2.0: Promotion of life skills
TOPIC 2. PROMOTION OF LIFE SKILLS
2.1 Meaning and types of life skills
Ø Explain
the meaning and types of life skills
Ø Illustrate
the importance of life skills
Ø Demonstrate
how to use life skills
Ø Analyse
the consequence of not applying life skills
A skills
Is the ability that a person has to do something well
Life skills
Is the ability of a person to live well in the society
TYPES OF LIFE SKILLS
Life skills divided into three types namely
i)
Individual life skills/ intra-person life skills
ii)
Social life skills/ inter-personal life skills
iii)
Effective decision making skills
- INDIVIDUAL
LIFE SKILLS/ INTRA-PERSON LIFE SKILLS
These are skills that enable individuals to understand
themselves in various ways.
People are able to understand their strengths and weakness,
how they think and feel and how they express their thoughts and feelings.
Individual life skills includes;
- Self-
esteem
- Self-worth
- Self-awareness
- Self-assertiveness
- Self-confidence
- Self-dependence
- Coping
with emotions
- Coping
with stress
- Solving
problem
I. SELF-ESTEEM
Refers to self evaluation of our abilities, capabilities and
worthiness as a result of comparing ourselves with others. self-esteem can be;
a) High
self-esteem
b) Low
self-esteem
a) High self-esteem
This comes when one focuses on positive qualities and
therefore become confident. Eg, one being happy, lovely, cooperative, helpful
and caring
b) Low self-esteem
This is the result of lacking confidence because of
comparing ourselves negatively with others. This may lead to;
Ø One
feeling bad
Ø Lacking
self-control
Ø Focus
on negative and ignore his or her achievements
Ø He
or she would be feeling sad, depressed, angry ashamed
II. SELF DEPENDENCE
Is an individual’s ability to make decisions by him or
herself. In order for a person to be self-dependent, he or she must;
a) Accept
his or her abilities
Each person has to be aware of his or her abilities and
potential to perform an activity. For example, believing that you can complete
your homework without being too dependent on others
b) Have self identity
Self identity is recognizing who one is. In order to achieve
this, a person must understand the strengths, weakness, goal and resources he
or he needs to get where he or she wants to be
c) Clarify his or her value
Value clarification relates to the convictions and beliefs
which guide a person in decision-making process. It raises one’s
self-discipline, ability to stay focused as well as commitment to
responsibilities
d) Develop independent decision- making
Involves identifying options, evaluating available options
and choosing the best option. This is important for someone to listen what
others tell you, and analyze their ideas before making a decision.
III. COPING WITH EMOTIONS
Emotions
Are inborn psychological conditions that show our reaction
to situations or events.
Ø Basic
emotions include; happiness, sadness, fear,
anger, surprise and disgust.
Ø These
emotions are the strategies for coping with the problem or challenges we face.
Feelings can be either positive or negative.
Ø Inability
to handle our emotions and feelings can lead to;
v Stress
v Depression
v Anxiety
v conflict
WAYS TO COPE WITH EMOTIONS
a) Identifying
emotions
You need to identify the emotions involved in the
situations. For example, ask yourself, are you happy, sad, angry or fearful?
b) Identifying the sources of emotions
A person who is not aware of the source of his or her
emotions become confused and may not develop coping mechanism
c) Analysing the effects of the emotions on one oneself
and others
This will help someone to make the right decisions
d) Assessing your ability to handle emotions
Good decision-making begins with the ability to handle
emotions
e) Seeking guidance or counselling
You are encouraged to find counselling services when it is
difficult for you to cope with emotions. Some emotions may be difficult to
manage, so you have to seek help from the school counsellor or any leader you
trust.
IV. SELF-ASSERTIVENESS
Is the ability of a person to know what he or she wants and
why, and be able to take necessary to achieve it.
It includes valuing what others feel and want. Being
assertive means being able to stand up for your own and other people’s rights.
TECHNIQUES COULD BE USED TO DEVELOP ASSERTIVENESS
a) Making
positive decisions
Negativity and pressure may lead to making irrational
decision while you can make rational decisions when you are calm, regardless of
the external pressure which has triggered your anger
b) Being open
Sharing your opinions, feelings, wants and needs with others
reduces unnecessary stress. In the process of sharing its important to consider
the needs of others
c) Being a good listener
This means giving the
freedom to express their inner feelings and concerns without interfering with
their decisions. A good listen can lead to develop a sense of trust, love and
care
d) Being hones
Tell others the truth by sharing with them your real
feelings. Deception may look smart, but may have very painful effects later
e) Respecting others
People need to be treated with decency and politeness.
Speaking in calm and relaxed tone increases your chances of being treated with
respect
V. COPING WITH STRESS
Stress: Is mental, emotional or physical tension or
pressure. this can be resulted from;
i)
Family conflict
ii)
Divorce of parents
iii)
Low family income
iv)
Lack of friends
v)
Lack of interest
in a particular subject
SYMPTOMS OF STRESS
i)
Loneliness
ii)
Sadness
iii)
Fear
iv)
Ander
v)
Worries
vi)
Sleeping disorders
STRATEGIES USED TO REDUCE / COPE WITH OR MANAGE STRESS
i)
Managing time
Having a timetable will help you to get rid of unnecessary
stress
ii) Exercising and leisure
Physical exercise gives you an opportunity to get rid of
your negative feeling
iii) Having a positive attitude
Being positive and avoiding focusing on negative aspects of
life protects your mental health
iv) Finding a social support system
Spend with friends, others family members and people who
love, care about and support you.
2. SOCIAL LIFE SKILLS / INTER-PERSONAL LIFE SKILLS
This is the ability to understand and live in peace and
harmony with others.
Ø Social
skills give an individual the knowledge and ability to live according to the
standards of a society.
ASPECTS OF SOCIAL LIFE SKILLS
i)
Forming healthy relationship
ii)
Forming friendships
iii)
Resistance to peer pressure
iv)
Empathy
v)
Negotiation
vi)
effective communication
- FORMING
HEALTHY RELATIONSHIP
This is the ability to meet and relate with others in
various places such as at school, playing field and social gatherings.
Ø To
maintain healthy living, humans need healthy relationships that help them to
have and behave positively towards each other.
QUALITIES OF GOOD FRIEND
a) Trust
b) Empathy
c) Honesty
d) Openness
e) Loyalty
f)
Unconditional acceptance
II. RESISTANCE TO PEER PRESSURE
Peer pressure may make you change your opinion, attitude or
behavior as a result of your intention to belong to the group of people of your
age.
Our friends can influence us to do good or bad things.
Positive peer pressure influence an individual to do right things while
negative peer pressure influence to do wrong things.
STRATEGIES OF MANAGING PEER PRESSURE
a) Paying
attention to values
If peers or friend are pressuring you to do something
against your values, do not feel ashamed to stand by your standards
b) Being thoughtful
Responding to friends requests, view and opinions require a
thoughtful mind
c) Having a conversation with the person
It is good idea to be open to someone who is trying to
influence you to do something
d) Communicating with parents
Sharing with parents what your friends or peers ask you to
do is important. Parents have the duty to care for and protect their children
e) Getting support from others
Includes trusted adults such as leaders or school counselor
III. EMPATHY
Is the ability to feel what others are feeling and
understanding what they are going through.
Empathy help us to understand and help others to address
their problem
IV. NEGOTIATION SKILLS
Is a communication technique that enables two side to reach
an agreement their problems
OR
Is the ability to agree on issues without undermining or
going against one’s principles
V. EFFECTIE COMMUNICATION SKILLS
This is the ability of a person to communicate with people
according to their mood, age and background. Effective communication skills
includes
- Speaking
skills
- Listening
skills
- Reading
skills
- Writing
skills
3. EFFECTIVE DECISION-MAKING SKILLS
These are skills which enable a person to make good
decision.
ASSPECTS OF EFFECTIVE DECISION-MAKING SKILLS
i)
Critical thinking skills
ii)
Creative thing skills
iii)
Problem-solving skills
iv)
Decision-making skills
i. CRTICAL THINKING SKILLS
Is the ability of a person to develop a deep understanding
of something. Before making a decision, a critical thinker considers the
advantages and disadvantages of various ways of doing something.
ii. CREATIVE THINKING SKILLS
Is the ability to think and come up with new ideas and new
ways of doing things
iii. DECISION-MAKING SKILLS
Is the ability to make the best choice out of many available
options
iv. PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS
This involves making a choice and acting on it.
Ø This
help individuals to make decisions and implement them in whatever situation
they find themselves.
INSTITUTIONS/ SOURCES/ PROMOTER OF LIFE SKILLS
i)
Family
ii)
Neighbours
iii)
Friends
iv)
Schools
v)
Society
vi)
Religion
vii)
Government
viii)
NGOs and UN agencies such as UNICEF, HAKIELIMU,
TWAWEZA, UNESCO, TAMWA
IMPORTANCE OF LIFE SKILLS
- Develop
good behavior
- Increase
love and understanding for others people
- Maintain
peace and order
- Promoting
conflict resolution
- Promoting
healthy personal attitudes
- Developing
ability to deal with various life issues
HOW TO USE LIFE SKILLS
We can use life skills in the following ways;
- Forming
relationships with other people
- Making
good friends
- Showing
empathy
- Resistance
to peer groups
- Displaying
effective communication
- Problem-solving
CONSEQUENCES OF NOT APPLYING LIFE SKILLS
- Existence
of health problems
- Existence
of conflicts in the society
- Existence
of poor academic performance
- Existence
of poor leadership
- Existence
of bad behavior
- Existence
of irrational decision-making
- Stagnation
of personal and national development
