The Sims 3/Skills

Athletic

 * Who: Teens, Young Adults, Adults, Elders
 * Equipment Needed: Treadmill, Exercise Queen, TV, Stereo, Swimming Pool
 * Ways to Earn Athletic Skill: Use Exercise Equipment, Read Athletic Books, Take Athletic Class, Workout with TV or Stereo

Sims can use the gyms in town to workout for free. Athletic Sims are more likely to win fights – such as with a robber who breaks into their home. Massage takes away Sore moodlet. Body Builder Skill unlocks Flex social which impresses romantic interests during conversations.

Athletic Skill Levels

 * Level 1: Sims can jog for exercise.
 * Level 3: Sims earn Pumped moodlet.
 * Level 5: Sims can run faster wherever they are directed to go.
 * Level 6: Sims learn "Train" Interaction. Requires an exercise machine.

Athletic Tones

 * "Don't Break A Sweat": No heavy hygiene decay.
 * "Good Pacing": Exercise longer before receiving Fatigued moodlet.
 * "Push Self": Increases speed muscle is gained, weight is lost and skill is gained. Sims gain Sore moodlet with this tone upon waking up.
 * "Quick Burst": Sim gains body shape change and athletic skill faster.

Athletic Skill Challenges

 * "Body Builder": 60 hours strength workouts. Never fatigued after strength workouts.
 * "Marathon Runner": Run 500 kilometers. Sims will have a longer, healthier life.
 * "Fitness Nut": 75 hours cardio workouts. Never fatigued after cardio workouts.

Charisma

 * Who: Teens, Young Adults, Adults, Elders
 * Tools Needed: Mirrors, Books, Socials, Parties
 * Ways to Earn Charisma Skill: Read Books on Charisma, Practice Speech in Mirror, Take Charisma Class

Charisma Socials

 * "Charming Introduction": Charming Introduction.
 * "Get To Know": Helps Sims discover traits and interests of other Sims.
 * "Smooth Recovery": Sims can revive a conversation.

Charisma Skill Challenges

 * "Celebrity": Have at least 25 local Sim acquaintances. Celebrities build relationships faster.
 * "Personable": Learned at least 50 traits of friends and neighbors.
 * "Super Friendly": Have at least 20 friends. Friendships never decay.

Cooking

 * Who: Teens, Young Adults, Adults, Elders
 * Tools Needed: Books, Cook Meals, Recipes, Foodstuffs
 * Ways to Earn Cooking Skill: Prepare Meals, Read Cookbook, Take Cooking Class

Children can't cook, but can take snacks out of the fridge. Quick meals and snacks are free. If a Sim does not have the required ingredients for a meal, the amount the ingredients cost shows up next to the dish in the menu. The better the fruits and veggies used to make a meal, the higher quality the meal. Feeding meat to a Vegetarian Sim makes them sick.

Meal Times

 * 3 AM- 10 AM: Breakfast
 * 9 AM- 3 PM: Brunch (On Weekends)
 * 12 PM-5 PM: Dinner
 * Dessert- Anytime

Cooking Skill Challenges

 * "Star Chef": Prepare at least 50 meals. Star Chefs prepare higher quality meals.
 * "World Class Chef": Prepare at least 75 dishes. World Class Chefs prepare meals faster.
 * "Menu Maven": Learn to prepare all recipes. Menu Mavens prepare higher quality food.

Fishing

 * Who: Children, Teens, Young Adults, Adults, Elders
 * Equipment Needed: Bait (optional), Sim has fishing pole, must be near lake, ocean or fish hatchery
 * Ways to Earn Fishing Skill: Books, Take Fishing Class, Go Fishing

Deathfish can be found in the Graveyard between 12 AM and 5 AM. Need Level 10 Fishing Skill to catch Deathfish. "Love the Outdoors" trait makes a better fisherman.

Fishing Skill Challenges

 * "Amateur Icythyologist": Catch at least one type of every fish.
 * "Commercial Fisherman": Caught at least 350 fish. Can catch fish in less time.

Gardening

 * Who: Teens, Young Adults, Adults, Elders
 * Tools: Gardening Books, Seeds, Empty land to grow plants
 * Ways to Earn Garden Skills: Read Gardenng Book, Take Gardening Class, Garden

Omni Plant will grow into whatever you give it. Use a sprinkler (Found under Hobbies) to water the garden. You can upgrade the sprinkler so it waters the garden automatically. If you grow a money tree and don't care for it – it will turn into a tree full of bills that have to be paid. Rare and uncommon seeds can be found the farther away from community lots and houses you go. Sims with Insane and Green Thumb traits can "Talk To" plants to help them grow. Do not use Deathfish as a fertilizer. It will kill the plant you put it on.

Gardening Skill Interactions

 * Weed: Pull weeds. (Level 2)
 * Fertilize: Fertilize plants. (Level 3)
 * Uncommon Seeds: Plant Uncommon seeds. (Level 5)
 * Revive Plant: (Green Thumb trait) Rescue dying plants. (Level 6)
 * Rare Seeds: Plant rare seeds (Level 7)
 * Special Plants: One opportunity in Levels 8,9,& 10 of Gardening Skill. Complete all three opportunities and Sim will receive Omni Plant in the mail and can plant them.

Gardening Challenges

 * "Master Planter" : Must plant every plant at least once.
 * "Botanical Boss": Harvest 75 perfect fruits and veggies. Plants almost never die from neglect.
 * "Master Planter": Harvest at least 650 fruits and veggies. Plants remain watered and fertilized longer.

Guitar

 * Who: Teens, Young Adults, Adults, Elders (Toddlers get a hidden skill boost for the Guitar if they play with the xylophone toy.)
 * Equipment Needed: Guitar
 * Ways to Earn Guitar Skills: Take Guitar Class, Play Guitar

Playing a guitar at a party can help make the party great. Buy sheet music from the Bookstore. Sheet music disappears once used.

Guitar Skill Levels

 * Level 1-4: Learn 2 basic practice songs per level.
 * Level 5: Eearn 3 new songs.
 * Level6-10: Learn 1 new song per level and can perform songs without fail.

Guitar Skill Challenges

 * Master Guitarist: Learn to play every song awardedand available at the Bookstore. They will recieve a special master track.
 * Guitar Star: Play at 10 parties and venues in tow. Guitar Stars earn more tips for performances.
 * Money Maker: Earn $5000 through tips or by completing Opportunities to earn a new master track to perform.

Handiness

 * Who: Teens, Young Adults, Adults, Elders
 * Tools: Handiness Skill Books, Repairing, Upgrading, and Tinkering with Objects
 * Ways to Gain Handiness Skills: Repair an Object, Read Handiness Skill Book, Take Handiness Class

Handiness Skill Challenges

 * Electrician: Repair at least 10 electrical objects. Never electrocuted by electrical objects.