Imagine trying to learn how to ride a bike by only reading about it in a book. No practice, no hands-on experience, just words on a page. Sounds impossible, right?
The same could be said about learning essential life skills. Whether it’s managing money, cooking a meal, or navigating social interaction, true mastery comes from doing, not just observing.
When learners have the opportunity to engage in real-life tasks like budgeting, meal preparation, or self-advocacy, they develop the problem-solving skills to address more complicated issues in the future.
This guide will give teachers, families, and neurodivergent individuals different ideas for developing crucial skills through hands-on, active learning experiences.
What is Experiential Learning?
Experiential learning, often called hands-on or active learning, is the process of gaining knowledge through direct experience. Experiential learning is when we “learn by doing.” This approach helps learners bridge the gap between abstract concepts and real-world applications. A common example is a science lab, where students conduct experiments to explore abstract scientific principles. Another example would be math, where learners use manipulatives to help learn addition and subtraction.
The Science of Active Learning
Experiential learning is a continuous cycle of learning through activities and reflection. This has been described in Kolb’s (1984) cycle of learning model. Students learn through formal instruction and their background knowledge, apply the knowledge in real-world settings through hands-on activities to reinforce their learning, and reflect on what worked, what didn’t, and how they can improve. Experiential learning includes internships, field studies, service learning opportunities, and studying abroad.
It has been found that learners retain approximately 5% of information during lectures and 75% of information when actively engaged in the learning process (p. 47). Learners are often more motivated by hands-on opportunities, which can further support student engagement and learning.
What are Functional Life Skills?
Functional life skills are essential skills that help learners navigate daily tasks, maintain independence, and participate as desired in the community. These skills include foundational skills like communication, executive functioning, and self-care, as well as more advanced skills like self-advocacy and civic engagement.
Many learners aim for greater independence with daily living skills as they transition into young adulthood. As learners are expected to be more independent, the amount of support received to develop these skills lessens considerably. For neurodivergent learners, ongoing practice and supportive experiences with daily living skills can greatly enhance confidence and independence.
How to Build Life Skills with Hands-On Activities
Hands-on activities make learning life skills more engaging and effective by providing individuals with real-world practice in meaningful and memorable ways. You can include interactive activities at each step of the daily living skills pyramid.
Communication
Experiential learning opportunities are important for students to develop and use effective communication skills. Learners need opportunities to practice expressing their thoughts, needs, and emotions while also understanding and responding to others. Activities like group projects, presenting ideas, and talking in class help learners practice active listening, speaking clearly, and adjusting how they communicate in different situations.
Executive Functioning
When learners are able to participate in hands-on activities, it helps develop key executive functioning skills that support learning beyond the classroom. Through experiential learning, individuals practice managing their time, setting priorities, and organizing tasks effectively. Activities that require planning, meeting deadlines, and balancing multiple responsibilities encourage learners to develop problem-solving strategies and improve their ability to think critically when faced with real-world challenges.
Primary Needs (food, health, safety, household)
Primary daily living needs are the foundation for independence. These skills cover basic needs for food, safety, health, and household management. Strengthening these foundational skills first helps make progressing to more complex daily living tasks smoother.
- Meal Preparation and Planning–Hands-on cooking activities give learners practical ways to comfortably practice meal planning, grocery shopping, and preparing food in supportive environments. These experiences help build confidence and independence in the kitchen.
- Health Education–Learners can practice essential medical tasks such as scheduling doctor’s appointments, reading medication labels, and participating in workout routines that promote overall wellness.
- Safety Skills–Participating in fire/tornado drills, first-aid training, and interactive role-play scenarios helps learners develop the skills needed to respond effectively to emergencies.
- Home Management–Learners can have an active role in household chores such as laundry, cleaning, and basic home maintenance tasks. These tasks teach responsibility and the practical skills needed to maintain a safe and organized living environment.
Secondary Needs (transportation, personal finance, work)
Once primary needs are met, learners can begin focusing on secondary life skills that support independence in transportation, financial management, and employment.
- Transportation–Hands-on experiences can include behind-the-wheel practice with an instructor, planning travel routes, purchasing transportation tickets (e.g., bus, train, plane), and learning to navigate public transit maps.
- Personal Finance Skills–Budgeting exercises, mock bank accounts, and playing financial literacy games simulate real-world scenarios, without the same level of stress. These are realistic ways to practice managing money and making informed financial decisions.
- Vocational Skills–Learners can learn more about vocational skills by job shadowing, practicing interview techniques with a trusted family member or friend, and participating in role-playing scenarios on professional etiquette.
Advanced Needs (leisure, stress management, self-care)
Once foundational and secondary needs are met, individuals can focus on skills that keep them feeling healthy and stress-free.
- Leisure Skills–Learners can develop these skills by exploring different potential hobbies that promote creativity, socialization, and relaxation.
- Stress Management–Self-regulation techniques are most effective when practiced in real-life situations, such as through guided mindfulness exercises, journaling, or having conversations with another person to help actively problem-solve common stressors.
- Self-Care–Maintaining personal hygiene, establishing healthy sleep routines, and setting boundaries are essential skills for sustaining mental and physical health.
Advanced Plus+ (citizenship, legal, advocacy, self-determination)
Once learners feel more confident with foundational skills, they can naturally progress towards developing higher-level life skills such as civic engagement, legal literacy, advocacy, and self-determination.
- Citizenship–Participating in community service projects, attending town hall meetings, and discussing civic duties helps learners become active and engaged members of society.
- Legal Literacy–Engaging in mock trials and learning how to read and interpret legal documents provides essential knowledge for navigating legal systems. A perfect place to start would be teaching learners about their Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan and helping them understand the legalities around the support they received in school.
- Advocacy Skills–Learners can strengthen their ability to advocate for their needs by role-playing scenarios from school, work, or other professional settings (e.g., medical) with other trusted friends or adults who can give honest feedback.
- Self-Determination–Self-determination is making choices and managing your own life. This skill can be actively developed through goal-setting exercises and opportunities to take ownership of personal choices.
Other Considerations
Experiential learning should be tailored to support the diverse needs of neurodivergent learners. Bhargava (2025) provides a list of tips and strategies to ensure that hands-on learning opportunities are comfortable and promote learning as intended. It’s important that these learning opportunities consider the sensory differences and pace of the learner. It’s also important that the environment is created to support neurodiverse needs, such as providing clear instructions, visual supports, choice, and flexible learning modalities. Hands-on learning opportunities will be most effective and meaningful if learners have the support in place that they need to be successful.
Additional Resources
For more strategies on developing executive functioning and daily living skills through active, hands-on learning, explore the following resources:
- 12 Executive Functioning Exercises for Small Groups
- Teaching Prioritization? 16 Game-Changing Tips
- 10-Minute Strategies to Teach Planning Skills
- 10-Minute Strategies to Boost Time Management Skills
- Using Self-Management to Teach Healthy Living Skills
As young adults seek independence, neurodivergent-affirming life skills coaching can reinforce these functional skills beyond the classroom.
TL;DR – (Too Long; Didn’t Read)
Functional life skills are essential for independence, and the best way to develop them is through hands-on, experiential learning. Rather than just reading about tasks like cooking, budgeting, or using public transportation, learners benefit from real-world practice that builds confidence and problem-solving skills. Research shows that “learning by doing” can increase retention of information up to 75%, considerably more than the 5% of learning that happens through passive instruction. These learning opportunities should be adapted to fit the unique needs of each learner, providing structure, flexibility, and sensory-friendly environments. Hands-on activities can build the skills necessary for lifelong success, with the right support.
Further Reading
- Accelerating School’s Growth – The Role of Experiential Learning in Developing Life Skills
- Bhargava (2025) – Tailoring Experiential Learning for Neurodiverse Students
- Boston University Center for Teaching & Learning (2025) – Experiential Learning
- Ekwueme, Ekon, & Ezenwa-Neibife (2015) – The Impact of Hands-On-Approach on Student Academic Performance in Basic Science and Mathematics
- Kent State University (2025) – What is Experiential Learning and Why is it Important?
- Life Skills Advocate (2020) – Executive Functioning Skills 101: All About Organization
- Life Skills Advocate (2021) – Daily Living Skills By Age: A Guide for Parents & Teachers + Developmental Chart
- Life Skills Advocate (2024) – Practicing Real-World Self-Advocacy: A Guide for Neurodivergent Individuals
- Life Skills Advocate (2024) – Teaching Prioritization? 16 Game-Changing Tips
- Life Skills Advocate (2022) – What is Executive Functioning?