If you have unsuccessfully tried to convince a four-year-old to wear their jacket in the cold, you know that parenting is no small feat. Between juggling school runs, extracurricular activities, and bartering with your kids to eat something other than mac and cheese, there’s a lot on your plate.
Beyond the basics, there’s a ton of life skills that can help our children not just survive but thrive. All ages have something they need to learn, from preschoolers discovering the wonders of finger painting to college students navigating their first roommate conflict.
They’ll look to you for more than just learning to tie their shoes or finish their homework. These are the skills to teach our kids if we want to send some well-rounded kiddos out into the world.
1. Basic Self-Care
Teaching self-care starts early, from brushing teeth to understanding the importance of personal hygiene. Preschoolers can learn to wash their hands properly, while teenagers should know about skincare, nutrition, and even basic first aid.
Encourage routines that promote healthy living, such as regular showering and crafting balanced meals. This would also be a good time to teach them not to stay up until 3 AM playing video games, but hey, sometimes we have to choose our battles.
2. Coping with Failure
Failure is going to come sooner or later. And guess what? That’s okay. Teaching children to cope with failure is vital to their emotional resilience. Share stories of your or other people’s failures turned successes and remind them that everyone makes mistakes.
Help them celebrate their efforts, not just their outcomes. One day, it’ll be a bad grade, and another day, a missed goal in soccer. Emphasize the importance of persistence and learning from every experience.
3. The Value of Money and Budgeting
Money doesn’t grow on trees, but wouldn’t it be nice if it did? Teaching kids the value of money and how to budget can start with simple lessons like giving a small allowance for them to save or deciding between two toys.
Introduce concepts like bank accounts, debit cards, and the basics of budgeting. Older kids should understand how to save for the future. Real-world applications, like managing a part-time job or understanding student loans, are invaluable.
4. Living with Hope
Enough negativity is rife in our world, and it may get even more jarring as the children grow older. Teach children to focus on the positive and maintain an optimistic outlook. Share uplifting stories and be truthful about life’s ups and downs.
Encourage practices such as gratitude journaling or envisioning their dreams and aspirations. Living with hope isn’t about ignoring challenges but facing them with the belief that things can and will improve.
5. How to Solve Everyday Problems
Problem-solving is a skill that goes beyond finding the value of X and Y. Teach kids to approach everyday challenges—like a missing shoe or a tricky homework question—with a methodical mindset.
Encourage them to identify the problem, brainstorm solutions, try one, and reassess if needed. Role-playing different situations can also be a fun and practical way to enhance their problem-solving abilities.
6. How to Solve Conflicts
That kindergarten BFF will find another friend, their middle school math teacher will be out to get them, and their soccer coach keeps benching them for no good reason. All of that to say: there will be conflict. Handling conflict maturely isn’t always instinctive and we all had to learn to cope at some point. Teach children to express their feelings calmly and resolve disagreements through conversation rather than confrontation.
It can start from the playroom, modeling how to share toys and take turns. Always encourage them to tell you when things aren’t going well with others if it feels too big for them to handle, that way, you can intervene in time.
7. How to Express Themselves Well
Effective communication can open many doors. Start by encouraging young children to use words to express their feelings instead of kicking and screaming on the mall floor for the candy they want. Guide them on the importance of listening as much as speaking.
Get them books and urge them to read widely and express their thoughts and opinions clearly and respectfully. This skill will serve them well in both personal and professional relationships.
8. Self-Awareness
Self-awareness is a superpower. Help children understand their strengths, weaknesses, and emotions. Encourage reflective practices like journaling, where they can express their thoughts and feelings. Even if they’re too young to put words on paper, maybe opt for drawing about how they feel.
Have more complex discussions about personality types, career interests, and emotional intelligence as they age. Understanding oneself is the first step toward personal growth and healthy relationships.
9. Critical Thinking
Critical thinking involves analyzing information and making reasoned decisions. Motivate children to ask questions, seek evidence, and consider different viewpoints. Simple activities like puzzles or discussing the plot of a story can strengthen these skills.
How about having a debate in the car on what’s better between pancakes and waffles? You can research topics of interest and think critically about the information encountered in everyday life.
10. Staying Organized
Have you seen a teenager’s bedroom or the living room in a normal home with kids? Kids’ default setting is “messy.” Organization skills can make life much easier.
Show young children the importance of tidying up their toys and keeping their belongings in order. Use visual aids like charts and checklists to help them stay on track. Planners, digital calendars, and time management techniques will come in very handy for older children.
11. Dealing with Stressful Situations
Psychology Today says that kids today are more stressed than ever. Stress is a part of life, but managing it effectively is key. Teach children relaxation techniques like deep breathing, mindfulness, and physical activities that can help them stay calm.
It’s vital that they learn to identify their stressors and develop healthy coping strategies, such as talking to a trusted person, exercising, or engaging in hobbies. There’s life beyond homework, so encourage them to maintain a balanced lifestyle to mitigate stress.
12. Maintaining Healthy Relationships
Healthy relationships are built on trust, respect, and communication. Show children the value of kindness, and motivate them to build friendships based on mutual respect and support.
You need to steer them towards spotting those not-so-great habits and grasping why balanced, respectful relationships are necessary.
13. Setting Boundaries and Staying Safe
Boundaries are essential for personal safety and mental well-being. Prepare children to recognize and assert their boundaries. This includes understanding personal space, saying no, and seeking help when needed.
Discussions about online safety, peer pressure, and consent are vital. They should be equipped with the knowledge and confidence to protect themselves and make safe choices.
14. Empathy
Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. No one wants to raise a child who doesn’t care about others, so it’s essential to urge children to recognize and appreciate the emotions of those around them.
Simple acts of kindness and discussions about feelings can boost empathy in young children. Encourage them to see situations from different perspectives and practice compassion.
15. The Art of Negotiation
Life is filled with a neverending stream of negotiations and compromises, and honing in on negotiation skills is valuable in both personal and professional settings. Train children to express their needs and desires while considering the perspectives of others.
Introduce more complex negotiation concepts, such as finding win-win solutions and understanding the importance of compromise. These skills will serve them well in various aspects of life, from buying a good car to moving up the corporate ladder.
16. How to Keep Time
You don’t want your child to be the one always running towards the closing elevator 10 minutes after the meeting started. Let your children fully grasp the concept of time, use clocks and timers, and follow schedules.
Simple activities like setting a timer for playtime can help young children understand time management. Help them set goals, create to-do lists, and prioritize tasks.
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I’m a Language and Literary Studies (Honors) graduate with 11 years of experience in magazine and blog writing and content creation. I’m passionate about storytelling for change and believe in the power of words to make a difference. My writing is thought-provoking, accessible, and engaging, focusing on the Psychology of human behavior, complex social issues, personal experiences, and the latest trends. I’m a wife and a Mom of three.
I’m a Language and Literary Studies (Honors) graduate with 11 years of experience in magazine and blog writing and content creation. I’m passionate about storytelling for change and believe in the power of words to make a difference. My writing is thought-provoking, accessible, and engaging, focusing on the Psychology of human behavior, complex social issues, personal experiences, and the latest trends. I’m a wife and a Mom of three.
