Skills for Life

Most parents' greatest goal in raising their children is to be happy, healthy, resilient, and capable. Those goals' order may differ, but the sentiment is similar: teach children to be great adults. That learning has already started, and there’s a lot to teach a young child about how to ‘live life.’

We know research has proven that learning starts in infancy. As a child grows, their ability to do tasks and things for themselves increases. Life-skills learning sets children up for success throughout their lives. Helping them become independent thinkers and not relying on adults or others to help them do things they can do themselves gives them the confidence to excel in the world.

Life Skills 101 

What are life skills exactly? Think of them as the building blocks that allow toddlers to apply the knowledge they acquire in school or at home to real work problems and situations. It gives them the ability to approach situations from multiple angles and think critically through solutions.

Having life skills is an essential part of being able to meet the challenges of everyday life. By teaching preschoolers these skills in small, manageable steps, they will gain new skills daily as well as learn how to deal with emergency situations.

Teaching Valuable Life Skills 

Parents and caregivers are ideal teachers when it comes to teaching skills. What should you focus on? We've put together a list of some essential skills. Talk to your child, demonstrate these skills and supervise them as they 'practice' these skills until they feel confident enough to do them alone (and you feel confident in them, too):

 Learn to Call 911

Explain to your toddler when to call 911 for help. When driving around town, point out ambulances and fire trucks and reinforce the message that someone called 911 for them to be dispatched. Explain how they help people, how to call emergency services on a phone and tell a dispatcher their name and where they are, even if they can’t remember their address.   

Learn the Value of Money

According to researchers, children as young as three can start to have a basic understanding of money. Teach children the four basics of money: spend it, save it, invest it or give it away. Also, discuss with them the process of earning money. Your toddler will see you swiping your credit card when making purchases. Tell them the amount you’re spending and what you purchased. As they age, talk to them about planning for large purchases and using a budget to see where the money goes each month.

Learn to Cook

Teaching young children to make food is a life skill they will use throughout their lives. In the kitchen, have them help you make simple meals whenever possible. Sandwiches, using a safe knife to cut fruit, peeling vegetables; show them how their meals are prepared. As they age, teach them about the stove, oven, and safety around hot objects. Let them experiment in the kitchen and teach them how to clean up after themselves.

Learn How to To Laundry

Help your toddler understand cleaning clothes and doing laundry. Start by asking for their help to sort clothes. Then allow them to put clothes into the washing machine with a step stool or a lift from you and start the washer. Once the laundry is finished and dried, give them simple tasks like mating socks or easy folding tasks. Finally, give them little piles of laundry to carry and put away.

Learn to Swim

Swimming skills are vital for a child's safety. For toddler-age children and younger, this starts with getting them comfortable with being in the water. Once they’re adjusted to being in the water, teach them to tread water and float. Swimming skills can come later; cover the basics of water safety first. Always enforce that they should never go near water alone or run near a pool. Experts say children are ready for formal swim lessons by the age of four.

Learn Addresses and Important Numbers

It is critically important to know their home address and number of Mom, Dad, or a caregiver's phone number. Repeat the numbers often to toddlers so they can memorize them and write them down in multiple, easy to locate places of your home. As they learn to read and recognize numbers, ensure these numbers are retained first.