Life Skills

What are life skills?

The World Health Organization in 1999 identified the following core cross-cultural areas of life skills:

• decision-making and problem-solving;
• creative thinking (see also: lateral thinking) and critical thinking;​
• communication and interpersonal skills;
• self-awareness and empathy;
• assertiveness and equanimity; and
• Resilience and coping with emotions and coping with stress.

UNICEF listed similar skills and related categories in its 2012 report, Global Evaluation of Life Skills Education Programmes.

At Stoke Damerel Primary Academy we consider the learning of Life Skills to be of paramount importance.

Although many of these skills will be passed on through how children interact with each other, trusted adults and family members we believe it is essential for these skills to be taught and practised as much as possible. For that reason we have created a curriculum to share what we plan to focus on during your child’s time at school.

We have also created a wealth of resources through our website for these skills to be continued to be practised at home.

Each of the following life skills and activities to support have been arranged in year groups. This does not mean that they should necessarily be just for that age group; safety, physical ability and cognitive ability, have been taken into account as well as what we, as your child's teachers, consider should be a focus.

We hope that the activities are useful and appreciate any feedback using the form at the bottom of the page.

Click on each link to find activities to support the life skill.

Please contact me if you have any suggestions or comments regarding our Life Skills activities and curriculum. Many thanks Isla Ellis.