Independent Living Skills to Teach Your Children

Instructions:  Look at the following skills. Check those that are important to you for your children to learn before they leave home. Keep these goals in mind as you use discipline to teach these important skills. This list is created by Elizabeth Crary in Pick up Your Socks, copyright 1990

Personal Care

___    Bathes

___    Brushes & flosses teeth

___    Cares for own clothing

___    Exercises for 40 minutes three times a week

___    Eats nutritious meals

___    Gets adequate sleep

___    Wakes self up in the morning

Personal Safety

___    Knows first aid

___    Plays & works safely

___    Says “NO” to peers when appropriate like drugs, cheating,.

___    Says “NO” to physical or sexual abuse

___    Knows how to safely use public transportation or drive a car

Social Skills

___    Uses good table manners

___    Asks appropriate questions

___    Says “please” and “thank you”

___    Offers seat to older people

___    Leaves other people’s things alone

___    Recognizes other people’s needs and makes room for them

___    Is thoughtful of other people’s feelings

___    Able to get needed information from adults by phone or in person

 

Meal Preparation

___    Cooks simple meal

___    Cleans up after meal

___    Stores leftovers appropriately

___    Shops for food

Allowances & money management

___    Makes independent purchases

___    Budgets money

___    Maintains a checking account

___    Comparison shops

___    Saves money

Emotional maturity

___    Recognizes other people’s feelings

___    Expresses own feelings appropriately

___    Knows several ways to deal with negative comments and criticism

___    Knows how to nurture self

___     Able to listen to others thoughts and feelings without getting angry

Expression of Anger

___    Recognizes signs of anger in self before “blowing up”

___    Distinguishes between his or her own anger and other people’s anger

___    Knows how to express anger constructively

___    Knows several ways to calm self

2015, Cynthia Klein, Certified Parenting Educator, bridges 2 understanding, bridges2understanding.com, 650.679.8138. Contact Cynthia for group or private parenting education sessions.

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