What are life skills, and how important are they?
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Millet, Thank you for inviting me to the sock hop. I had a great time. I loved all the activities and the food. Even though I didn’t win any prizes, I adored all the games and everything. I loved how you put everything together so we would have a great time. I also liked the box step pass the ball game! The coke floats were great also. I hope to come again next year. This was great fun.
Sincerely,
Katy C.
6th Grade Program
Life skills are important tasks that lay the foundation for us to live in order, harmony and good health. We start learning life skills from the time we learn to walk and talk. At each level of our lives, new skills are required. These skills can be as simple as brushing your teeth correctly, making your bed or learning how to cook and set the table. For each level of our lives, there are always new life skills to learn. Once you learn a life skill, you move on to another. All of those skills build self-confidence and respect for oneself. That translates into respect for others.
My young friend and former student of three years, Chris Proffitt, went off to college. He lived in the dorm and had a roommate. Chris and the roommate got along well except for one problem. It was a problem that got bigger and bigger as the year went on. You see, the roommate was a slob. His messiness got larger and larger until it started encroaching onto Chris’s side of the room. When Chris asked if the roommate would please clean up his side of the room, the reply was, “If it bothers you, then you clean it.” Obviously, this young man did not understand it was his responsibility to clean his side of the room. He did not learn that a clean room translates into respect for yourself and respect for others. He missed out on that life skill training and eventually, it ruined the relationship. Unfortunately, many of our relationships come to an end because of poor life skills.
Tying a tie can sometimes be a challenge
Most parents are so busy with work, children’s activities and the everyday running of the house that there is precious little time for anything else. Some parents don’t even think of talking about life skills unless an issue comes up and other parents believe their kids will somehow just learn them. Many life skills fall through the crack because of this and life is more difficult for those children.
For those parents who are teaching life skills at home, this program serves as a huge support system. Many students at this age only listen with one ear. However, they are more apt to listen to a third party and participate in a discussion with their peers about why something is important than to listen to a parent tell them why it is important. No offense to parents. I believe this is just human nature. I witness the same thing with my husband frequently!
We have chosen eleven life skills and social skills that we believe to be important for this age group. Life Skills Topics
Life skills are taught by rotating through different stations. Students love this class because they are learning in small groups, they are learning from each other and it is very interactive. This class includes basic ballroom dance and some cool new steps. Time goes by very quickly in this class.
Learning about personal hygiene products
We believe the biggest challenge for a parent is to prepare your child for his or her unknown future. Your children are your biggest investment and you only have one chance to get it right. The Life Skills Program is designed to help you do that. We believe the topics we have chosen will develop a positive sense of self, promote ethical decisions and plant seeds of responsibility in areas they may not have thought of. The social skills training will give them the tools to fit-in with any level of society. Polite people always set themselves apart.
Included, in the Life Skills Program, is a theater outing followed by a reception. A tutorial dinner and a formal Ball are at the end of the program. Certificates are awarded upon the competition of the program.
Online registration opens in March and classes begin in September.
“Nowhere on the Peninsula can you find such a comprehensive program to help young people grow into responsible, self-confident young adults.” C. Zanette
Locations: Burlingame, Dublin, Los Altos (directions)
Good Life Skills builds good character.
Life Skills Program Dress Code:
Part of the Cotillion experience is learning how to dress properly. What to wear, when. In many cases, people will judge us based upon how we are dressed. Once that impression is made, it is very hard to reverse it. Therefore, how we dress is important. Many of our young students do not yet realize the importance of dressing correctly and our required dress code may be a new experience. We discuss the difference between fad and fashionable and give your child the two secret words that will help him/her to choose the correct clothes for every occasion. Parents receive a dress code notice if a student is dressed inappropriately.
Ladies wear Sunday dresses or blouses and skirts that have hemlines at or below are at the knees. No gloves for this class. No pants or spandex showing from under skirts. No spaghetti straps or halters. No bra straps or stomachs showing. Skirts need to have a waistband. Pumps or flats are preferred. No athletic shoes or flipflops of any kind. Sandals with a strap on the heel are o.k., until November. The Spring Ball requires a floor length gown with gloves.
Gentlemen wear a suit or sport coat with slacks or Dockers, shirt, tie and dress shoes with dark colored socks. No white socks, no athletic shoes. The Ball is a black tie affair.
