Secret skill

Secret or hidden skills are skills that a Sim can gain with practice but will not appear in the interface. Cleaning is a secret skill in The Sims. There are several secret skills in The Sims 2 and The Sims 3.

The Sims

 * Cleaning
 * In The Sims, Cleaning is a hidden skill that's mostly used by the maid, community lot janitors, Servo and Bonehilda. All playable Sims and Townies have Cleaning skill, even if it's zero. However, the skill doesn't appear in the Control Panel. It cannot be changed or improved within the game, unless Sims use an object that has been hacked to affect Cleaning. Some third-party character-editing programs may allow the player to edit a Sim's Cleaning skill.

The Sims 2

 * Study
 * If a household member who is a teen or older offers or is asked to Help with a child's or teen's homework, that Sim will be able to learn how to study. This usually takes one homework session, and the child/teen being helped and the helper will each get a memory when it is completed. Then, the child or teen Sim will be able to complete homework much quicker.


 * Chess
 * Sims who play chess regularly will have more chances of winning against other Sims


 * Yoga
 * Sims who have three or more Body points get the "Do Yoga" self-interaction. Yoga is not only a skill in its own right, but doing yoga builds fitness and Body skill. However, skill at doing yoga is related to Body skill, not yoga experience. Unlike many Body-building activities, yoga does not cause a fast drop in the Hygiene meter. Also, if Seasons is installed, yoga does not raise a Sim's temperature.


 * Painting


 * The more paintings a Sim paints, the more he/she will be paid for them &mdash; even if (especially if) he/she has already maxed his/her Creativity.


 * Writing
 * One Writing skill point is gained whenever a Sim completes a novel. Like the Painting skill, the higher the Writing skill, the more a Sim's novels will sell for.


 * Meditation
 * Meditation is a skill that Sims from teens on up acquire if they have three or more Logic points and eight or less Playful. (Note that if a Sim's Playful score is exactly 8.00, he or she will be able to meditate.) While a Sim meditates, their motives; such as Energy or Hunger do not decay; neither does their Aspiration bar. This makes meditation useful to "save" a Platinum mood for later, such as for a promotion. It can also be useful for sick Sims, pregnant Sims, and Sims who wake up in the middle of the night. If a Sim meditates for a certain amount of time, they could learn to teleport. Meditation takes half a Sim hour to begin and up to another half an hour to stop. (It takes less time to stop if the Sim is not levitating.)


 * Dancing


 * This is a hidden skill that involves Sims getting better at the activity of dancing. Sims who are at the bottom end of the skill have very entertaining actions and moves. Teen Sims that achieve a high level in the dancing skill can qualify for the §1000 Tsang Footwork Award. A Sim with a relatively good Dancing skill has access to the social "Entertain. . . Bust a Move", which is available to use on Sims at a relatively low Lifetime Relationship of 20-30 and increases lifetime relationship by one or two points.


 * Pool
 * A skill learned by playing pool/billiards. Teens can receive the Phelps-Wilsonoff Billiards Prize of §1000 for having a high pool skill. The better a Sim is at the Pool skill, the more likely he is to succeed at Hustling pool.


 * Tai Chi


 * Sim can learn Tai Chi in Takemizu Village. Most locals there have already learned Tai Chi. Doing Tai Chi will drain hunger but fill up energy. When mastered, doing Tai Chi will build up Body skill. Tai Chi increases Fitness enthusiasm.

The Sims 3

 * Learn to Walk
 * This skill only has one level and only toddlers can have this skill. A teen or older can teach a toddler how to walk. After this hidden skill is learned the toddler can walk around instead of crawl.


 * Potty Training
 * This skill only has one level and only toddlers can have this skill. A teen or older can teach a toddler how to use the potty. After this hidden skill is learned the toddler can use the potty by him or herself. A toddler can learn to use the potty by being repeatedly trained by an adult until he or she has learned the skill.


 * Teach to Talk
 * This skill only has one level and only toddlers can have this skill. A teen or older can teach a toddler how to talk. After this hidden skill is learned, sims will be able to chat with the toddler.


 * Peg Box
 * This skill goes up to level 3 and only toddlers can have this skill. When the toddler ages into a child, they will start their logic skill on the same level as the skill level they acquired.


 * Xylophone 
 * This skill goes up to level 3 and only toddlers can have this skill. When they age into a Teen, they will start their Guitar skill on the same level as the skill level they acquired. If the Late Night expansion pack is installed, then the Bass, Piano, and Drum skills will also be raised.


 * Chess
 * Sims can level up this skill by playing chess on the chess table. Playing chess on the computer does not give a Sim chess experience. The skill goes up to level 10, with that level determining whether a Sim is more likely to win or lose, and what rank they hold in ranked chess tournaments. This skill is essential for completing the Chess Legend Lifetime Wish.


 * Collecting
 * This skill goes up to level 10, with Sims having a better chance when capturing a bug or insect and finding a gem or rock as the level increases.


 * Dancing
 * This skill goes up to level 10. Sims can level up this skill by dancing alone when music is on. This does not work on dancing with someone else. The level a Sim has in this skill determines how well they dance.


 * Hacking
 * Sims with the Computer Whiz trait can hack on the computer and earn simoleons. Hacking goes up to a level of 10, with the level determining how much money a sim makes.


 * Homework
 * A Teen or child Sim can do Homework. Regularly doing homework increases school performance.


 * Mooch
 * A Sim with the Mooch trait can just mooch off of his or her neighbors. This skill goes up to a level of 10. Sims with the Mooch Trait can beg for money and food from Sims around them. The higher the Sim's Mooching skill, the more likely they will be able to mooch large quantities of money. It is harder to mooch from Sims with the Frugal trait.


 * Video game
 * A Sim can play video games on a gaming console. This does not work with computer games or VR goggles. Sims can play against each other. The skill goes up to level 10, with that level determining nothing more than whether a Sim likely to win or lose against other Sims. There is no reward for winning or losing, only animations.


 * AirGuitar
 * The Sim will randomly play air guitar (playing guitar without guitar in hands) and get some fun from it.


 * Foosball
 * A Sim or Sims can level up this skill by playing on the Foosball Table (playing with a football or baseball does not level up this skill). The foosball skill goes up to level 10, with that level determining nothing more than whether a Sim likely to win or lose against other Sims. There is no reward for winning or losing, only animations.


 * Child Cooking
 * Only child Sims can get this skill. This skill goes up to level 3 and when the child ages into a teen, they will start their Cooking skill on the same level as the skill level they acquired.

World Adventures

 * Rubble Clearing
 * Sims can progress at clearing rubble in tombs. As their level increases, they are able to clear rubble more quickly.


 * Diving
 * This skill goes up to level 5. If Sims use the dive wells often, they can increase their skill level.


 * Snake charming
 * The more a Sim charms snakes the better they get at it. Eventually, at later levels, the Sim can kiss the snake or make it go into other Sims' clothes. This skill goes up to level 10.

Ambitions

 * Consignment
 * As Sims sell objects in the consignment store their consignment skill also increases, allowing them to sell objects for great returns.


 * Tattooing
 * Each time a Sim gives another a tattoo, their tattooing skill increases. It goes up to Level 10. Only Young Adults and above can get this skill.


 * Trampoline
 * This skill increases each time a Sim uses the trampoline. It goes up to Level 10. Everyone from children above can receive this skill.


 * Gnubb
 * This skill is used whenever Sims use the Sim Gnubb toy. This is available for child Sims and above.


 * Styling
 * This skill increases every time a stylist gives a makeover, or through the use of the drafting table. It goes up to Level 10 and is only available for Young Adults and above.

Late Night

 * Arcade Machine
 * Sims will get better when playing Arcade Machine. This skill goes up to level 10. Higher level Sims are more likely to win games.


 * Bubble Blowing
 * The bubbles become figures in various shapes when sim using Bubbluscious Bubble Bar. This skill goes up to level 10.


 * Darts
 * Sims can play darts using dartboards. This skill goes up to level 10. Higher level Sims are more likely to win games.


 * Shuffleboard
 * Sims can level up this skill by using the shuffleboard. This skill goes up to level 10, with higher level Sims being more likely to win games.

Generations

 * Sandcastle Building
 * Sims build better sandcastle over time. This skill goes up to level 4.


 * Driving
 * Teens can't drive a car unless they've learnt so. Teens need other older Sims to teach them. This skill goes up to level 3, and teens will be sent a skill completion framed reward certificate.


 * Hopscotch
 * Sims get better at playing hopscotch as their skill increases. This skill goes up to level 10.


 * Child Athletic
 * The Athletic skill is not available again for child Sims since Generations, this skill is replaced by a Child Athletic secret skill that is earned when they are working out. This skill goes up to level 3 and when the child ages into a teen, they will start their Athletic skill on the same level as the skill level they acquired.


 * Child Guitar
 * Only children can get this skill, This skill goes up to level 3 and when the child ages into a teen, they will start their Guitar skill on the same level as the skill level they acquired.


 * Child Bass
 * Only children can get this skill. This skill goes up to level 3 and when the child ages into a teen, they will start their Bass skill on the same level as the skill level they acquired.


 * Child Drum
 * Only children can get this skill. This skill goes up to level 3 and when the child ages into a teen, they will start their Drum skill on the same level as the skill level they acquired.


 * Child Piano
 * Only children can get this skill. This skill goes up to level 3 and when the child ages into a teen, they will start their Piano skill on the same level as the skill level they acquired.


 * Ballet
 * Only children can get this skill. This skill goes up to level 3 and is unlocked from afterschool activity. This skill unlocks several ballet move abilities.


 * Scouting
 * Only children can get this skill. This skill goes up to level 3 and is unlocked from afterschool activity. This skill unlocks the Salute hidden trait.

Pets

 * Wildlife
 * The Wildlife hidden skill determines whether befriending interactions with minor pet is successful.

Trivia

 * The xylophone and all child music skills are counted separately, for example is if your sim maximizes the xylophone and all child music skills, they will start at level 6 on guitar, bass, piano, and drum when aged into teen.