While developing functional goals for children and adolescents with neurodiversity, an area that can sometimes be overlooked is life skills (i.e. self-care, household tasks, work skills, etc.). Our speech and occupational therapists have put together a helpful checklist of skills for children of varying ages and abilities. These are goals that can be addressed at home, school, or in a therapeutic setting. This checklist has been developed with the special needs community in mind, but these skills are appropriate for all kids and young adults.
Self-Care Adaptive Skills Teeth brushing Flossing Dressing- snaps, buttons, zippers Looking at clothes for stains/cleanliness before putting on Shoe tying Dressing for different events (school vs. work vs. the gym) Putting on deodorant Putting on sunscreen Checklist of what to do before leaving the house in the morning Household Tasks Laundry- Putting clothes in a hamper, transferring clothes to and from washer/dryer, folding clothes, putting clean clothes in drawers or on hangers Loading and unloading a dishwasher Cleaning dishes Making a bed Vacuuming Sweeping Mopping Emptying a trash or recycling bin Taking out the garbage, bringing in the garbage Awareness of recurring household calendar events like garbage day or recycling day Cleaning a toilet, shower, and/or bathtub Wiping down a sink or countertop Making a grocery list, grocery shopping and crossing items off the list Putting groceries away Locking a door, unlocking a door Storing and accessing keys Charging a phone and using an external charger Sewing a button Hanging a picture Social Skills Answering a phone call Taking a message Asking questions of a communication partner Gaining and maintaining eye contact Engaging in a conversation with a smile Maintaining appropriate personal space Practicing appropriate texting etiquette Asking for help in various situations (safety, at a grocery store to find an item, how to get directions on public transportation) Building relationships-friendships to romantic Understanding loss (of a pet, family member, skill) Work Skills Addressing a letter Typing Using a printer, copy machine, scanner, or fax machine Taking a message Emptying trash cans and recycling Using a cash register Bagging groceries Applying for a job Interview skills- dressing for an interview, friendly and professional etiquette, asking and answering pertinent questions Practicing an interview *Consider interests and aspirations when choosing goals related to work skills Executive Functioning Managing a paper or digital calendar Setting up alerts on a phone/calendar Scheduling appointments, meetings, and activities Managing scheduling conflicts Step ahead thinking:
Day to Day Skills Filling up a vehicle or gas can at a gas station Advocating for self and others Calling for help (9-1-1, tow truck, parent, supervisor) Applying for a job Opening a bank account Managing a bank account Understanding the difference between a debit card and a credit card Buying a car and navigating the Secretary of State Obtaining a passport Writing a resume Turning off gas and water in an emergency Fixing a tripped breaker Ordering food on your phone (ex. Panera or Uber Eats) Ordering in a restaurant Paying a bill Checking your change Tipping wait staff Signing a bill
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