Life Lessons
We all want to set our kids up for success, and part of that means preparing them for their adult lives. Many parents leave the teaching to school systems, but the truth is no one showed us how to do our taxes in school, nor how to fix a clogged toilet. Here are 20 skills we wish our parents had taught us.
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1. Cooking Skills
Many people worry about letting a ten-year-old near sharp utensils or hot oil, but if you’ve seen MasterChef Kids, you know it’s completely possible. Start small by teaching your kid how to make peanut butter sandwiches or heat up instant ramen.
2. Budgeting
Most children have little concept of money and think their parents are endless ATMs. This is why it’s important to show your child how to handle money early on. For example, take them grocery shopping, give them $20, and ask them to purchase a few items from your list. Whatever money they save, they can spend on themselves.
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3. Dividing Chores
Simply giving your kids chores isn’t enough. It’s better to teach them to manage the household altogether. Let them come up with a weekly chore plan and incentivize them to stick to it. These are skills they’ll need when they have roommates or partners of their own.
4. Gratitude
Whether your child is on the spoiled side or is of modest means, it’s important to teach gratitude. Being thankful for both big and small things is a great way to bolster mental health and emotional resilience. You could even gift them a cool-looking gratitude journal.
5. Calendar Management
While most adults keep their calendars on their phones or taped to their fridges, it’s important to block out time and plan ahead for events. Giving your child a calendar encourages them to keep track of tests and extracurricular activities.
6. Basic First Aid
It’s important to prepare your child for emergencies. Teach them how to bandage wounds or use an EpiPen if they have severe allergies. Hopefully, they’ll never have to use these skills.
7. Taxes
You might want to wait until they’re a bit older before having this talk, but it’s a skill many of us missed out on. If you’re unsure about the process yourself, there are classes offered by tax services that break it all down.
8. Critical Thinking
Teaching your child to think critically opens up their minds to all sorts of possibilities. Instead of watching movies at face value, encourage them to figure out the movie’s message or teach them how to find hints that relate to deeper themes.
9. Sorting Garbage
A lot of people move into their first place with no idea how to sort garbage. What counts as recycling, and what happens if you do it wrong? Additionally, how do you compost, and do you leave that on the street, too? These are important questions to answer early.
10. Productivity
Lots of kids fall into the trap of procrastination, and most adults aren’t any better. Teaching them techniques to boost productivity, such as the 80/20 rule or time-blocking, is a great way to set them up for life.
11. Time Management
If your kid is chronically late or always delaying errands, they’re probably managing their time poorly. Teach them time management by having them sit down and plan out their day, writing down what they’ll spend each hour doing. This way, they’re not sitting in front of the TV from 3 p.m. to bedtime.
12. Meditation
While younger kids may struggle with this, meditation and self-awareness are great ways to help ground oneself. When your kids are older and struggle with stress, wellness skills will be essential for protecting their mental health.
13. Digital Safety
In the era of technology, many kids keep sensitive information on their devices. This is why you need to teach them how to avoid scams and why they should use different passwords for every account.
14. Self Security
Keeping oneself safe physically is just as important as being digitally cautious. Teach your kids to avoid alleys or strangers and remind young girls that they don’t have to worry about being nice or polite when they’re in a suspicious situation.
15. Agreeing to Disagree
Since humans are social creatures, conflict resolution is an essential skill. In today’s politically charged world, it’s more important than ever to be able to agree to disagree. Show your kids how to have a little grace and not sweat the small stuff.
16. Tech Skills
Since many of us rely on technology for work and day-to-day tasks, it’s important to teach your child basic technology skills. This could be as simple as knowing how to restart the computer when it slows down or how to check and optimize internet speed.
17. Legal Awareness
Most people know not to steal or speed, but there are many laws your child may be unaware of. Helping them understand the rules of their city and the severity of consequences is a good way to shape them into honest citizens.
18. Networking
Few children recognize the benefits of networking, but teaching your kid early on to build communities and maintain positive rapport will help them later in life. Encourage them to build bridges instead of burning them.
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19. Car Maintenance
Teaching your child to drive is a rite of passage for any parent, but car maintenance is just as important. Show your kid how to change a tire or when to switch the oil and let them know what to do in the event of an accident.
20. Self Defense
It’s common for parents to put their kids in martial arts for exercise or fun, but self-defense is a vital skill everyone should have. The ability to protect oneself is incredibly important, which is why every child should at least learn the basics.
