There is a clear link between education and life skills – a link that makes us what we are and how we get to be that way. This also dictates how well we would do in life.
In today’s time, education and life skills go hand in hand. Education without the ability to use it is of no benefit. Life skills help an individual to take productive decisions and thereby make responsible decisions, based on one’s education. This could pertain to financial literacy, communication, or a number of other skills that unfortunately, schools are not teaching us. Even a simple thing like adapting to new technology with a mix of tech savviness and patience, is a vital life skill, especially on these pandemic times!
Life skills nurture and structure students academically as well as professionally. It adds sound knowledge to an individual’s decision making ability in one’s social, personal and professional life. The education system basically focuses on only the STEM is the science, technology, engineering and mathematics aspects, many for career enhancement. Whereas, life skills helps mould children into good humans with confidence to make wise judgments even as they are on the field and making their science or engineering dreams come true. It structures one’s personality in such a way that a person can be called an all-rounder or simply, wholesome.
The main question arises , that what are life skills? So, life skills are virtually “soft skills” that help the child apply classroom knowledge in the real world. It helps students make real time decisions and gives them the ability to abstractly solve various problems through different angles and aspects. In this technology ridden world, it is very important to develop soft skills among students and educate them so that they are well prepared to meet the daily challenges life throws at them. Life skills gives the proficiency to handle hard times and think out of the box when needed. These skills help in decision making but also help the child to open up, socialize, think creatively and differently. It opens up the thinking capacity of students as well as their parents. Because life skills teach you how to perceive things and look beyond the obvious. Life skills include things like creative learning, personality development, problem solving, self reflection and critical thinking. It broadens the mind and helps children look at things differently at all times.
People generally ask that how soft skills can help their children in the long run? The answer to that is an obvious one. Life skills assist the child in gaining basic judgement and inculcate good habits among children which in turn helps in gaining success, prosperity and long term stability. This education can be given by anybody, by parents, by teachers, by elders. It is not necessary to be attained by any professional. Parents can try teaching their kids soft skills through projects and endeavours at home. Parents can inculcate habits like watering plants, volunteering pets, feeding stray animals and much more. Organizing small games, paying visits to old age homes, taking extreme care of grandparents, visiting orphanages are some examples of ways that can help develop good habits among children.
Teaching empathy, building self-regulation, initiating reading of storybooks helps improving concentration and develops the personality and perspective of the children. Education and life skills go hand in hand, children should gain an education in such a way that it helps them out in the real world. You want your child to be an all-rounder, you should initiate soft skills in your child’s daily life. Talent and soft skills are eternally useful to all. Children who develop these skills profit lifelong and develop their personalities amazingly.
