LIFE SKILLS

Mr Manpreet Singh
Asst. Prof. in Special Education
 LIFE SKILLS
• Abilities for adaptive and positive behaviour
to deal effectively with demands and
challenges of everyday life.
• Psychosocial competency
• Acquired via teaching or direct experience
• To develop active and productive members of
their communities
 LIFE SKILLS
HOW
• Set of basic skills acquired through learning or direct life
experience
EFFECT
• Enable individual to handle issues and problems
commonly encountered in daily life
• Associated with managing and living a better quality of life
• Help to accomplish our ambitions and live to our full
potential
WHAT
• Include creativity, critical thinking, problem solving,
decision making, ability to communicate and collaborate
 USEFULLNESS/NEED TO LEARN
LIFE SKILLS
• Democracies need active, informed and responsible
citizens, willing and able to take responsibility for
themselves and communities
• Democracies depend upon citizens who, among other
things, are:
– aware of their rights and responsibilities as citizens
– informed about social and political issues
– concerned about the welfare of others
– able to clearly articulate their opinions and arguments
– capable of having an influence on the world
– active in their communities
– responsible in how they act as citizens.
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• These capacities do not develop unaided

• These have to be learnt
• Certain life skills may be acquired through our
everyday experience in the home or at work
 IMPORTANCE OF LIFE SKILLS
• Life skills - an essential part of being able to meet
the challenges of everyday life.
• The dramatic changes in global economies are
impacting on education, the workplace and our
home life.
• To cope with the increasing pace and change of
modern life, students need new life skills such as
the ability to deal with stress and frustration.
• Today’s students will have many new jobs over
the course of their lives, with associated
pressures and the need for flexibility.
 Benefits of Learning Life Skills:
Individual
• Find new ways of thinking and problem solving
• Recognize the impact of their actions and teaches
them to take responsibility for what they do rather
than blame others
• Build confidence both in spoken skills and for group
collaboration and cooperation
• Analyze options, make decisions and understand why
they make certain choices outside the classroom
• Develop a greater sense of self-awareness and
appreciation for others
• Recognize, manage and cope with emotions
• Management of anger and stress
• Time management
 Benefits of Learning Life Skills:
Employability
• The ability to self-manage, solve problems and
understand the business environment
• Working well as part of a team
• Time and people management
• Agility and adaptability to different roles and
flexible working environments
• The potential to lead by influence
 Benefits of Learning Life Skills:
Societal
• Recognizing cultural awareness and citizenship
makes international cooperation easier
• Respecting diversity allows creativity and
imagination to flourish developing a more
tolerant society
• Developing negotiation skills, the ability to
network and empathize can help to build
resolutions rather than resentments
 LIFE SKILLS IDENTIFIED
• Problem Solving
• Creative thinking/Lateral thinking
• Critical thinking/Perspicacity
• Effective communication
• Interpersonal Relationships
• Self Awareness/Mindfulness
• Assertiveness
• Empathy
• Equanimity
• Coping with stress, Trauma and Loss
• Resilience
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• Study skills
• Negotiation skills
• Employability skills
• Leadership and presentation skills
• Time management and organizing skills
• Conflict resolution, stress management and
problem solving skills
• MOST IMPORTANT: The ability and willingness
to learn
 EXPLANATION OF SKILLS
PROBLEM SOLVING: The process of working through
details of a problem to reach a solution. Problem
solving may include mathematical or systematic
operations and can be a gauge of an individual's critical
thinking skills.
CREATIVE/LATERAL THINKING : Solving problems through
an indirect and creative approach, using reasoning that
is not immediately obvious and involving ideas that may
not be obtainable by using only traditional step-by-step
logic. The term was coined in 1967 by Edward de Bono.
 Continued . . . . . . .

CRITICAL THINKING/ PERSPICACITY: Critical Thinking is

clear, rational thinking involving critique. Critical thinking
means making clear, reasoned judgments. During the
process of critical thinking, ideas should be reasoned, well
thought out, and judged. Perspicacity is a penetrating
discernment—a clarity of vision or intellect which provides
a deep understanding and insight.
EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION: It is defined as verbal
speech or other methods of relaying information that get a
point across. An example of effective communication is
when you talk in clear and simple terms. Communication is
about more than just exchanging information. It's about
understanding the emotion and intentions behind the
information.
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INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP: It is a strong, deep,

or close association or acquaintance between
two or more people that may range in duration
from brief to enduring. This association may be
based on inference, love, solidarity, regular
business interactions, or some other type of
social commitment.
ASSERTIVENESS: It is a skill regularly referred to in
social and communication skills training. Being
assertive means being able to stand up for your
own or other people's rights in a calm and
positive way, without being either aggressive, or
passively accepting 'wrong'.
COPING WITH STRESS
• Take care of yourself.
– Eat healthy, well-balanced meals
– Exercise on a regular basis
– Get plenty of sleep
– Give yourself a break if you feel stressed out
• Talk to others. Share your problems and how you are
feeling and coping with a parent, friend, counselor,
doctor, or pastor.
• Avoid drugs and alcohol. Drugs and alcohol may seem
to help with the stress. In the long run, they create
additional problems and increase the stress you are
already feeling.
• Take a break. If your stress is caused by a national or
local event, take breaks from listening to the news
stories, which can increase your stress.
 COPING WITH TRAUMA
Emotional and psychological trauma can be caused by: One-time
events, such as an accident, injury, natural disaster, or violent
attack. Ongoing, relentless stress, such as living in a crime-
ridden neighborhood or battling a life-threatening illness.
HOW TO COPE WITH IT:
• Give yourself time

• Find out what happened : Better to face the reality of what

happened rather than wondering about what might have
happened.
• Be involved with other survivors

• Ask for support

• Take some time for yourself

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• Talk it over
Bit by bit, let yourself think about the trauma and talk
about it with others. Don't worry if you cry when you talk,
it's natural and usually helpful. Take things at a pace that
you feel comfortable with.
• Get into a routine
Even if you don't feel much like eating, try to have regular
meals and to eat a balanced diet. Taking some exercise can
help - but start gently.
• Do some 'normal' things with other people
Sometimes you will want to be with other people, but not
to talk about what has happened. This can also be part of
the healing process.
• Take care
After a trauma, people are more likely to have accidents. Be
careful around the home and when you are driving.
COPING WITH LOSS
• Express yourself: Talking is often a good way to soothe
painful emotions. Talking to a friend, family member,
health professional or counselor can begin the healing
process.
• Allow yourself to feel sad: It's a healthy part of the
grieving process.
• Keep your routine up: Keeping up simple things like
walking the dog can help.
• Sleep. Emotional strain can make you very tired.
• Eat healthily: A Healthy well balanced diet will help
you cope.
• Avoid things that "numb" the pain, such as alcohol.
• Go to counseling if it feels right for you