How To Teach Kids Life Skills #CP

Raising kids is basically a long-term project about teaching them how to be good human beings and function in the world. And that’s why you’ll need to teach them various life skills - yes, it’s good for them to figure things out for themselves, but it’s also essential for you to be there to help them with the basics so they’ve got the confidence to do it. That’s essentially your job, after all. 

But life skills aren’t just about surviving day-to-day - they’re really about preparing children to be independent, capable, and able to live their lives in the way they want to, on their own terms. The trick is to teach without making it hard and without making it seem like a lesson. With that in mind, keep reading to find out more. 

Source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/little-girl-cooking-1684032/

Start With Fun Basics 

Cooking, cleaning, and managing money are essential skills, but kids aren’t necessarily going to be all that excited to learn about how to do them. The secret to ensuring they still do is to make it all fun - and, if possible, make it feel as though they’re in control of what they’re learning (it’s an old trick, but it’s one that works). 

For example, if you want them to help in the kitchen, give them a fun apron to wear and give them one specific job to start with (perhaps they’re the stirrer, or the measurer, or the pourer, for example). And if you want them to learn how to manage money, give them a budget for spending on a day out and let them work out what they can and can’t buy (and don’t be tempted to top it up!). In the end, the more involved they feel, the more likely they are to learn lessons they can use for the rest of their life. 

Teach Problem-Solving

Life is full of unexpected situations, and kids really do need to know how to think on their feet to solve any problems that come their way. Maybe it’s figuring out what to do when their bike chain comes off or how to handle a situation where they make a mess or break something. Whatever it is, if they’ve got good problem solving skills, they’ll be able to deal with it. 

Teaching them to stay calm and work through problems gives them real-world confidence, and even if it starts with small things (which is the best way to start), they’ll get better and better with bigger and bigger things, ensuring they’re capable in later life. 

Know When To Call For Help

Speaking of real-world problems, sometimes the best lesson in life is to know when it’s time to stop trying to do something and ask for help, and that’s a crucial thing for children to learn - yes, try things if you’ve got the confidence and knowledge (and skill) to do it, but if you can’t get the results you want, you’re running out of time, or you’re in a dangerous situation, knowing you can ask for help and being confident enough to do it is vital.

It could be anything - perhaps you need to change a tyre but need locking nut removal services, for example. Maybe you need some extra help with a particular subject. Perhaps it’s a job that you don’t want to DIY. It could even be talking to someone in therapy. Whatever it is, asking for help is sometimes necessary and shouldn’t ever be avoided if it’s needed.