If you would like a printable list of all Age 2-18 Life Skills, it is available for subscribers (click here for email).
There is a list of book resources at the bottom of the last page. You can also follow the Life Skills for Kids Pinterest Board here.
Life Skills – Ages 5-10
Life Skills – Age 5
- Put clean clothes away neatly
- Swim (goal – swim independently)
- Leave bathroom clean after use
- Clean toilet
- Feed and water pets
- Get mail (if in a safe place) and put it in the proper place
- Receive a small allowance (if used)
- Money Management: saving, spending and charitable giving
- Know how to make emergency phone calls (911)
- Dust low shelves and objects (consider using a Swiffer)
- Empty bathroom trash
- Organize bathroom drawers
- Learn to roller skate
- Learn to jump rope
- Learn to ride a bike
- Begin learning how to tie shoes
Life Skills – Age 6
- Organize own drawers and closet
- Empty dishwasher and put dishes away
- Wash and dry dishes by hand
- Straighten living and family rooms
- Rake leaves
- Help put groceries away
- Make juice from a can or mix
- Make a sandwich and toast
- Basics of giving, saving and spending
- Pour milk into cereal
- Pour milk or juice into a cup
- Wash out plastic trash cans
- Clean mirrors
- Bathe alone
- Clean windows
- Empty kitchen trash
Life Skills – Age 7
- Use a vacuum cleaner
- Clean pet cages and food bowls
- Use a broom and dustpan
- Sweep porches, decks, driveways and walkways
- Take a written phone message
- Learn basic food groups and good nutrition habits
- Cook canned soup
- Read and prepare a simple recipe
- Be familiar with cooking, measuring tools and their uses
- Make Jell-O and boil eggs (hard and soft)
- Money management (earning money and saving for a goal)
- Pack own sack lunch
- Cut up own meat, pancakes, etc.
- Water outside plants, flowers and garden
- Arrange refrigerator or bulletin board “pictures”
- Weed flower beds and vegetable garden
- Strip bed sheets
- Carry dirty clothes hamper to laundry room
- Sort clothes for washing by color and fabric and check pockets
- Straighten book and toy shelves
- Begin music lessons
Life Skills – Age 8
- Fold clothes neatly without wrinkles
- Remake own bed with clean sheets
- Clean interior of car
- Vacuum furniture (ie., chairs and couches), especially under cushions
- Water house plants and lawn outside
- Clean bathroom sink, toilet, and tub
- Load and turn on dishwasher
- Trim own nails and clean own ears
- Learn model making
- Set table correctly
- Mop floor
- Peel carrots and potatoes
- Begin teaching time management skills, assignment deadlines, or short blocks of time
- Money Management: Spend, Save, Give principle
Life Skills – Age 9
- Load and operate washing machine and dryer (clean lint trap and washer filter)
- Time management (get activities done in a block of time)
- Fold blankets neatly
- Straighten and organize kitchen drawers
- Help clean out refrigerator
- Prepare hot beverages
- Prepare boxed macaroni and cheese
- Cook hot dogs and scrambled eggs
- Brown hamburger meat
- Dust all household furniture
- Count and give monetary change
- Compare quality and prices (unit pricing)
- Oil bicycle
Life Skills – Age 10
- Replace light bulbs and understand wattage
- Distinguish between good and spoiled food
- Bake a cake from a mix
- Cook frozen and canned vegetables
- Make pancakes from scratch
- Understand the importance of ingredient and nutrient labeling
- Plan a balanced meal
- Know how to select and prepare fruits and vegetables
- Bake cookies from scratch
- Repair bicycle tire and learn basic adjustments
- Know basic emergency first-aid procedures
- Understand uses of medicine and seriousness of overuse
- Wipe down kitchen cupboards
- Be able to do family laundry completely
- Mow lawn
- Know how to handle a pocket knife
- Sew simple crafts on a sewing machine (pillows, bean bags, etc.)
Click Here for Junior and Senior High Life Skills >>> Page 4
