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How Science Teaches Life Skills

Life happens! But with the right mix of experiences, we can be more prepared for the unexpected. The idea of learning a life skill is that you can become better at dealing with everyday challenges that arise through various possible circumstances. Whether at home, work, or really any situation – life skills help individuals to grow into more capable beings which results in a more fulfilling life. Sounds nice, right? Let’s dive in. 

For children, learning life skills is a common desire for parents, especially for younger ages where children are learning boundaries like rules, preferences and even gravity! In a learning environment, reading and writing are often considered of higher importance, but in this article, I want to share a perspective that will help you further embrace science education as a way to prepare for a fulfilling life.

Whether you realize it or not, science is everywhere! When you teach kids science, you’re teaching them life skills. The term life skills was first used by government agencies to describe outcome-based education (e.g., preventing disease, avoiding conflict). Now, academics, psychologists, and scientists use it to include overcoming daily challenges.

Here are all the ways that learning science prepares you for everyday life:

14 Life Skills that Science Teaches Children

1. SAFETY

Let’s chat about safety first. The littles are learning about hot and cold, soft and rough, colors, and peak-a-boo, to name a few. Older children are helping out with chores, cooking, playing outside, exploring nature, and more! Young adults are learning about health and wellness, driving, advanced technology, and more. And guess what? It’s all science! Learning about how things work is the cornerstone of science. Asking questions, testing a hypothesis, and course-correcting are all parts of life and very much a part of the scientific method.

Learning the building blocks of science can help make these experiences more fulfilling and safer as  your children mature. Having just a simple understanding of the laws of physics will not only make one a better driver, but a safer one. Alton Brown, a scientist and chef, gave a unique twist to a cooking show when he worked to explain the scientific phenomenon behind cooking! Learning about the science for cooking will help keep you safe and prevent accidents in the kitchen.

And regardless of everyday activities, studying science is about taking part in scientific experiments; while conducting these experiments, you are instructed to wear your Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which can include gloves, goggles, lab coats and more. These activities teach the importance of protecting your body from potential physical harm. Overall, science supports safety!

2. PLANNING

When you think about planning, what are some items that come to mind? How about parties or back to school? How about a wedding? A wedding is often coined as the “happiest day” of your life! However, planning and coordinating it has been known to take away from the joy of such an anticipated day. But guess what? Science can help! 

Science is such a rewarding experience, but we would be lying if we said it didn’t require a lot of preparation. Here are just a few things involved: 

  • Gathering resources.
  • Gathering tools.
  • Learning about certain items and concepts.
  • Connecting with other experts.
  • Collaborating with other learners.
  • Scheduling time to conduct, complete.
  • Considering backup plans or alternatives.
  • And so on! 

The list could be endless! And although it’s a lot of boxes to check, the more experience you have with planning at a younger age, the better you are at coping with this life skill as an adult – and hopefully having a memorable wedding day, should you choose to get married! 

3. QUESTIONING

When you stop asking questions – that’s when you stop learning. It’s what makes childhood so magical. Everything sparks curiosity and you have a natural interest in learning about the world around you. 

Science is what it is today because a whole lot of people asked a lot of various questions. Some even asked questions about questions that others asked! Discoveries for science can be contributed to the many minds around the world that asked a question and sought an answer. 

The very first step of the Scientific Method is to ask a question. It’s a natural first step when learning something new. Science encourages children to never stop asking questions and inspires individuals to become life-long learners. Also, asking the right questions can save time, money, and stress. 

4. CREATIVITY

While asking a question is the first step in the scientific method, the reality behind science is that you don’t have to follow one method to discover results. Some discoveries even happen by accident! 

Let’s take a book as an example. The world’s best authors don’t follow a template to write their stories – they use their life experiences and knowledge to create something great. Speaking of authors, do you have a favorite Sci-Fi novel? That wouldn’t be possible without a skill in understanding science, writing, and having a knack for creativity. 

In my free time, I actually love to craft. I have tried it all – from watercolors, knitting, woodworking, and more. My absolute favorite is quilting. Experts worked hard to develop the high-quality fabric, thread, and machines that I need to make a quilt. And thanks to mathematicians, I can follow a few formulas to make sure my measurements are on point. 

It’s debatable, but possibly one of the strongest life skills you can learn from experiencing science is the ability to problem solve. Science is often about solving problems for people, animals, the environment, and more. It takes creativity in questioning and exploring to find a viable solution. 

5. CURIOSITY

Children instinctively want to learn. They learn by doing and asking questions. Science class, more than other subjects, allows for this. Lab experiments permit a variation of “right” answers to a question. A child who stays intellectually curious will grow into an interesting and resourceful adult.

6. CONFIDENCE

Children trust more in their talent and abilities to solve a problem when they can “see” it. Science class allows for this hands-on learning. A child with appropriate self-confidence will see life’s challenges as opportunities to succeed.

7. CRITICAL THINKING

Children, like adults, think based on what they experience. However, slow, disciplined thinking must be taught and demonstrated. Science, with its emphasis on proof, is ideal for showing how it’s done. Children who learn to think critically, will become adults who are not easily distracted!

8. MOTIVATION

Children create their own incentives to learn. Sometimes, that incentive is basic, like wanting to know the outcome of an experiment. Science, more than other subjects, justifies their drive to know, usually with a visual “payoff.” The child who internalizes the cause-and-effect relationship from science will apply the same logic to the real-world problems that matter most to him or her.

9. COMMUNICATION

Children are typically honest when they speak–sometimes embarrassingly so! Science experiments encourage honesty in the reporting of results, recorded in a notebook. A child who learns to communicate results with precision and clarity will face fewer misunderstandings in later life.

10. ANALYSIS

Children can describe the features of something when asked. Science class asks them about the relationship of those features and how they connect. Children who learn to analyze problems will be calmer and more rational adults.

11. DECISION MAKING

Children are notorious for making impulse decisions. This can be tempered with age, maturity, and science class. That’s because science is concerned with finding solutions to problems. Usually, there’s more than one solution to a problem. Science teaches children to compare and then make the best decision. A child who can rationally make decisions through comparisons will avoid wasting time.

12. FLEXIBILITY

Children are usually quite flexible… until they get frustrated! Science experiments are tools for allowing kids to cope with errors, failure, and mistakes. They can learn why the failure occurred, which in turn, makes them less rigid. An adult who remains flexible in response to the setbacks of life will have better physical and emotional health.

13. EVALUATION

Children can make on-the-spot judgments about anything. What they need to learn is how to appraise things correctly, by an existing standard. Science class is great for demonstrating this principle. Children who can evaluate evidence, problems, and solutions, will be in-demand employees as adults!

14. WORK

And although it’s not a specific life skill, science can also prepare you for all kinds of careers! For one, STEM-specific careers are one of the fastest growing areas for future opportunities, and also salary! If you or your children want a future in science, there are countless opportunities for your future career. But if STEM isn’t their strength, or maybe just not their passion, having a good base knowledge and number of experiences in learning science can prepare them for so many careers! 

Here are a few examples: 

  • Hairdressers need to learn about the chemicals for hair color and hair treatments, and also ensure that hair stays healthy as depending on a styling tool or the environment. 
  • Electricians need to understand how electricity is set up and what makes it work to keep things running smoothly in homes, buildings, and more. 
  • A graphic designer relies on technology to build logos and create graphics to help a brand become successful and resonate with the customer. 
  • A sculpture artist may not require technology, but they are using various materials to build art, which requires items designed or enhanced by scientific discoveries. 
  • Stay-at-home parents doing spring cleaning are using supplies that help kill germs or remove stains, and they require a knowledge of what to do for best results. 

There are many examples that can be shared for how every career is enhanced by having a stronger understanding of science. Tell me, do you have any fun stories about how science has made an impact on your life or your children’s life, in a practical way?

__________________

Which of these life skills have you had to learn as an adult? Are there any you wish you would have been taught as a child? Think about which life skills from this list are most valuable to you. Are there any you would add?

By teaching science, you can develop these skills alongside your students.

Download our Life Skills Infographic:

science and life skills

Teach Science, Learn Math and Reading

Believe it or not, teaching science can reinforce key skills in math and reading.

Many science experiments require math. Science applies mathematical concepts to real situations in everyday life. Using measuring equipment, reading a thermometer, and many other basic math skills will be taught during science lessons. When taught in a hands-on way, math seems fun!

Science reinforces language arts such as reading and writing as well. Have your children write down a hypothesis or guess of what they think will happen. Were they right? They’ll learn the importance of using clear language.

Keeping a science notebook is another way of reinforcing reading. A student who struggles with reading comprehension may like copying key points from a textbook. Encourage note-taking or drawing pictures for students who have trouble focusing. These habits will lead to a richer understanding of what was heard or read.

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