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Skills Needed to Succeed
As parents, we want to give our children everything they need to succeed in life. We want to teach them to be
independent, and in doing so, there are a few things they need to know how to do in order to survive. Here is
a list of things I think are necessary for every child to know before they walk out that door for the last
time, to begin a life of their own. I call them 'life skills'.
- How to cook
- How to work
- Budgeting money and time
- Paying bills and mailing letters
- How to read and do basic math
- How to shop
- How to swim
- How do get around (driving, riding the subway or a bus, etc.)
- Self-discipline
- Interpersonal skills--getting along with others, how to smile, greet others, etc.
- Communication
I'm sure there are more that need to be added to the list, but if you can't do the things previously listed,
you're going to have problems in life. And, yes...knowing how to swim is one of those things. Having a child with
Asperger's Syndrome (my son) has made me figure out what's really necessary in life, so I can concentrate on
teaching the most important things for him to be on his own. Everything with Asperger's kids has to be taught. Nothing
can be taken for granted, even the simplest thing such as ordering a meal at a fast-food restaurant or shaking hands
with someone.
Along with these life skills, there are also home skills. I put the cooking in life skills, because if you can't
cook, you can't eat, unless you live by eating out all the time. Here is the list of 'home skills' that a person
needs to know how to do before they're out on their own:
- Cleaning
- Laundry
- Mowing the lawn and caring for the outdoors
- Basic handi-man work (how to hammer, drill, saw, etc.)
- Stocking a kitchen
- Organization skills
These are just the basics, and for your home, you may want to add more or take some away. For example, if
you live in the city, you wouldn't have to know how to care for the outdoors, but you would have to learn how
to walk down the street and not engage strangers.
Good luck making up your own list. I know I have a special challenge with my son, but I wouldn't have it any
other way. It makes me evaluate what's really necessary in life.
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