How to Teach Life Skills to the Educationally Delayed

When teaching life skills to those with learning disabilities, show as much compassion and patience as possible. Teaching in a way that's belittling or overly critical can discourage the person and lessen his motivation in learning the skills you're trying to teach. Keep track of the techniques that work and build upon them.

• 1

  Let her practice specific skills. If you're trying to teach your daughter financial literacy, let her sit at the table with you while you write out checks. Explain to her what certain sections of a check are for, then give her a blank check so she can practice filling one out. Or if you want your son to know how to cook on his own when he leaves home, give him certain tasks to complete when you're cooking dinner and talk to him about proper food safety procedures when cooking.

• 2

  Buy books about life skills that the person you're teaching can understand. If you're trying to teach your cousin how to wash clothes and dishes correctly, get books that have clear step-by-step directions along with pictures of those steps.

• 3

  Use television as a teaching tool. If you're teaching your younger brother how to apply for jobs in person and by using the Internet, buy some DVDs that specialize in helping those with learning disabilities fill out and understand job applications. And if a local TV news segment is focusing on this topic, watch it with him and explain the most important things he should learn from the program.