What Are Functional Life Skills?
Functional life skills are abilities that are necessary to survive in life. There are many functional life skills you need to know, such as money and household management, although not everyone agrees on the rank of importance of these skills.
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Types
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There are many types of functional life skills. For example, knowing how to count money is an important life skill because throughout your life you'll be managing finances. Knowing how to cook for yourself is another functional life skill because it benefits your health and it demonstrates independence.
Benefits
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It's beneficial to have functional life skills because in some cases it's a matter of life and death. For example, it's good to know how to administer CPR or the Heimlich maneuver because this can save someone from dying of a heart attack or a choking-related incident.
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Social Life Skills
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Functional life skills aren't just for basic survival, they can also be used in social situations. If you frequently attend social events, you will want to know table etiquette and how to hold interesting and well-rounded conversations. If you're looking for work, you'll need to know how to engage your prospective employer during an interview.
Misconceptions
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It's a misconception that adults with severe developmental disabilities or learning problems won't do well with functional life skills. However, with support and the right training, they're able to find work, drive, manage money and live independently.
Considerations
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The instruction of functional life skills should begin with the parents. Functional life skills are as important as academic skills because these skills are used every day.
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