Your child is more capable of learning than you realize. Even your preschooler can begin to learn these essential life lessons.
Given the sheer amount our children are learning in today's high-tech world, it's very easy for them to miss out. Practical life skills Whether they are conducting research, reading a map, or writing a letter by hand.
A recent study by internet security company AVG Technologies revealed that while 58 percent of children ages 3 to 5 in the United States can navigate a smartphone, less than one in six (15 percent) can set up Breakfast “I see too many parents doing everything for their kids instead of letting them figure out how to stand up for themselves,” says Tim Elmore, founder of Growing Leaders, a nonprofit organization in Norcross, Georgia, that works with schools and civic groups to foster leadership qualities.
In children. Start teaching these life skills now, and set your child on the path to independence.
Many teens head to college without knowing how to clean their clothes. Don't let your child become one of them. You can start teaching your child when they're six years old. You can show them how to measure and add detergent, choose settings, and start the machine.
Amy Mascott, a blogger at TeachMama.com, taught her three children (now 9, 10, and 12). She chose cute names for the jobs: Wash Warrior, Super-Fly Dry Guy, and Put 'Em Away Triple Play. Mascott says there were occasional faux pas, like the time she folded a full load and put it away in a wet spot. “But I don’t aim for perfection. I aim for them to get the job done,” she says.
2. Planting seedlings
Many children learn in preschool Planting seeds in the classroom But not how to transfer the sprouts to the garden.
- Have your child dig a hole slightly larger than the container the plant is in.
- Once you have removed the plant from the pot and placed it in the hole, have it gently push the soil around it and firm it down.
- Have your child water it with a gentle stream from a watering can with a perforated nozzle.
3. Wrap the gift
Your child already loves to serve. gifts And it makes it even more satisfying. Preschoolers can help cut the paper and attach the ribbon, while older children can complete additional steps with your help, such as removing the price tag, finding the right size box, and rolling the wrapping paper along the About the gift Make sure it fits before cutting it.
4. Hammering nails
- Give your child a hammer. Home improvement stores sell small children's models.
- Use a piece of softwood (such as pine, poplar, or cedar). You can hold it in place with clamps, a vise, or simply lay it on the ground.
- Choose nails with a wide head. You should start with one with a wide head.
- When your child is ready to do it themselves, you can push a nail through a small piece of cardboard to hold it in place while they hammer it into the wood. Make sure your child holds the edge of the cardboard instead of the nail (to protect their fingers).
5. Writing a letter
Young children can dictate a letter to a family member (enhanced with drawings), attach a stamp, and place it in a mailbox.
Teach your older child how to address an envelope and the five parts of a letter: date, salutation (“Dear…”), body, closing (“Sincerely”), and signature. You can also get help with holiday cards and find a friend to send it to.
6. Prepare a simple meal
Invite your child to help you prepare. Meals , assign him tasks, and stay calm when the flour and eggshells fall, says Christina Dimock, mother of four and author of The Young Chef.
Yogurt with fruit is a delicious first breakfast. Preschoolers can make it by pouring yogurt into a bowl and adding pre-cut fruit.
Work with children 5 and up on making sandwiches and smoothies (closely monitor the blender). Around age 7 or 8, your child can experiment with toaster ovens like English muffin pizza, or prepare a simple salad by shredding lettuce, hollowing out croutons, and slicing tomatoes, cucumbers, and carrots.
At age 10, children can use the stove with supervision to make a grilled cheese sandwich. Focus on safety and practice, and you may have your own little chef on your hands.
7. Mobility
If you've ever gotten lost following turn-by-turn voice directions from a GPS, you know why being able to read a map is essential (even if it's on your phone). These activities will build your child's navigation skills.
treasure huntMaps seem boring...until you use them to hunt for loot. Hide toys in the playground and then draw a simple diagram to mark their location. Show your 3- or 4-year-old how the objects on the map match those in front of them.
Let him lead the way. Zoos, museums, and amusement parks have colorful, easy-to-read maps. Have your preschooler trace their route, and challenge an older child to help you get from point A to point B.
Learn geocaching. Children ages 5 and up love this outdoor treasure hunt game, which uses GPS tracking to find containers filled with trinkets.
8. Wound treatment
Teach your child from an early age not to panic when they see blood (and not overreact). Giving them a game plan will distract them from the pain.
Apply pressure until the bleeding stops, flush the cut with water, apply antibiotic ointment, and then apply a bandage.
9. Cleaning the bathroom
Toilet duties require more skill. School-age children can clean the lid, seat, and base by wiping them with disinfectant. Be sure to wash their hands thoroughly afterward. Older children can clean the bowl using non-toxic cleaners: sprinkle the sides with baking soda, let it sit for a few minutes, pour in some vinegar, and then scrub with a toilet brush.
10. Shopping Comparisons
Teaching children to be Smart consumers It takes practice. This three-step approach has worked for our family:
- Explain to him. State the prices out loud and talk about your choices: “I’m going to fill up gas at the other station because it costs 10 cents per gallon less.” Tell my children about some things I’d like to have but won’t buy because they’re not in our budget.
- Let your child pay sometimes, then designate which items he's responsible for purchasing. My husband and I don't buy any sweets. We've forced our kids to become smart shoppers.
- Play the grocery game. At the supermarket, challenge your child to find the least expensive brand of paper towels or tomato sauce.
