Core Skills Analysis
Life Skills and Personal Development
During the support worker session, Olivia worked on developing life skills. Through this activity, Olivia practised building skills intended to support everyday participation and greater independence. The session offered an opportunity to learn through direct support and engagement. At 14, Olivia could connect life-skill practice with how people take part in daily life.
Social and Community Learning
Olivia took part in a session focused on community engagement, learning that participation in community life is an important practical skill. The activity connected individual skill development with engaging beyond the home or learning setting. With support from the worker, Olivia had an opportunity to build confidence in approaching community participation. This experience helped Olivia explore how life skills can support involvement in shared community spaces.
Tips
Tips: Build on the session by inviting Olivia to choose a familiar community destination and help plan a visit, such as identifying the destination and deciding what to bring. During the outing, encourage Olivia to practise one everyday life skill in context, then talk together afterward about what felt useful and what Olivia might try next time. A simple photo journal or map of community visits can help connect experiences and celebrate growing participation. Keep the activities collaborative and paced around Olivia’s interests.
Book Recommendations
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey: Offers approachable ideas about personal responsibility, goals, relationships, and making choices.
Try This Next
- Create a life-skills checklist with one space to record a skill Olivia practised during each session.
- Draw a simple map of a familiar community place and mark important locations or points of interest.
- Write three reflection prompts: What did I practise? What felt helpful? What would I like to try next?