Guidelines for Practical Life Skills for Kids

Are you always asking yourself ‘what age should I be expecting this or that from my child?’

Personally, I’m always thinking about this stuff. Maybe not always, but having rough guidelines for life skills for kids can help to lower or increase your expectations of your children and their life skill milestones. It can also give you some ideas of things they could be learning about right now. This is just a guideline and as always, do what works best for your child.

All kids are different  some are very mature and responsible, while others need a lot more guidance and pushing towards responsibility.

1. Proper Hygiene

Toddlers probably think that being filthy is their best self yet. It is a perfect time for mums to teach them proper hygiene as early as age two.They may not be instantly Mr. Cleano but by instilling these habits, kids will learn to practice them even without an adult supervision.

• Bathing– Aside from having a playtime in the tub, kids also need to learn that bathing also includes putting on shampoo and body scrubbing. While giving them a bath, show them how to properly apply a shampoo and how to rinse the hair by leaning their head back while closing their eyes
• Handwashing– Kids love the feeling of their hands soaking wet and bubbly and this is a good time to demonstrate proper hand washing. Explain to them the importance of washing your hands and also list the times when they need to visit the sink such as before eating, after using the bathroom, cleaning his nose or after a hard play outside.
• Sneezing and Coughing– Teach them how not to spread the virus by covering their nose and mouth. Try practicing this by using a stuffed animal who is “sick”.
• Brushing Teeth- When our child winces over toothache, our mother’s instinct take over. To prevent toothaches plaguing our kids, it’s best to teach them how to take care of their teeth. Let him try it out on his own and don’t forget to tell him to spit the water after brushing. Make it fun by singing some songs and making faces while brushing.
• Using the Bathroom– Kids should know how to use the bathroom and more importantly leaving it clean after using.

2. Tie Their Own Shoe

Daily Mail reports that kids nowadays are more proficient in using play stations and Ipads than tying their own shoe. Few kids master the skills of tying their shoe before they reach 6 and this is such a shame!

This skill though simple, is necessary for them to learn independence. Add some fun and teach your child how do it by singing some song about tying a shoe.

3. Basic Household Chores

Chores make kids responsible and sharing the load helps you a lot. Kids are never too young to learn, just get them on board and let their little hands do some dirty work.

Start by assigning them a work they can manage to do on their appropriate age and list them on a chores chart. and And Mums, don’t be stingy with your praises in their accomplishments. Encourage and praise them while they work in progress.

WebMD provides a list of household chores for appropriate ages. Here are some of the basic chores, you need to acquaint your children:

• Putting toys away after play
• Putting Clothes in the laundry bin
• Feeding a pet (fish, dog or cat)
• Make their bed
• Wiping Spills
• Cleaning- sweeping, vacuum, wiping dust

• Cooking/ Baking- Kids would give anything to cut a cookie, whisk an egg or sprinkle some chocolates. Kitchen is one of their favourite places where they don’t need to worry about getting messy. Stir their love for cooking even while their young. Who knows they could be the next Curtis Stone or Adriano Zumbo. Read BBC’s list of cooking activities for your kids.
• Laundry- Yes, we know that you’re worried that bubbles might get distract your kids from doing this chore. However, it depends on how mature they can be in assisting your laundry works. This list might help you determine on what age you should introduce your kids with laundry.

4. Relationships

It is tempting to recline our kids at home with a Wii or a play station and and Ipad where we could watch them. But let’s admit it, you can be ruining your child’s life by depriving their social life. Friendships are dependent with the number of likes, retweets, views and favourites you get in social media. But you barely see kids who still go out and build “real” friendships.

Nothing can replace the warmth of forming friendships with people in person. It’s your foundation for closing deals, making negotiations or starting a firm. Home School lists some of the values your child needs to learn about relationships:

• Golden Rule- “Do to others what you would have them do to you”
• Value other people’s time
• Importance of Family
• Being Kind to  Animals
• Being Reliable at all times
• Control their emotions
• Love and Forgive

5. Financial Responsibility 

This lesson on how use money wisely is as important as learning how to count, We always want our kids to be honest in all things and especially money. Surprisingly, schools no longer teaches our kids on the value of money contrary in our generation.Beth Kobliner said in Forbes that children as young as 3 can grasp the importance of saving and spending. You can also help them how to budget their school allowance

One virtue parents need to instill is waiting to buy something they want. Kids will be able to value that toy because they work hard to own it.

6. Communication

Being able to speak is one thing but teaching them how to communicate effectively will prepare your kids for the future. Learning to communicate verbally and in writing will help your kids express and organise their thoughts and also foster their creativity. First thing we need to teach them is to mean what they say. Let them speak kind words such as thank you, Im sorry, Pardon or excuse me. Our world needs people who have manners.

In our digital days, kids need to practice restraint while using social media as this also can be a venue for bullying.

7. Use a Map and Ride a Public Transit

It’s a common sight in Japan to see children riding public transportation. As young as 6 or 7, they can ride a transit on their own.

With so many posing threats in our national security, kids are “oversupervised” these days that parents opt to pick up their kids in school rather than letting them ride a bus on their way home. While this may be considered a crucial issue but helping them learn how to be independent requires a certain level of maturity for your kids.

One basic thing they need first to learn is how to cross the streets and use a map for directions. Emphasize that their safety is their priority when they’re out in the streets. Teach them to be vigilant in whatever situation that may arise in the bus and their attitude towards strangers.

Before you let them do it on their own, practice it together until your kid is confident enough to brave the streets.

Teaching practical life skills for kids can be a tough challenge in parenting but it can also be rewarding when the time comes.After all we are not here just to survive but to thrive in life and there’s no better way of doing it by starting them young.

Do you have any to add?