Life skills comprise particular attitudes, knowledge and skills (Nelson-Jones, 1991) which
enable the individual to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life
(Division of Mental Health WHO, 1993). Nelson-Jones (1992:232) recommends that specific
life skills should be regarded as comprising three dimensions: attitude, knowledge and skill.
Attitude: An appropriate attitude to any skill is that one should assume personal
responsibility for acquiring, maintaining, using and developing it. One may lose some or all
of a life skill if one fails to work at using and developing it. A personally responsible
attitude is the motivational or ìwanting to do itî dimension of a life skill.
Knowledge: Any life skill involves knowing how to make the right choices. People who
have been exposed to good models may have this kind of knowledge, albeit implicitly
rather than explicitly. Though they may not be able to say why, they know which choices
are correct, for example for being a good speaker. People with shortcomings in certain
areas of skills may require the relevant knowledge to be clearly articulated or ìspelled outî,
so that this can guide their actions. This is the ìknowing how to do itî dimension of a life
skill.
Skill: The skill dimension entails putting attitude and knowledge into practice. In
appropriate circumstances, one translate one's ìwanting to do itî and ìknowing how to do
itî into ìactually doing itî (Nelson-Jones, 1992:232).
Therefore Life skills are “the abilities for adaptive and positive behaviour that
enable individuals to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life”
(WHO). ‘Adaptive’ means that a person is flexible in approach and is able to adjust in
different circumstances. ‘Positive behaviour’ implies that a person is forward looking
and even in difficult situations, can find a ray of hope and opportunities to find solutions.
The terms ‘Livelihood skills’ or occupational/vocational skills refer to capabilities, resources and opportunities to pursue individual and household economic goals and relate to income generation. Technical skills on the other hand are those things that a person can do like crossing a road safely, mending a dress, etc. while Health skills are those like putting on makeup, brushing teeth and taking showers, cleaning the house.Thus, Life skills are distinct from livelihood, technical and health skills.
Life skills core components and example :
Life skills core components and example :
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