Life Skills for Kids + Bonus Writing Prompts

Life Skills for Kids: What Middle Schoolers Need to Know That They Don’t Learn in School— Kids learn all kinds of valuable things in school—but between arithmetic and science classes, some important life skills simply don’t make it into the curriculum. And though some of these lessons will be taught at home, many students will make it into their adult lives without ever having learned basic skills like how a credit card works or what to do if someone needs CPR.

These writing prompts are designed to teach your middle schoolers a number of valuable life skills for kids.

The lessons in these activities include all sorts of things that simply aren’t always taught in schools—everything from what to do if a fire breaks out while cooking to the components of a good apology. As they learn, practice, and reflect on these valuable skills, your middle schoolers will become more well-rounded and prepared for the years ahead.

Help your students learn the valuable life skills they need before entering into adulthood with these all-new life skills for kids writing prompts!

30 Life Skills for Kids Writing Prompts

Partner with a friend and conduct mock job interviews. Then write about your experience.
Research something you can do to help less fortunate members of your community—and then go out and do it. After, write about your experience.
At dinner, sit down with your parents and ask them about their days. Try to listen and ask interesting questions. Then write about your experience.
Call a local store or restaurant to find out when they are open and if they have any specials. Then write about your experience.
Ask your parents to go over their budget with you and learn how much things like your family’s home, food, and car cost. Then write about what you learned.
Research budget-friendly cars for teens, car insurance costs, and gas prices and estimate what you could be paying in a few years. Then write about what you learned.
What would you do if you needed to make $100 in a short period of time? How will your opportunities change over the next few years? Write about what you know.
What makes someone a good friend? Interview three people and then write about what you learned from their answers.
What makes someone a good romantic partner? Interview three people and then write about what you learned from their answers.
Research the US voting system and write about what you learned. What are the pros and cons of the current system?
Think of one thing you frequently use technology to do—and then do it the old-fashioned way instead. Then write about your experience.
Go to the library and use encyclopedias and physical books to research a topic of your choice. Then write about your experience.
How do credit cards work? Is there a good way to use them? What is a credit score? Research these topics and write about what you learned.
Find a cooking tutorial online and make a new recipe on your own. Then write about your experience.
Learn how to sew, knit, or crochet a few basic stitches. Then write about your experience.
What are the safest ways to handle and use knives in the kitchen? Research and write about what you learned.
What makes a good apology? Look up the components of a good apology online and practice them. Then write about your experience.
What is the proper way to set a table? Research and then practice setting the table for family dinner. Then write about what you learned.
What are the most effective methods of self-defense a young person can learn? Research this topic and write about what you learned.
How do alcohol and drugs impact your brain? Research this topic and write about what you learned.
What should you do if someone tries to pressure you into something you don’t want to do? Write about how you would handle the situation and then discuss with your classmates.
How do you perform CPR? Learn about the procedure and write about what you would do in this type of situation.
How do you perform the Heimlich maneuver? Learn about the procedure and write about what you would do in this type of situation.
How well do you manage your time? Write down a schedule of what you do in an average day or week and reflect on what you could improve.
What should you do if you or someone you know seems depressed? Explain how you would handle the situation and discuss with your classmates.
What are some basic cleaning skills everyone should know? Ask your parents for their best tips and then write about what you learned.
What are the most important things to consider when choosing a college? Research this topic and write about what you learned.
What should you do if you feel unsafe in a public place? Research this topic and write about what you learned.
What should you do if you are cooking and a fire starts? Write about how you would handle the situation.
What should you do if someone does something after you expressly asked them not to? Write about how you would handle the situation.