Little Life Skills Everyone Should Know
Jillian Berndtson
| 4 min read
If you’re one of the many Michiganders with kids home from school, you may be wondering how you can use this time to benefit them and their futures. Of course education is important and school learning should be a priority, but there are also plenty of lessons kids can learn outside of the classroom.
Here’s our list of some of the life skills kids should learn (and can be taught from home!).
For young children:
- How to grow your own garden: Spring is the perfect time to start your very own garden. You can have a beautiful backyard filled with flowers, or grow your own produce for the freshest fruits and veggies.
- How to sew a button: It may seem simple, but this can come in handy in pinch situations. It may be helpful to start teaching by using a big button.
- How to read music: Musician or not, knowing how to read music can be helpful. Simply understanding the basics is a life skill.
- How to perform basic first aid: Would your child know what to do if someone fell off their bike and cut their arm? Teach them the basics of first aid for minor cuts and scrapes.
- How to start a fire without matches or a lighter: This is especially helpful if your little ones love camping. Show them that you don’t need a lighter or matches to start a fire by starting your own.
- How to put out a fire: Of course, if you’re starting a fire, you need to know how to put it out too. Help your young children learn the proper techniques for fire safety.
- How to paddle a canoe or kayak: For summer adventures on lakes and rivers, knowing how to paddle a canoe or kayak is a major plus. Not only will it get you to your destination faster, but it’s also a great workout.
- How to read and write in cursive handwriting: This seems to be an old skill, but is important for all ages to have. It can help to write faster and of course reading cursive when you don’t know how to write it yourself can prove pretty difficult.
For teenagers:
- How to read a map: Yes, technology has helped all of us out more times than we would like to admit, but if you ever get lost without cell phone service or your phone dies, would you know how to find your way back?
- How to give hands-only CPR: If you know this skill, you just may save a life. You can watch this video to learn how.
- How to iron clothes: Ironing is not difficult, in fact it can be relaxing. But, there is a right and a wrong way to iron clothes. Show your teenager how to do it properly while also keeping them advised about the dangers of hot irons.
- How to speak a different language: You don’t have to be jet setting around the world for a second language to come in handy. It can make your resume stand out in a field of job applications or can be useful when meeting new people who may not speak your native language.
- How to balance a checkbook: It may not be complicated, but it can be intimidating. Teach your teenagers the steps necessary to balancing a checkbook.
- How to prepare food: There are plenty of safety hazards in the kitchen but, like it or not, everyone needs to know how to cook. Show them the proper ways to prepare and cook your favorite meals or try making a new recipe together.
- How to change a tire: Flat tires can happen to even the best drivers. Help your new or soon-to-be teenage drivers understand how to handle those situations by giving them a how-to tutorial.
- How to jump start a car: Car batteries seem to die at the most inconvenient times. Help your son or daughter out of those unfortunate situations by teaching them how to jump start a car before it happens.
- How to check the oil in a car: Checking the oil in a car is as easy as 1-2-3. Make sure your kid know how to do it properly on their own.
- How to parallel park: Every driver should know how to parallel park, it’s inevitable. Break down the steps for your young driver so they know how to perfect their parallel parking.
- How to create an emergency kit: Your teenager should know what to put in any kind of emergency kit. You can watch this video to learn about winter car emergency kits.
What life skill do you think it’s important for kids to know?
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Photo credit: Imgorthand
