Life skills are something we as parents need to take the time to teach our children! I have created a list of life skill that we need to teach them as they grow up and hit the appropriate ages to learn. Life skills are tools your child needs to know to be successful in life, they don’t teach all of these skills at school! Some of the skills is knowing how to do laundry, cooking, knowing who to call when there is an emergency, etc.
It is up to us as the parents to take the time and teach them the valuable life skills that will make their adult life a lot easier, when they decide to leave the nest. You want your child to be able to thrive on their own, and have success, and by teaching these life skills it will help prepare them!
Sometimes you might find it is easier to complete the task yourself, then to designate your child doing it. But by doing that, we are taking away valuable teaching moments. Don’t rob your child because it is quicker if you do it yourself. Make sure that as a parent we take the time to help teach our kids valuable life skills!
List of Life Skills to Teach Your Child
These life skills listed below range from around two years and up, so obviously your fifteen year old should be able to brush their own teeth. I wanted to create a nice list, so that it can benefit kids of all ages. This is a great way to look over the list and keep it in mind if a situation arises in the future! These truly skim the surface, but it will give you a good idea of where to start, if you are unsure.
- Groom themselves – brush teeth, comb hair, bath, etc.
- Play safely alone.
- Clean up room and do chores around the home.
- Minor yard work.
- Minor home improvements.
- Check oil on car, put gas in, air in tires, etc.
- Know how to manage money, and keep a budget.
- Go grocery shopping and clothes shopping on their own.
- Know who to call in case of an emergency.
- Be able to help or fully do laundry.
- Know how to take public transportation.
- Pay bills like insurance on car, rent, etc.
- Sit quietly when in class or other situations where it is required.
- Have manners to others.
- How to Vote.
- How to pick out ripe produce at grocery store.
- Know their full name, address, phone number, and other important details.
- How to communicate properly with others.
- Feed and water pets.
- Know how to ride a bike, roller skate, etc.
- Understands stranger danger.
- Simple mending and sewing if needed.
- Understands healthy and balanced meals and can plan one.
- Can follow rules and not break them.
- Can create a resume and apply for job on own.
- Can be dependable when it comes to work and showing up on time.
- Knows how to take care of themselves if they get sick.
- Will ask for help if they need it.
- Controls their temper if they are angry.
- Understands you have to work for your money to pay bills.
These are just skimming the surface of life skills you need to teach. We might overlook these simple tasks we do each day, but we have to teach them to our children. All too often we overlook teaching our children to cook, and then they are left eating out at fast food places, or tossing stuff in the microwave because they don’t know. Or they overdraft their bank account, and don’t get why they get charged. Take the time and teach your child from when they are young and even after they leave the nest, all these valuable life skills!