Life Skills Activities - Secondary Students with Special Needs

What Are Life Skills?

Basically, life skills are a group of skills that an individual needs to acquire for an independent life, as far as that life is possible. One could argue that the most important skills one acquires in life are the skills of sound character, such as honesty, kindness, and being responsible. At school, students need to acquire the whole realm of academic skills, including reading, writing, and solving math problems. In addition, school is a microcosm of society that demands the acquisition of appropriate social skills. Life skills also includes the many tasks that make up daily living, such as shopping, saving money, traveling, or eating. Vocational skills are another component of what a special needs child will need to acquire — fi nding and maintaining an appropriate job. Problem - solving skills are a vital thinking technique that can be superimposed on all of the other areas.

Why Teach Life Skills?

The teaching of life skills is an ongoing process for children. It can take place in many campuses (at school, at home, in the community) and be taught by many teachers (including professional educators, the bus driver, your neighbor, other children, and community leaders). Sometimes, however, it is best to have a directed goal with a target in mind to help stay focused on what your child needs to learn. Having a specific goal helps not only the student, but the teacher or parent as well.