INTRODUCTION

BUCU 1102

Dr. Mwaniki Taiti

DEFINATION OF LIFE SKILLS

Life Skills are abilities which enable an individual

to develop adaptive and positive behavior
These skills enable individuals to deal effectively
with challenges and demands of everyday life.
A learner who is equipped with the necessary life
skills is likely to lead a more successful life than one
who does not have them.
Life Skills comprises of competencies that can enable
someone cope with challenges and manage his/her
lives in a healthy and productive manner
CATEGORIES OF LIFE SKILLS.
Life Skills are classified into three broad categories
namely:-
- Skills of knowing and living with oneself.
- Skills of knowing and living with others.
- Skills of making effective decisions.
These categories can further be broken down into:-
SKILLS OF KNOWING AND LIVING WITH ONE
SELF.

This category entails skills that are closely linked to

each other which aim at enhancing self-
understanding, growth, coping with challenges of life
and developing potential.
- They include:
- Self awareness
- Self esteem
- Coping with emotions
- Coping with stress.
SKILLS OF KNOWING AND LIVING WITH
OTHERS

 These are skills that help us to establish and

maintain good relationship in society. They are also
referred to as interpersonal relationship skills.
Some of the skills considered under this group
include:
- Empathy
- Effective communication
- Assertiveness
- Friendship formation and maintenance
- Negotiation skills
- Nonviolent conflict resolution.
 SKILLS OF MAKING EFFECTIVE DECISIONS
Popularly known as Creative thinking
 It is an important skill in making effective decisions.
 It involves coming up with new ways of handling a
variety of situations and challenges.
Creative thinking calls for a person to make use of
his/her imagination and originality of thought.
It is necessary in helping the young people respond
adaptively to unexpected and unfamiliar situations.
It helps them realize that there are many ways of
doing things.
IMPORTANCE OF CREATIVE THINKING
Creative thinking is of importance to an individual
because:-
- It transforms an individual from a state of
dependence to that of doing things on his or her own.
- It helps an individual to generate ideas and
come up with alternatives to be able to solve
problems effectively.
- It enables an individual to discover his or her
talents.
Decision Making Skills
 Decision making is a process of making up our minds
on issues so as to arrive at sound conclusions and
resolutions.
 To make effective decisions one needs to use the
following skills.
-Critical thinking in problem solving
CRITICAL THINKING
 This is the ability to analyze and evaluate ideas or
issues objectively.
 It involves weighing options and making rational
choices that are well thought out in order to arrive at a
rational decision.
 It entails developing an inquisition mind instead of
accepting everything at face value.
 Critical thinking skills can be applied in everything a
person undertakes.
Importance of Critical thinking:-
 Makes an individual less vulnerable as he/she will
always demand evidence for claims made by others.
 Equips an individual with reasoning skills and this
makes him/her to question illogical and irresponsible
actions.
 Introduces an individual into ways of thinking that
can help them discover and possibly enhance their
personality.
 Helps an individual to shape his/her personal beliefs
and outlook in life and be able to avoid negative
influences.
A critical thinker thinks for himself/herself as an
individual and accepts only what has been proven or
demonstrated to the satisfaction of reason to become
mentally disciplined and able to think clearly and
accurately.
Young people need this skill to be able to question those
who want to influence them to self destructive activities.
PROBLEM SOLVING
 A problem is doubtful or difficult matter, a question or
task that requires a solution.
 It can also be looked at as something hard to
understand, accomplish or deal with
When people are faced with problems they experience
obstacles that prevent them from achieving their
objectives.
 Problems are experienced by all people and are part of
life.
 Problem solving is the process through which people find
answers, actions or courses that effectively remove or deal
with a difficult situation.
 Problem solving is the ability to come up with workable
solutions to different problems or situations.
 It involves appreciating the nature of the problem by
analyzing the causes and looking for possible solutions.
 This enables the individual to take the best alternative
in whatever difficulty situations one is confronted with.
TYPES OF PROBLEMS
During the course of life, people experience many
problems. Some of these many include the following:-
 The way a person perceives himself or herself
 Financial problems
 Parents may experience problems as they bring up their
children
Problems brought about by natural calamities such as
floods, earthquakes, drought, death etc.
Some problems arise from the way people relate with
one another
At school, teachers deal with a lot of problems among
the learners.
PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS
In getting solutions to problems people need to adopt
some of the following approaches:-
 Accepting the problem
 Approach every person with a positive mental attitude
 Seek guidance and counseling
Cultivate the wisdom to identify those problems that
are real issues and those that you need to ignore
Avoid rash or irrational decisions
Avoid alcohol and drugs.
BENEFITS OF LIFE SKILLS
Life skills are considered important because they help
learners to:-
 Practice healthy behavior and avoid risks
 Recognize and assess situations that are likely to
create challenges in life.
Make positive contribution to the development of the
communities.
Lead constructive and meaningful lives.
Live positively and actively as individuals as you relate
with other people.
Develop confidence in people and in what they do.
Communicate effectively.
SUMMARY
In this lesson, we have learned that:-
 Life skills are very important not only to young people but
all people regardless of their age and position in society.
 People equipped with necessary life skills are likely to lead a
more successful life than those who do not have them.
 In the next lesson, we shall look at skills of knowing and
living with oneself in details.
REVIEW ASIGNMENT

Discuss the importance of life skills to a learner

You can reach me on:
+254 722 269 010
+254 735 696 810
[email protected]