Life skills are abilities that enable humans to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of life. They are also known as psychosocial competencies and can be directed towards personal actions or actions towards others, as well as towards actions to change the surrounding environment to make it conducive to health. Life skills are a product of synthesis, and many skills are developed simultaneously through practice. Some examples of life skills include:

• Personal skills: These are skills that help individuals take care of themselves and their personal needs. Examples include hygiene, self-care, and time management.

• Interpersonal skills: These are skills that help individuals interact with others in a positive and effective way. Examples include communication, teamwork, and conflict resolution.

• Analytical skills: These are skills that help individuals think critically and solve problems. Examples include decision-making, problem-solving, and creativity.

• Practical skills: These are skills that help individuals perform tasks and activities in their daily lives. Examples include cooking, cleaning, and driving.

• Emotional skills: These are skills that help individuals manage their emotions and cope with stress. Examples include self-awareness, empathy, and resilience.

Life skills are often taught in the domain of parenting, either indirectly through the observation and experience of the child, or directly with the purpose of teaching a specific skill. Educating a person in skills for dealing with pregnancy and parenting can also coincide with additional life skills development for the child and enable the parents to guide their children in adulthood. There is no definitive list of life skills, and certain skills may be more or less relevant to an individual depending on their life circumstances, culture, beliefs, age, geographic location, etc. However, in 1999, the World Health Organization identified six key areas of life skills: decision-making, problem-solving, creative thinking, critical thinking, effective communication, and interpersonal relationships. Perhaps the most important life skill is the ability and willingness to learn, as learning new skills increases our understanding of the world around us and equips us with the tools we need to live a more productive and fulfilling life.