Life Skills

By Charlotte Ostermann

 

        I pulled together lists of life-skills from various sources to create my own checklist.  I have a tendency to get excited about children's academic progress and forget to teach, or make time for practice of, these 'background' skills.  My checklists help me remember to incorporate them into our life, and doing so helps keep the proportion of 'school' to 'real life' in good adjustment.  I've noticed that the growing self-confidence associated with mastering them has a positive effect on their attitude toward and performance in academic work.  My checklists are grouped in five broad levels.  The age ranges overlap because there is not a one-size-fits-all timetable for the development of such skills.

SET I - 0-6 Years

Potty training  - Self-dressing, various fasteners - Brush teeth - Tying shoes - Pouring non-liquids Pouring liquids - Sweeping  - Folding (rags, dish towels) - Hammer nail into wood - Sanding wood

Identify flat head/phillips head screwdrivers       - Screw & unscrew screws - Identify cooking utensils & locations - Sift flour - Cut banana - Scrub potatoes - Spread (butter, p.butter, jelly) - Stir (jello, cake mix, etc…) - Roll meatballs, p.butter balls - Crack open & beat eggs - Tear lettuce for salad - Roll & fold pretzels - Peel hard boiled eggs - Sort & put away silverware - Ride tricycle - Level I swimming

Set II - Ages 4 - 9

Operate hand can opener - Cook ramen, canned soup - Brass polishing - Make tea - Local phone call Answer phone politely, take messages - Cook Rice - Use grain mill - Strike match, light candle - Hand sewing, buttons - Ride bicycle - Tell time - Double/halve recipe - Chin up -   Level II swimming Vacuum - Hand wash dishes - Make deviled eggs - Make bed - Make cake from mix - Fold laundry, put away - Set table - Peel vegetables       - Steam vegetables - Clean bathroom - Clean own room - Wash walls, baseboards - Play chess - Make tossed salad - Make fruit salad - Make muffins - Give pets food and water - Make french toast, cheese toast, cinnamon toast - Empty wastebaskets into dumpster Give a brief oral presentation - Cook beanie-weanies - Cook Ramen - Cook scrambled eggs - Make biscuits - Nail 2 pieces of wood together - Jump rope

Set III - Ages 8-13

Put away groceries - Comparison shop -Basic Nutrition - Plan meals for family - Shop for groceries

Slice -       Chop - Dice -     Mince - Sort/soak beans - Make popcorn - Cook Grilled cheese sandwiches -

Cook Macaroni & Cheese - Cook Shepherd's pie - Cook Burritos/tacos - Bake yeast bread - Make

soup stock - Make Trail mix/granola - Stir fry - Brown beef - Load dishwasher - Clear dinner table

Scrub bathroom - Weed garden - Clean mirrors,glass - Run laundry      - Care for plants, pets       - Dusting

Sweep & Mop    - Clean out cars - Shovel snow - Ironing - Clean counters, stove top - Change light bulbs - Use breaker box, replace fuse    - Fix bike tire - Polish wood furniture - Touch typing - Orienteering -     Basic woodworking -   Machine sewing - Crochet/knit - Level III & IV Swimming Photography -         Build a fire                                               

Set IV - Ages 11-16

Money Management - Intermediate Sewing - First Aid - Target Shooting (Hunter’s License?)- Intro. to Stock Market - Personal Fitness Plan - Babysitting (Safe Sitter?) - Intro. to Double Entry Accounting - Advanced Knife/Oven/Stove Use - Collect Call, Long Distance Call, Use of Family’s Calling Card -  Grocery Shopping - Camping Skills - Hang Pictures -   Interior Painting — Bike Repairs & Maintenance -  Wash Dishes -  Organize Cabinets - Car Wash, Detailing - Check Tire Pressure - Check Oil -  Gas Fill-up -  Set up sprinkler, timer -  Maintain Compost  Volunteer Work - Teach Level I/ II/III skills to younger students

Set V - Ages 14+

Driving - Balance Bank Statement - Pay Bills - Complete Tax Return - Advanced Sewing - Exterior Painting - Wallpapering - Home Plumbing Repairs - Change Tires - Travel Planning.Budgeting