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You are here: Home / High School / 15 Important Life Skills: An Essential List of Life Skills for Kids

15 Important Life Skills: An Essential List of Life Skills for Kids

July 8, 2018 By Tonya Prater · Disclosure: This Post May Contain Affiliate Links. {I may be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.}

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15 Important Life Skills: An Essential List of Life Skills for Kids is a post by contributing writer Tonya from Travel Inspired Living. 

Not sure what skills your children may need before they're grown? Here are 15 groupings of life skill in a list of life skills for kids to work toward. This post includes questions to ask yourself to help guide you through what life skills you need to work on with your kids.

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As homeschoolers, we often like to think that our children are better prepared to handle life situations than many of their public school counterparts. After all, they do see us “living life” day after day. But after speaking with many homeschooling moms that wonder if they are allowing their children enough opportunity to truly interact with others, I wonder if we are really preparing our children to step into their roles as adults.

Are we teaching by example? Or are we too eager to do everything for our children, depriving them the valuable opportunity to learn on their own?

With children that are nearing adulthood, I sometimes wonder how my children measure up in this department. Have I taught my children the necessary life skills that will enable them to be confident and knowledgeable as they make purchases, conduct business, and live their day to day life without my aid?

15 Important Life Skills: An Essential List of Life Skills for Kids

I’ve compiled a list of life skills for kids that have been on my mind lately; in part because of some of the events that we’ve been dealing with in our own home.

The following suggestions of life skills for kids may give you an idea of where to begin, or continue working on, with your own children.

1. Are my children able to create a shopping list, select groceries, and cook simple meals on their own? Do they know how to find the best deals? Do they know basic kitchen and food safety?

Not sure how to teach your kids about kitchen skills? Here are tips for teaching children about kitchen safety and food safety. | Real Life at Homea

2. Do they have basic sewing skills enabling them to sew on a button and complete simple repairs when needed?

Related Post: Simple Sewing Projects for Kids

Hand Sewing for Beginners

3. Are they willing and capable to clean the house, including washing laundry and cleaning toilets? Are they aware of the dangers of combining chemicals such as bleach and ammonia?

4. Are they comfortable handling their own basic auto maintenance? Do they know how to check and top off their fluids, check tire pressure, change a tire, and pump gas?

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5. Do they know who to call and what to do in emergency situations? Do they know basic first aid or CPR?

Step-by-Step First Aid Manual

6. Do they know how change a mailing address or register with the selective service?

7. Do they know where to register to vote? How to vote? Why it’s important to vote?

8. Do they know how to apply for a job? Have they practiced interview skills? Are they able to select proper clothing for an interview?

9. Do they know how to open a checking account and how to get the best deal? Is there a monthly fee for the account? Does it pay interest? What is the minimum monthly balance? Does the bank provide checks or a debit card? Does your child know how to use a debit card, track purchases, and balance their account?

Training Your Children in Home Economics - Working on Life Skills for Kids

This free eBook may help!

10. Do they know how to create a realistic monthly budget and stick to it?

Related Post: Home Economics – Budgeting

11. What should they look for in a first apartment? What should they know about signing a lease? Who do they contact to turn on utilities?

Related Post: Essentials for Your First Apartment (Plus a First Apartment Checklist)

12. What should they look for in buying their first car? What about auto insurance? Or license plates?

13. Do they know how and where to have a document notarized?

The Useful Book: 201 Life Skills for Kids That They Used to Teach in Home Ec and Shop

14. Do they know how to use public transportation? How to hail a taxi? Ride a subway? Purchase an airline ticket and find their gate?

15. Can they handle their own problems when they arise and work things out on their own?

Does this mean I should stop helping my kids?

As a firm believer in hands-on learning, I’ve covered many of the items on the above list by explaining to my children what I’m doing and why in various situations. As my kids have gotten older, I’ve allowed them the opportunity to make purchases, return items, pump gas, and make phone calls in my place.

When it was time to renew my driver’s license, my kids went with me. So then when it was time for them to get their driver’s license, I allowed them to do all the talking, but I was there if they needed me.

When my son applied for his first job, he filled out all the applications. I was available if he had a question, but he did it himself otherwise. When my older son opened his checking account, he preferred to do it by himself. Before he left the house we talked about some of the information he would need, made sure he had the documents that were required and away he went. If he needed me, I was only a phone call away.

As my children grow, I want them to be capable, confident adults.  I also want them to know that if they ever need us, their father and I are only a phone call away.

What are some of the life skills that you consider essential for your children to know before they leave home?

Other Posts about Life Skills for Kids That You Might Enjoy:

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How to Work on Teaching Children about Meal Planning and Preparation | RealLifeAtHome.com

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Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. They don’t change the price you pay. However, when you shop through them, we may receive a small compensation.

Not sure what skills your children may need before they're grown? Here are 15 groupings of life skill in a list of life skills for kids to work toward. This post includes questions to ask yourself to help guide you through what life skills you need to work on with your kids.

This post was originally published on December 13, 2011. It was updated in July 2018.

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Filed Under: High School, Middle School Learning Activities, Teaching Life Skills, Teens

About Tonya Prater

Tonya, the driving force behind Travel Inspired Living, is a travel writer, influencer, and empty nester, who dreams of living a nomadic life in a vintage camper. For now, she'll settle for frequent road trips throughout the U.S. and North America.

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Comments

  1. Rana says

    December 13, 2011 at 9:45 am

    Great post! My twins are only 8 so we still have a ways to go, but they do know how to purchase things at the grocery store, and use the self check out lane and pay with cash. They can also do their own laundry and some cooking. I think we are on the right path. Your list is good, I’m going to use it as a reference as my kids get older and keep adding to it.

    Reply
    • Tonya @ The Traveling Praters says

      December 13, 2011 at 5:19 pm

      Thanks, Rana! It’s never too early to teach our kids the essentials that they will need later in life. Sounds like you’re off to a great start. And if your kids have mastered the self checkout lane, I’m impressed. That one frustrates me everytime! *smile*

      Reply
  2. Almost Unschoolers says

    December 13, 2011 at 11:19 am

    Good post! As we move into the teen years, it’s something we’re thinking about a lot.

    Reply
  3. e-Expeditions says

    December 13, 2011 at 4:17 pm

    Fantastic post! I really couldn’t agree more–all these things are so necessary, but sometimes we just want to hang on to our kids so much… 🙂

    Reply
    • Tonya @ The Traveling Praters says

      December 13, 2011 at 5:20 pm

      Isn’t that the truth? And the closer my kids get to independance, the more I want to hold on to them! Thanks for the encouraging comment. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Nadene says

    December 14, 2011 at 1:20 pm

    Wow – what a great list. For moms of younger children, perhaps revise this list and find the base of each skill –
    learn parents’ full names (and their own!), know phone numbers, learn to address envelopes and buy stamps and post letters to grandparents, help plan, buy and prepare a meal, do basic car cleaning, check oil and tyre pressure with dad … all fun and easy skills.
    My 17-year old has developed a little part-time business with a friend and for 2 years now have hired halls, earned money to save for their expenses, worked with adults, organized and delegated … become really skilled. Homeschoolers have all the advantages and it shows!

    Reply
  5. Karen says

    December 14, 2011 at 1:23 pm

    Great post Tonya! I agree all these things are very important. Keilee has filled out my checks [minus the signature], filled out deposit tickets, pumped gas, bought and paid for purchases and other things. I just need to teach her how to do laundry and CLEAN HER ROOM now. 🙂

    Loved this!

    Reply
  6. Paris says

    December 14, 2011 at 2:01 pm

    I think another one to add is change a flat tire. It’s always go to know. And sometimes teens don’t really understand how much umpth they need to get those lugnuts off or on tight!

    Reply
  7. Jennifer says

    December 14, 2011 at 6:31 pm

    I’ve been thinking about taking my daughter to an intercessory prayer meeting at our church one morning a week. I’ve never taken her before because I was afraid she’d be too easily bored.. but recently I’ve been thinking it might be the most important life skill she’ll ever learn.

    Reply
  8. Lee Ann says

    December 14, 2011 at 11:19 pm

    Love this post, sweet Tonya! Don’t like thinking about these things these days. :p Thank you for all of your encouragement. And I love the picture of “C”!

    Reply
  9. Elizabeth Leger says

    December 15, 2011 at 8:56 am

    Great list! I hadn’t thought of No. 14. Living in the suburbs, we don’t use public transportation. We never know where our kids will end up living, so I agree this is a good one. I would add one to the list “How to send a thank you card or written correspondence.” In our digital age, this is often overlooked. A followup after an interview should be a mailed correspondence. I try, but often forget, to have my sons send a “thank you” card for a birthday gift. I think it is the ultimate in politeness. Most of your other list was covered in our Math U See Stewardship course. My son LOVED that course! I even learned from it!

    Reply
  10. Anne T. says

    December 15, 2011 at 12:30 pm

    Great article! There’s a good book by homeschool mom, Barbara Frank, called “Life Prep for Homeschooled Teens.” The description: “Life Prep for Homeschooled Teenagers includes step-by-step projects that guide teenagers to an understanding of practical financial matters. It also includes reading and writing assignments that require them to think seriously about their goals for their personal lives, and how they will integrate their values and their work. ” And, the link: http://www.cardamompublishers.com/cardamom-life-prep.htm

    And, no, I don’t get any type of compensation for promoting Mrs. Frank’s book. I just know of her & her books because she has been a speaker for our local homeschool group a couple of times. 🙂

    Reply
  11. Jenny says

    December 22, 2011 at 1:35 am

    That’s a great list! even at 31, I still am not completely aware of what to do with notarizing documents… (go to a bank?? Probably a fee??)… and a few others on the list, like public transportation, since it is not available around where I live.

    I would add 2 other things to this list.

    -Nutrition. As much as I was a tomboy who rathered take the shop classes than HomeEc, I wish I had to learn more about nutrition and vitamins and hydration.

    -Taxes. at 19, if I went off on my own, I probably would have assumed I wouldn’t have to pay taxes. Kids need to learn about our complicated tax system, what number to claim, the difference between a deduction and a credit, and adjusted gross income….and so on.

    I lied. I have one more

    Healthcare. I remember my first time getting an EOB (explanation of benefits) statement, i sent payment to the insurance company!! Teach kids about deductibles, year maximums, copays and spending accounts.
    (auto insurance and renters/homeowners insurance claims go along with this one too)

    I guess you could go on and on… healthcare directives/living wills, wills, life insurance….. There is SO much to learn!

    Reply
  12. L2L says

    December 27, 2011 at 6:31 pm

    In the coming year we will be teaching our children how to read their Bibles, pray and spend time of solitude with the Lord every day. I do think that is a life skill that is so often skipped and one that I have come up short on and still do. To be able to form these 3 life lines into children at an early age will surely set them up for success as adults!!!!

    Reply
  13. siva says

    April 17, 2012 at 5:36 pm

    I absolutely love the list. Thank you for creating it.

    Reply
  14. Ettina says

    March 26, 2017 at 10:12 pm

    I’m autistic and living at home, and I don’t have some of these skills myself! I’ll have to see which ones I can learn, or figure out autism-friendly ways to do.

    Reply
    • Angie Kauffman says

      March 26, 2017 at 10:43 pm

      My oldest son has autism, and I would say that there are many of the things on Tonya’s list that he cannot do right now, though he’s almost 18. We have often told him that even if he doesn’t do everything by the same time other people do them, it doesn’t mean that he’s never going to do them. He just has a different pace to his life, and that doesn’t make it wrong (since he’ll often he discouraged). We tell him that life isn’t a race and he has plenty of time to work through things, so it’s okay to move through them more slowly. We’ve been especially talking about that since he is thinking about college and what that might look like for him.

      Reply
  15. Stephanie, One Caring Mom says

    July 15, 2018 at 9:57 pm

    Thank you for putting these together. This is such great information and all of these skills are so important for kids to know.

    Reply

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Angie, mom to three very fun kids, is the founder of Real Life at Home.  With degrees in elementary education (B.A.) and special education (M.S.Ed.), as well as being a former homeschooler, she is passionate about supporting both parents and teachers by providing printables, crafts, and activities to help children learn and grow. Read More…

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