Life Skills & Money

The Life Skills Checklist: 28 Skills for Kids

A free printable life skills checklist with 28 skills for kids from toddler to teen, across four areas: money and budgeting, independence, home skills, and thinking skills. These are the skills no test measures but every adult needs. Begin with one skill and build from there.

Put together by Amelie, B.Ed, M.Ed, former classroom teacher · Updated June 2026

28 ideas4 themesFree to print & keep

How to use this list

Start small and hand over real responsibility a little at a time, then resist the urge to step in and fix it. Whether it is the grocery run, the laundry, or a phone call, doing the real thing with you nearby beats any lesson about it. Work through the checklist slowly over months, not days, and let your kids surprise you with what they can handle.

Go deeper

This checklist is the quick version. For the why behind each idea, parent tips, and the full walkthrough, read 10 Life Skills Every Kid Should Learn Before They’re 12.

Frequently asked questions

What is on the life skills checklist?

The checklist holds 28 real tasks to hand over across four areas: managing money, handling tasks independently, running a household, and thinking through problems. Each one is something to actually do, like planning a meal on a budget or making a phone call, not a worksheet topic.

At what age should kids start learning life skills?

Kids can start learning life skills earlier than most parents think, beginning with simple independence tasks as toddlers. The skills build from there, and the checklist is meant to be worked through gradually as your child is ready.

How do I teach life skills without it feeling like a lecture?

The way to teach a life skill is to hand over the real task instead of talking about it. Let them make the grocery list, handle the cash, or solve the problem themselves. Doing it for real, with you nearby, beats any lesson.

Is the life skills checklist free to download?

The 28-skill checklist is free to download without an email address. Print it and check skills off as your kids earn them, at whatever pace fits your family.

Want the step-by-step guides?

These ideas are a great starting point. The membership gives you fully guided activities with step-by-step instructions, three skill levels, and parent tips for every single one.

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