. Some examples include finishing homework alone, picking up bedroom, and taking care of personal belongings.

21. Preparing a Meal

Do you know how to cook a simple meal? If not, that’s not a big deal. There are actually plenty of adults that don’t know how to either! That being said, this skill can help you save money and become much more self-sufficient. Start with safe & easy tools and recipes. Making your own meal is both healthier and cheaper than going out to eat!

22. Riding a Bike

Riding a bicycle offers so many benefits! These include physical health, focus, coordination, and balance. It’s also good for the environment. One of the best ways to learn how to bike is with a balance bike (or regular bike without wheels) that you can learn to balance on on a flat surface. Of course, not everyone is able to ride a bike. And that’s okay, too!

23. Self-Defense Skills

You always hope you don’t need to use these skills, but if you do, it can save your life and possibly others. Having a working understanding of self-defense can come in handy in dangerous situations. Self-defense not only includes physical defense tactics but also verbal ones like de-escalation tactics. It also helps to boost a kid’s confidence!

24. Showing Gratitude

It’s easy to be spoiled and not be grateful for the things, people, and opportunities in your life. That being said, it’s important to learn and show gratitude. This can greatly improve your outlook on life, as well as be a more pleasant & positive person to be around. Learning gratitude now will go a long way in adulthood.

25. Standing Up for Oneself

Along with being able to protect yourself, standing up for yourself is also an important life skill. Self-defense can protect you during physically dangerous situations, but what about asking for a raise or letting a waiter know they made a mistake? The key is to be confident, clear, and kind. It’s actually amazing how easy it can be sometimes. Try it!

26. Staying Organized

Decluttering and organizing your spaces is not just about cleanliness. It helps make life easier and less stressful! By keeping your room organized, for example, you know where everything is for quick access. Whether it’s in your bedroom or classroom, staying organized helps make life so much breezier!

27. Telling Jokes

This could technically be part of the conversation section, but we feel it deserves its own recognition! Being able to tell at least one good joke is a great way to break the ice and get a good conversation going. It helps to make people feel at ease and encourage them to get to know you. Plus, who doesn’t like to tell or hear a good joke?

28. Time Management

Time management is a skill that everyone can use! From schoolwork to sports to extracurriculars, kids have a lot on their plate. How do you manage it all? It comes down to creating routines and following schedules. If you learn to manage your time efficiently, it can make life a lot more fun and a lot less stressful!

29. Using Maps and Public Transportation

This is important if you live in a city. And even if you don’t live in an urban area, it’s a great idea to learn how to use both maps and public transit! One way of teaching kids these skills is by getting them to help while an adult is navigating to a new destination. This will help them learn the special symbols on maps, as well as tricks for getting around!

30. Writing Letters

At first, this might seem out of date. We live in a world that’s connected by mobile devices and smartphones. Why do you need to know how to write letters? Well, for one, it can help with email correspondence. It also helps when writing a cover letter for a new job. Also, it’s a nice touch to send a handwritten letter to family and friends. People love getting letters!

Take a look at our writing courses!

Final Thoughts on Essential Life Skills

Learning basic life skills has many benefits. These include boosting self-esteem and becoming more self-sufficient. If a kid learns these skills at a young age, they are much more likely to be more happy and productive later in life.

Having a list of life skills is super helpful. However, without the right guidance, that list might not help you get very far. That’s why we recommend finding proper help. That way, a child can learn & grow confidently, ready for real life as an adult!

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Life skills: how are they formed in a child?

What are life skills?

Svetlana Krivtsova, psychotherapist

These are the basic skills needed to live among people. Several of these skills are easy to see in the behavior of children from four and a half to five years old. A small person learns to interact with others, seek help, express their needs, get to know each other, enter into a discussion, take the initiative - these are life skills. Scientists list 45 such basic skills and competencies. In Life Skills for Preschoolers, I list the entire list of skills, noting what mistakes at what age it is still acceptable to make.

Galiya Nigmetzhanova, child psychologist

Life skills are adult (according to age) behavior in a certain repetitive situation. Behavior in a sense is standard, mature. Take a closer look at the child: does he know how to listen to other people, does he ask questions, how does he enter into a conversation, can he offer his help to an adult or a peer? The child learns these skills by observing the behavior of adults, copying it. But if for some reason he has not yet mastered certain skills (perhaps because adults themselves do not possess them), then parents need to connect. For example, you have noticed that the child takes other people's things without asking. Think together about what you can do, help him "try on" the best way out of this situation. “Do you want to take your favorite toy? In order not to be caught stealing, be sure to find her owner and ask permission to play.

If a child basically has such an idea - to turn to others and ask who is the owner of the thing he wants to take - then we can say that the skill has been formed. Moreover, it is important to find the one who really owns the thing, and not to ask the first one who runs past, “Can I take it?” After all, he will easily answer: “Yes, take it, she is not mine!” A child who takes a thing without asking is easily called a "thief", and he simply has not mastered this skill. The task of parents is to carefully look at which step the child makes a mistake and explain to him the procedure.

Another important skill is the ability to listen. By observing the parents, the child gradually adopts their way of perceiving the world. Later, from 4.5-5 years, this ability will become one of the basic skills necessary for life.

How do you know if a child can listen? Pay attention to the following important criteria. When a child listens, he…

• looks at the person who is speaking,
• tries to understand what is being said,
• shows it with “body language” (nods or disagrees),
• asks counter questions,
• is silent while the interlocutor is talking.

When the skill is not formed, the child...

• does not turn around to the one who addresses him,
• runs away from the speaker,
• interrupts or switches (as if on purpose) to another activity at the moment when he are talking.

Life skills are like the tip of the iceberg. Socially acceptable behavior is laid not at 4-5 years old, but earlier, from birth. For example, the first listening experience is given to a baby by a mother who reacts to his crying, enters into a dialogue with him: “Yes, I know you are hungry, now I will warm up the porridge, and we will eat with you.” The child remembers: the adult hears him. This becomes his experience. Feelings that dictate this or that behavior develop gradually and spontaneously in communication with parents and peers. It is difficult to develop the habit of asking permission from a child who does not believe that if he asks, he will be given. Probably, life has already taught him: when you ask, you are most often refused. But this experience can be corrected. Yes, parents are not chosen. But, as Jean-Paul Sartre said, freedom is what I did with what was done to me. At any age, I can review this and change my attitude.

What to do in a situation when a child has chosen an activity (playing the piano or dancing), and six months later he doesn't like it? Is it necessary to listen to his desire, or is it still necessary to teach the child to bring things to the end ?

While agreeing to do something, children do not understand what it means to "play the piano" or "learn to dance. " They very quickly pick up the enthusiasm of both adults and peers. This responsiveness is wonderful in itself, but it can be a source of problems - after all, any activity requires mastering the skill of getting things done. Parents should carefully monitor what the child really likes, what motivates him, and what demotivates him. Find out what discouraged him from studying - maybe the whole point is that the teacher has changed, or maybe it has become too difficult for him. The recipe here may be as follows: to set some final achievable goal, to mark the border. It is always easier to withstand the load when you know where the finish line is, when everything is over and you can relax and unwind. There can be no good life in a state of constant stress.

It is also very important to show the child from time to time how far he has progressed in his work, because he may not see this, or it is simply difficult for him to evaluate the results. Demonstration of success helps him move on and overcome unforeseen difficulties on the way to the goal.

About the experts

Svetlana Krivtsova – existential psychotherapist, Ph.D. M.V. Lomonosov, scientific supervisor of the project "Life skills: psychological studies with children from 5 to 15 years old".

Galiya Nigmetzhanova - child psychologist, leading specialist of the Moscow Psychological Center for Family Support "Contact".

Read more about mastering these and other life skills by a preschooler in the book “The Art of Understanding a Child. 7 steps to a good life” (Clever, 2018).

Text: Alla Anufrieva Photo Source: Getty Images

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A person's success in the profession is 85% dependent on soft skills. Together with Natalia Gatanova, psychologist, mother and scientific director of the MKEBI Foundation, we figure out what it is and how to develop it in young children

Scientists divide human skills into two conditional groups: professional hard skills and supraprofessional soft skills.

1. Hard skills For example, a programmer's skill is to write code in python. hard skills can be learned at school, university, at work, courses or trainings.
2. Soft skills ("soft" skills) - a set of social skills that help a person solve problems in life: communication, leadership, teamwork, people management, emotional intelligence. Soft skills cannot be learned in training, they are formed in childhood and develop throughout life.