School is an incredible place for kids to learn certain things, like math, science, language arts, and history, but there are some life lessons that school can’t always provide. Some life lessons are left up to you, the parents, to help guide you through many of life’s challenges.
Having a good education is incredibly important, but by assuring that your kids learn some of these essential social skills, they will be ready for whatever life decides to throw at them. Are you ready to give your kids the tools they need to succeed? Here’s what you should teach your kids that they won’t learn in a classroom.
Budgeting
Kids will learn the basics of money in school, but most of the education will be how to identify and count it. Teaching your kids how to budget money is another task entirely. According to T. Rowe Price’s 11th Annual Parents, Kids & Money Survey, almost half of all parents said that they don’t take the time to talk about financial literacy with their kids at all. By taking the time to talk to them now, you will save them from financial stress later in their life.
There are plenty of ways to help your kids understand the concept of money and how to spend it wisely. Having a piggy bank is a great way to teach your kids the value of saving money over time, and then reaping the rewards later.
If you give your children an allowance, make them work to earn it. Instill that they don’t get money just for existing. Chore lists are a great way to show them how they earned their money. You can also help them open their own bank account. Most banks even offer kid accounts that supplies resources for both kids and parents to learn about financial literacy. Having a concept of money management is valuable and everybody can benefit from it. Check out this awesome post from World Wide Group™ on why financial literacy is helpful for everyone.
Time Management
Just like with money, children will be taught about time at school, but not how to use it in real world situations. They will know how to tell time and how many minutes are in an hour, but they probably will not be taught how this will apply to them in real life. At school their daily schedule is made for them, but after they graduate, they could have zero concept of time management.
Have your kids plan out things in their life with time in mind. If you have several things to do in the day, include your kids in the scheduling process so they can see how it’s done. You can even write it out so they can see it visually. Consider getting a planner for your older kiddos to help them plan on their own.
Different time management skills will be more valuable to certain age groups. For a helpful guide on what age your kids should be learning about certain time management concepts, check out this article from Scholastic™.
Manners and Etiquette
As much as schools try to teach kids to have good manners and proper etiquette in public, it really does fall on the parents to make sure their kids put it to practice. Saying “please” and “thank you” might be something you do without even thinking about it, but by showing your kids how important it is to do so, they will make good impressions on others even when you aren’t around to supervise.
Kids with good manners stand out from those who don’t show gratitude or appreciation. When you catch your children displaying good manners, be sure to praise them to reinforce that behavior. Very Well Mind also says that it is very important that you have good manners in front of your children. Like it or not, they look up to you more than anyone else in the world, so make sure you are giving them a good role model.
Be There
Being present in your child’s life is the best way to ensure that they get the most out of life. Be there to guide them through life’s struggles, answer their questions when they need, and set an example for them to succeed. They might not always know right now how much you do for them, but in time they will see.
Looking for more parental advice? Check out this blog on “Unconventional Parenting Tips That May Benefit Your Child.”
