You send your kids to school so they can learn. Then you wonder why they fumble or fail in real life. Aside from the generally outdated curriculum and teaching methods, many educational systems around the world put more focus on academic lessons than on important life skills. There is so much more to life than school subjects and I’m pretty sure that you know this. Don’t wait until your children are having a hard time in life. Start teaching them some of these essential life skills while you still can. (By the way, this is largely based on Leo Babauta’s article).
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Set a good example for your kids by living below your means. Put money into your savings and other funds. Show your kids that they don’t need a lot to have a good life. Teach them to put some of the money they receive or earn in a savings account or in a piggy bank. If your kids ask for something, then teach them about savings goal.
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Show your kids that you value functionality and quality over brand and price. Teach them to avoid impulse buying and to look around for good deals. Teach them to make things last and to avoid waste. Teach them to identify their needs from their wants.
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Teach them social responsibility by donating time, money, and things to an organization or a cause your family supports. Take your kids to volunteer and see the reality of the world. Make this a regular habit for the family.
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Don’t stick to the reading assignments from school. Introduce them different literary works and genres. Give them both fiction and non-fiction books to read. Guide them in exploring the internet until they are able to explore it on their own.
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It is important that your kids don’t grow up as mindless people who accept whatever is taught to them. Teach and encourage them to ask “Why?” and other questions to reach an answer. Let them know that they shouldn’t be afraid to question people in authority. Having regular conversations with them is a good way to impart these things to them.
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Teach your kids to look for solutions instead of complaining about the problem. Teach them to believe in themselves. Help them create positive affirmations. Your kids will fare better in life if they know how to look at the positive side of things.
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Children can easily lose motivation to do something they think they like or enjoy. Be there to encourage and guide them. Teach them strategies and ways to maintain or recover motivation. Start them off easy and gradually build up to bigger goals.
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I remember being a kid and wanting to do so many things. Little did my parents know that some of those things would lead to my passions in life. Observe your kids and determine where their interests lie. Support and encourage them because they might find their passion. You should also show your kids that you have passion for what you do so they will be inspired by your example.
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The kind of love you want to teach your children is the kind that wishes people happiness. It is the kind of love that doesn’t want anything in return. Kids should learn this kind of love early in life so that they can have good relationships with the people around them.
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Teaching your children compassion will make them better human beings. It makes them capable of empathizing with others who are hurt and suffering. They will be more likely to end suffering than to induce it on others.
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Teach your children how to be successful without hurting anyone. Teach them to be supportive and cooperative rather than resentful and envious of other people. There can be success without back-stabbing and scheming.
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Teach your kids to be fully present when someone is talking to them. Teach them to listen patiently and without judgment. Listening skills are very important to truly understand what a person is saying.
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Teaching kids about conversation and about calmly stating their views is important so they can interact with people better. Talk to your children about concerns or problems even when you feel like lecturing them.
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Be a role model for this life skill. Show them that you have a healthy relationship with your husband or partner. Teach kids ways to build good and constructive relationships with their friends, as well as strategies to resolve arguments and fights.
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Teach your kids how to fix and maintain things around the house. Involve them in laundry and housekeeping. Learning these skills will make kids more independent.
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Teach your kids decluttering and organization skills by show them how to keep or put things back in their proper place. If they are old enough, teach them about planning their day, focusing on their tasks, and even how to file their school papers.
Children learn through good examples, conversations, demonstrations, and hands on experience. Do not lecture them on these things. Show them that these things work for you. Talk to them about each lesson and encourage them to ask questions. Be with them as they slowly learn to do the things on their own. Trust them to make the right judgments so that they will also learn to trust themselves. Stay back and watch them make mistakes and learn but always be there when they need guidance and answers.
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