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4 Essential Life Skills Every Child Should Know

Babies come into this world like a drawing on a piece of paper. They are a singular design that possesses immense potential for growth and depth. Babies are a beautiful artwork that, with help and guidance in life skills, matures into a picture worth a thousand words. But there are four essential life skills every child should know.

These life skills will be incredibly beneficial for your child later in life. With time and perseverance, they’ll be better equipped to handle whatever difficult challenges come their way. So read on to discover the skills you can teach your child.

  1. Using Common Sense

Most people don’t think to teach their children to use common sense, or even know where to start. It can be your child’s greatest asset when they inevitably face problems in adulthood. What can you do to help your child learn how to think practically? There are three areas to assess during a situation when a child is at a loss as to what to do: feelings, thoughts, and actions.

You want to know what your child feels is the right choice to make, what they were thinking when they made their decision, and what they could do better the next time. These latter thoughts, or reflections, are required for the child to comprehend for themselves the right path to take. Checking in periodically with your child about how their views have changed regarding each situation paves the way for a future of critical thinking and effective responding.

  1. Thinking Outside the Box

When someone says it’s their way or the highway, teach your child how to choose a different highway. That’s what makes creative thinkers so powerful in today’s emerging industries. Allowing children early on to make mistakes and to come up with their own ideas fosters growth and independence.

Be open to teaching your child multiple ways to solve a problem. Also, gently nudge your child towards their own unique methods. It may seem contradictory, but thinking outside the box is crucial when using common sense. This gives a child a plethora of options single-mindedness rejects.

Ask probing questions that will make your child pause and, once again, reflect on a particular situation. In many cases, there isn’t one right or wrong way; let your child develop their own ideas. This will only spark their own originality, which is at the core of personal success.

  1. Saving and Spending Money

Learning how to count back change is not nearly enough in today’s society. To fully comprehend how to use money, you need to have multiple conversations with your child about the many ways money is utilized in your country. Demonstrate the difference between buying that new shirt now or waiting a little longer and spending less money when it goes on sale.

Show them the specifics regarding building interest and the positives of putting your money in the bank. Familiarize them with terms like deposit, credit, insurance and debt so they can be more aware of how their account can grow or diminish over time.

Paying special attention to the concept of money with your child will build a lasting foundation they can base their entire livelihood upon. Invest your time in teaching them now, and they’ll be money-wise with this life skill.

  1. Cooking a Meal

So many adults today have never cooked a meal in their life. They’ve feasted for years on frozen meals and take-out without ever knowing the pleasures of having a home-cooked meal. In centuries gone by, people depended on their cooking skills for their own survival. While we may not necessarily need to know how to cook a turkey for” Thanksgiving, it’s still empowering to know you can cook your own food.

And just in case you’re worried about burns, children don’t have to know how to use the oven to prepare a meal for themselves. Simply teaching them how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or a healthy salad can boost their self-confidence. Older children will greatly appreciate knowing how to use the kitchen appliances, so don’t be afraid to give them step-by-step instructions. You’ll no longer be the one cooking their meals all the time, and isn’t that a nice bonus?

These Life Skills Will Help Them Later in Life

Firmly implant these four important life skills into your child’s mind as early as possible and never stop teaching them. Children need to see things repeatedly in order for them to really stick. Keep adding new skills to their repertoire and, eventually, the more you give them, the more they’ll be able to give to others.