SEKE TEACHERS’

COLLEGE
ASSIGNMENT COVER
SHEET

NAME: TRACY MHAKA INTAKE: 22

CANDIDATE NO. : 22/247/19 GROUP: D

LECTURER: MR KAKWERE DUE DATE: 30 SEPTEMBER 2020

SUBJECT: HEALTH AND LIFE SKILLS

ASSIGNMENT TOPIC: USING RELEVENT EXAMPLES DISCUSS HOW YOU

WOULD APPLY ANY FIVE CORE SKILLS IN OUR DAY TO DAY LIVING.

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LECTURER’S
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In life, humans occasionally encounter calamities not easy to come to terms with. To others, these

conditions will trigger deteriorating health such as hypertension, stress or depression. Others

unfortunately resort to taking their own lives. To overcome these problems, one needs to apply core skills

in day to day living. The core skills include self- awareness, critical thinking, decision making, effective

communication and coping with stress. This write up is going to discuss how to apply these core skills

into day to day living. Core skills and day to day living are terms to be defined.

According to WHO (2007), core skills are the abilities for adaptive and positive behaviour that enable

individuals to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life. According to UNICEF

(2006), core skills refers to behaviour change or behaviour development approach designed to address a

balance of three areas: knowledge, attitude and skills. Therefore, one can define core skills as knowledge,

attitude and skills that enable individuals to deal with challenges of everyday life. Grains (2010) describes

day to day living as the way in which every human being move around doing his or her work in various

ways. Agnes (2009), explains day to day living as how every individual operates, work, exist, core exist

in this world every day, facing many different situations in the process. Therefore, day to day living is

how people operate in day to day life.

Self-awareness is the ability to recognise oneself as an individual separate from the environment and

other individuals. An individual needs to understand him/herself so as to be able to have self-control. It

expresses putting oneself in another’s shoes. This can be translated when one is suffering from a non-

communicable disease, one needs to understand another person better and have a feeling towards that

person. According to WHO (2007), it involves the ability to imagine what life is like for another person.

This means that after we know about some one’s condition we need to think on how to use words that
enable that person to progress with life regardless of his or her burdens, we need to use comfortable

words of encouragement.

Critical thinking is another core skill vital for human survival. One needs to think clearly and rational

about what to do or what to believe. In some situations an individual has to think critically before taking

any decision. Sometimes it requires creativity for one to avoid falling into trouble because of a poor

decision. It involves looking for many possible answers rather than one. According to Agnes (2009), to

develop new and better methods of solving problems and inventing new ideas and better forms of

expressing human experiences, requires critical thinking. Thus for us to solve challenges we face in life,

we require critical thinking on how to solve such problems. If one thinks critically before taking any

action, this will help to avoid making many errors.

Decision making. The skill involves choosing courses of action to take when scenarios arise that require

urgent action for problem solving skills. Before making any decision, one needs to consider the future

consequences of the present action and the effects to others. If misunderstandings arise between

classmates or workmates, one need to foresee the after effects of his or her decision first. On that scenario

some people take quick poorly assessed decisions which they regret for their entire life. Ndlovu (2018),

cited that it is important to be able to make right decisions when faced with two different choices. Always

consider the results or consequences of your decision or action. Therefore, one should be very cautious

when making decisions. It is important to determine alternative solutions and how it influences his or her

values and the value of people around them.

Effective communication is of paramount importance if one is to survive in his or her society. One needs

to be able to express him or herself. If a person is aware of how to express opinions, desires and also

needs and fears, it means that person is a good communicator. When it comes to decision making one

seeks advice from others and help first. The skill shapes the character of a person very much. According

to WHO (2007), the skill result in the acceptance of social norms that provide the foundation for adults

social behaviour. Therefore, an individual need to accept other peoples thoughts and views on solving

problems in life.

Coping with stress is the fifth skill one must consider so as to proceed with life. Stress can be caused by

economic hardship, sickness or even death of a loved one. To overcome this, one need to recognise

sources of stress and their effects. If one is aware of that he or she must act in ways that helps to control

levels of stress. This can be done by finding ways of reducing stress such as changing the environment,

lifestyle and know how to relax. According to Maugham ( 2007), when one is able to cope with it, stress

can be a positive factor since the pressure forces one to focus on what one is doing and respond

accordingly. Thus the best way of finding relief from stress.

To conclude, if people apply core skills in day to day living, it helps to reduce burdens of life. The core

skills enable one to proceed with life regardless of obstacles we face in our day to day living. The paper

discusses how to apply the five core skills in life.

REFERENCES :

Agnes, H. (2009). Everyday Life. London: Routedge.

Grains, B (2010). Teaching Of Life Skills. London: Education Board Press.

Maugham, K. E (2007). Understanding The Life Skills. Cambridge. Cambridge University Press.

Ndlovu, L. (2018). Guiding And Counselling: GZU Module. Masvingo: University Press.

UNICEF (2006). Life Skills Education Report. London: UNICEF Centre.

World Health Organisation. (2005). Life Skills Workshop. Report. www.who.org.