Life Skills Programs: How to Stay Organized Teaching Essential Life Skills

Life Skills Programs

Teaching our children life skills can be challenging, but essential for them to make it in the real world 

The Life Skills programs at school are a blessing. My daughter participates in a showering program, tooth brushing program, shopping at the supermarket program, making the bed program, getting dressed program and the list goes on and on. We take these things for granted, but, our kids need to learn these essential skills to make it in the real world so teaching for them now is very important.

I am a firm believer that what they are teaching in school must be carried into the home with a schedule – yes, I know, the extra work that requires; the schedule, the pictures, the remembering to take it with you – oh my!

How does one stay organized with all of these schedules?

Take the showering program for instance. My daughter uses the iPad for communication and other teachings, but, you cannot take an iPad into the shower! So one must use the good ole standby of some laminated paper with Velcro. Not sure who invented Velcro but I bow down to them.

Her school created a picture of the human body and colored the arms in orange, legs in blue, stomach in yellow, etc.  While my daughter is in the shower, I give her the “puff” with soap, show her the card and point to the various colors to wash – awesome!

Food shopping is the same thing. I do not give her the entire list but rather show her essentials we need: Cheerios, grapes, apples, bread – again more awesome!

Don’t get me wrong, the iPad is a huge lifesaver but grabbing a laminated piece of paper with Velcro-ed photos is just faster for some of the life skills programs.

Back in the day, when she used PEC’s as her communication, I kept everything in a binder and took it with me everywhere. Now that she is using the iPad, and only needing PEC’s for some life skills programs, I leave them where I use them, examples:

• The showering card is in the shower stall
• The food shopping card is in the car
• The tooth brushing card is above the sink and so on.

As parents, we are always rushing around to get somewhere. Taking the time to teach life skills can be challenging for our special needs children but are essential for their independence.

Do you have a tip that has helped you when teaching your child an essential life skill? Share it below in the comments.

Susan Parziale is a certified Professional Organizer. She is also  a mother to 8 year old daughter with Autism. Visit www.susanparziale.com

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This post originally appeared on our November/December 2013 Magazine