Life Skills Activities for Children

Life skills activities are the activities that are usually carried out at home, such as:

Helps put dirty clothes in the laundry basket/washing machine, remove clothes from the washing machine, separate clothes according to color, help to dry clothes, help cooking, help weed vegetables, wear clothes, socks, shoes, sandals themselves, help fold clothes, flush Plants, clean the table, wipe up spills of water, tidy up his own toys, clean his toys, keep trash in its place, prepare food, feed yourself, and so on.

“A child wants to be like an adult” Working on practical life for young children is exciting and more giving inner satisfaction. Because children want to do what adults do, so he does not feel compelled or told to do all these activities. They want to learn; they want to imitate everything that happens around them. Children will feel happy, feel proud, feel trusted, feel valued when they are allowed to contribute to the family (their environment).

So it is not wrong if Practical Life should be introduced by parents as early as possible, adapted to their abilities, and always monitored in terms of safety.

The higher the parents’ confidence in their children that they can, the more confident they will be of their abilities. It can also develop concentration, attention, and children’s ability to think strategically. That also caused doctors to recommend using objects that are smaller in life skill activities.

The purpose of children in life skills activities is different from adults; early children enjoy the process, do it repeatedly until he decides to stop because he is interested in something else, it’s natural. Because life skills activities are not just cleaning activities but rather equip themselves with positive contributions to themselves and their environment. When children reach the age of 6-12 years old, they are taught the responsibility to complete their work.

Some Life Skill Activities

Life skills activities that children must have been divided into 9, namely:

1) Skills to understand and respect oneself

Namely, the child knows who he is, signs:

– When asked to name or at least be aware of his name, so react when the name is called.

– The child can show what he wants and what he does not want.

– Children can reject something that is not started.

– The child can ask for something he likes.

2) Self-care skills

Namely, children can distinguish “clean and dirty” signs:

– Children can try to clean themselves.

– Children can open and wear clothes independently.

– The child understands the existence and function of the body’s alarm (example: telling verbally or not to others around him that he is hungry, thirsty, wants to urinate, swelter, tired, in pain, or hurt, etc.)

3) Skills to save themselves

How children understand things that can endanger themselves, signs:

– Children can distinguish heat, so he can take care of himself to avoid hot objects, including fire.

– Children can refrain from jumping from a high place because there is an open fear.

– Kids can try to hold on when going up and downstairs.

– Children can pay attention to the road when walking so as not to crash or trip.

– Children can maintain body balance.

4) The skills to make decisions and solve problems that concern himself

For example, choosing your clothes, choosing your shoes, choosing a place to play, etc. Teach children to adoption Limitation, for example: want to play on the terrace or in the room?

5) The skills to deal with change

Namely, the ability to adapt to the environment and new people. Each child’s ability is different, help the shy child to open himself, make him feel comfortable.

6) Skills in establishing social relations

Namely, the ability to interact and develop relationships with others.

7) Learning skills

Children need to be accustomed to conditions ready to learn. Parents must make an effort so that every week he can show new things that he mastered; parents can make progress notes. Also, make sure he gets the opportunity to face new items every week.

8) The skill to use knowledge

Children need to be given a chance to apply what they know or master. For example, we can check the ability to throw a ball by practicing when he learns to store garbage in its place.

9) Work skills

Children need to be accustomed to having a strong understanding of the concept of work, which is trying to get something with their efforts, not the results of asking, let alone steal. Parents also need to show the types of work by inviting them to see the perpetrators of various professions and tell about the business; if possible, the child tries to experience to increase his insight.

The list of life skills written above is not stated when the child has naturally mastered the skill because each child is unique. The ability is also not gradual so that the order can be reversed and irregular.

It is better not to compare one child with another child but focus on the development of the child’s skills, whether the skills have increased or not.

Substantial benefits for children learning life skills, namely:

1) Learning to be caring

When children learn to tidy up toys, keep rubbish in place, and other homework is an effective means for children to care for their environment, erode selfishness, this practice is more effective than advice. By learning to do homework, children appreciate the things that parents and other family members do.

2) Learning humility

the habit of doing “rough” work will soften a child’s heart. They are not easily disgusted, do not underestimate the little things that are important and contribute to their lives. When learning to do homework, children will feel that the work is not easy, there is a process that must be done, and the process must be respected.

3) Practical skills for life

The direct impact of life skills activities is to make children not awkward to work. They not only know and are smart but can and usually work.

4) Roomy heart through life

Children who are accustomed to homework will not easily complain and narrow the heart. They are more openhearted to undergo every day.

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