Skills

Synonyms

Competence; Expertise; Mastery; Talent

Definition

Skills refer to a broad range of competent or excellent task-related behaviors that are acquired through knowledge or practice.

Introduction

Skills are distinguished from abilities, which are talents, aptitude, or some capacity to be proficient in certain behaviors. Abilities are a potential, while skills are acquired and developed through experience and practice. There are several domains of human skills, including three broad categories of physical, cognitive, and social skills.

Physical Skills

Physical skills include developing gross motor skills, such as picking up large objects, fine motor skills like drawing or sewing, or balance and coordination skills, such as walking or riding a bicycle. The development of physical skills in children begins very early when infants learn to control their movements, grasp objects, and sit upright. Physical skills, like all skills, can be developed through practice and learned through...