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All of us want our kids to grow up into responsible adults, but it takes time and effort to teach them the things they need to know. Here are 27 life skills to teach your kids. The summer is a great time to work on this! You can print out the checklist and hang it up so you and your child can see your progress in working toward them being able to do all of these things!
27 Life Skills to Teach Your Kids
Money Management
Learning how to handle money is a skill that will serve your children for the rest of their lives. Teach them how to appreciate the value of money and make wise decisions about their purchases.
Life skills to learn:
- Earn money through chores, jobs, or projects
- Set a simple savings goal
- Divide money into save/spend/give categories
- Compare prices before buying
- Keep track of money
Kitchen Skills
Not only is involving kids in the kitchen great for them as they grow, but it often makes them more willing to try new foods!
Life skills to learn:
- Safely use stove, oven, and basic kitchen tools
- Make 2–3 basic meals independently (e.g., eggs, pasta, tacos)
- Follow a simple recipe
- Prep basic ingredients (cutting, measuring)
- Clean up after cooking
- Pack a simple lunch
Household Tasks
Kids from a very young age can start to learn how to do laundry, how to wipe down a counter, and how to keep their rooms clean!
Life skills to learn:
- Do their own laundry start to finish
- Keep bedroom reasonably clean
- Wash and put away dishes
- Wipe down counters and surfaces
- Take out trash and replace liner
Time Management
As kids get older, being able to manage time is a skill that will continue to help them.
Life skills to learn:
- Use a calendar (paper or digital)
- Complete homework/projects by deadlines
First Aid and Safety
Even a child who can’t read can be taught how to call 911 from a landline or a parents’ phone. You can also talk to your kids about potentially risky situations in a low stress atmosphere. Make teaching them their address and your phone number a game!
Life skills to learn:
- Know how to call emergency services
- Memorize important phone numbers
- Treat a minor cut or scrape
- Recognize unsafe situations
- Know basic home safety rules (fire, kitchen, strangers)
- Know address and basic personal information
Digital Habits
Even very young kids need to learn the important of online safety and healthy digital habits.
Life skills to learn:
- Follow screen time limits
- Ask before downloading or purchasing
- Understand basic online safety rules
Download the free printable checklist!
