Life skills are a set of human skills acquired via teaching or direct experience that are used to handle problems and questions commonly encountered in daily human life.

Contents 1 Definition 2 Subsets 2.1 Learning to know: Cognitive abilities 2.1.1 Decision making and problem solving skills 2.1.2 Critical thinking skills 2.2 Learning to be: Personal abilities 2.2.1 Skills for increasing internal locus of control 2.2.2 Skills for managing feelings 2.2.3 Skills for managing stress 2.3 Learning to live together: Interpersonal abilities 2.3.1 Interpersonal communication skills 2.3.2 Negotiation and refusal skills 2.3.3 Empathy 2.3.4 Cooperation and teamwork 2.3.5 Advocacy skills 3 References 4 See also

[edit] Definition

The World Health Organization defines life skills as "abilities for adaptive and positive behaviour that enable individuals to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life."^[1] In primary and secondary education, life skills may refer to a skill set that accommodates more specific needs of modern industrialized life; examples include money management, food preparation, hygiene, basic literacy and numeracy, and organizational skills.^{[citation needed]} Life skills are sometimes, but not always, distinguished from occupational skills.

[edit] Subsets

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) divide life skills into subsets of categories^[1][2]:

[edit] Learning to know: Cognitive abilities

[edit] Decision making and problem solving skills

• Information-gathering skills
• Evaluating future consequences of present actions for self and others
• Determining alternative solutions to problems
• Skills of analysis regarding the influence of values and attitudes of self and others on motivation

[edit] Critical thinking skills

• Analyzing peer and media influences
• Analyzing attitudes, values, social norms and beliefs and factors affecting these
• Identifying relevant information and information sources

[edit] Learning to be: Personal abilities

[edit] Skills for increasing internal locus of control

• Self-esteem and confidence-building skills
• Self-awareness skills including awareness of rights, influences, values, attitudes, strengths and weaknesses
• Goal-setting skills
• Self-evaluation, self-assessment, and self-monitoring skills

[edit] Skills for managing feelings

• Anger management
• Dealing with grief and anxiety
• Coping skills for dealing with loss, abuse, trauma

[edit] Skills for managing stress

• Time management
• Positive thinking
• Relaxation techniques

[edit] Learning to live together: Interpersonal abilities

[edit] Interpersonal communication skills

• Verbal and nonverbal communication
• Active listening
• Expressing feelings; giving feedback (without blaming) and receiving feedback

[edit] Negotiation and refusal skills

• Negotiation and conflict management
• Assertiveness skills
• Refusal skills

[edit] Empathy

• Ability to listen to and understand another's needs and circumstances and express that understanding

[edit] Cooperation and teamwork

• Expressing respect for others' contributions and different styles
• Assessing one's own abilities and contributing to the group

[edit] Advocacy skills

• Skills of influence and persuasion
• Networking and motivation skills

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Cognition
• Study skills
• Vocational skills
• Cognitive restructuring
• Developmental disability
• Adult education
• Primary education
• Child development
• Empathy
• Attention
• Intelligence
• Education For All
• People skills

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