As a parent, you want your kids to grow up and be as independent as possible. You know that you will always be there for them, and you want them to know that too, but you also want to know that when they head out into the world, they will be able to take good care of themselves regardless of whether you are around or not.
With that in mind, here are a few life skills you may want to teach your children in order to get them ready for the real world:
Basic first aid
Teaching your child what to do if they or a friend receive burns, start choking, cut themselves, or various other health emergencies, is something that you should start doing as soon as they are able to understand, Of course, if you or a teacher, or another responsible adult are around, you will take control of the situation and jet them the help they need, nut you are not always going to be the ere, and the sooner they know how to handle basic emergencies, the better they will be able to deal with them now and in the future.
Cooking
Teaching your children basic cooking skills like how to chop veggies, prepare basic sauces and safely store and cook meat, may seem kike a very simple thing, but so many adults struggle with this every day and they struggle because they were never taught how to do it when they were younger, These adults tend to rely more on convenience food and takeout meals, which means they never go hungry but it also means that they spend more money and eat food that is less healthy than a freshly cooked home meal that is nutritionally balanced. So if you want to set your kids up right for adulthood, have them help you in the kitchen as often as possible, and do your best to show them how to make meals that include the right mix of fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals.
Self-defense
Being able to safely protect yourself from various threats is something that, I’m sure you will agree, is really important for everyone. As a parent, knowing that your child is able to protect themself should the need arise (which hopefully it won’t) will really put your mind at ease once they are more independent, but more importantly, it will help to keep them safe. So, if you are able to, think about enrolling them in a self-defence class while they are still young enough to absorb it all as effectively as possible.
Basic tech skills
Right now, we live in a world that is driven by technology. We all use a range of devices from smartphones to computers to do the most basic of tasks each day., As the years go on, technology is only ever going to play a bigger and bigger role in the lives of our children. If they can’t even muster the basics, then they are sure to get left behind in the job market. So, whether it’s teaching them how to program or showing them what to do when the disk you attached was not readable by this computer. Mac, anything you can do to get them used to using technology and solving problems will help them in the future.
Of course, when it comes to technology, you should also be teaching them balance because too much screentime can lead to stress depression, lack of exercise and so on. So, set strict limits, enforce digital detoxes, and do fun things with them in the real world, but also make sure they understand and are able to effectively use, technology too.
The value of hard work
It can be tempting to do everything for your kids, especially when they are very young, but this is only going to make them lazy in the future when they really need to have some get-up-and-go in them to make a successor their lives., So, as soon as they are able to do so, it is a really good idea to make them earn their allowance by tidying away their toys or helping in the kitchen or whatever you think will help them to understand the value of hard work.
When they earn their money, toys, privileges, then they will come to see the value of working hard and reaping the rewards and they will strive to do the same at school or in work, which is exactly what you need them to do if they are to succeed and make the most of the opportunities available to them.
Teach them how to budget
A lot of kids, when they go off to college, end p spending like a Kardashian and running out of money faster than you ever thought possible. Usually, these kids have never really had to think about money or living on a budget before. If you want your kids to avoid the pitfalls of debt, it is, then, a really good idea to get them used to budget as early as possible. You can do this by making them save their allowance, pointing out that if they spend it now they can only afford something small, but if they save for a while they can afford that big-ticket item instead, for example, or you can lead by example with your own finances, but whatever you do, make sure they understand money before they leave home.
Social skills
Teaching your kids how to behave appropriately in a range of settings from a formal dinner to a meeting to job interviews, will help them to network more effectively, make connections, and hopefully have an easier time in a life that is filled with friends colleagues, and amazing opportunities. So, let them experience various scenarios and help them get through them as often as you can.
It’s hard to think of your kids growing up and flying the nest but one day they will do just that and it is your job to make sure they are as prepared for it as possible.