My parents and my grandparents were the ones teaching me all of the basic life skills, I use sometimes today, from a very young age. And I’m very thankful, that I can cook my own meals, can grow my own vegetables, sew more or less well enough to repair a button, repair stuff at home, change oil, give basic first aid. To be self-reliant is a great thing. True, I was born in different times, where practical things were more needed. Or were they?
Today’s world is no other than the one in the 90s, if you ask me. The magic that changes a lightbulb or gives a first aid in the right time or cooks you a meal when nobody is there in the real world is still not invented. So, well worth it, to start teaching our kids and ourselves, if we missed it, some basic life skills, we need. Because school won’t teach them.
Real life skills your childs need
Children often miss learning critical life skills at school, like cooking basic meals. Not knowing how to cook is pretty bad, as you depend on someone else to prepare you meal and decide about your nutrition.
So, let’s start with the most important ones on which our lives depend on like:
1. Cooking
Besides the cooking basics like boiling water, frying and egg, making a sandwich or a salad, teach your child to cook real, healthy meals. Teach them that cooking takes time, but it’s totally worth it. You know every single ingredient that lands on your plate and you can season it the way, you like it. Cooking is one of the most important life skills you can acquire.
2. Cleaning and Organization
Well, cleaning and organization might not sound that exciting, but they help us navigate well through life. Sweeping, mopping, vacuuming floors, dusting furniture, wiping surfaces, doing laundry – all kind of boring things. However, all these make us put efforts into our own home and life and make us feel good and self-reliant. Keeping your room and life tidy, reduces stress and increases focus.
Besides your personal example, to teach your child keep tidy and clean use some nice relaxing songs like Messy Kids by Celeste Nous and simple rhymes for good habits.
3. Home Maintenance
Basic home maintenance, from changing a light bulb to simple repairs, isn’t taught, yet is vital for self-sufficiency. Changing a light bulb, tightening loose screws, putting furniture together, knowing how to unclog a drain are all important life skills, you need when you grow up and you have your own home. Therefore, make sure, you involve your kids in simple home maintenance tasks from young age.
4. Gardening
Gardening is one of the best activities you can choose for you and your kids as your hobby. Beginner gardeners and kids alike will learn with gardening responsibility, patience, and a love for nature.
If you are a beginner, here are some basic gardening skills you need to develop over time.
5. Basic Safety and Emergency Skills
Teach children basic safety and emergency skills: they should know their full name, address, and how to contact parents or guardians. Teach them to call emergency services (like 911 in USA and 112 in Europe) and when it’s appropriate.
Basic first aid includes knowing how to clean a small wound, apply a bandage, and recognize signs of serious injury needing adult help.
Teach them about fire safety, including stop, drop, and roll, and not to hide during a fire.
Discuss stranger danger, teaching them to say no, run away, and yell for help if needed. Practice these scenarios to build confidence and knowledge.
6. Basic Financial Skills
Teach them about saving, spending, and sharing. The best way to do it is to demonstrate it yourself.
Use a see though piggy bank or jar to show how money accumulates when saved.
Explain and show everyday the difference between needs and wants. Teach them thoughtful spending.
You could also create a simple allowance system for chores, teaching the value of money.
That helps them also to learn basic budgeting. The money they earn create a small weekly budget that they can use for treats or toys.
Teach them to count money, understand coin values, and basic math for transactions.
Make sure, your kid does not miss learning critical life skills, school is not life.