Fact: Life is hard and the younger generations are getting a rude awakening when they make it to adulthood. My husband and I recently welcomed our first child and with her arrival have come a flood of thoughts about her future. We want her to be prepared for when she leaves home and want her to be able to function in society.
We have started a list of skills and knowledge she will need to learn to help her in life:
- Finances: Our interaction with money is a love/hate relationship. We need it to get on in life, yet it can cause problems. We want to equip our children to be able to handle their money in a world where it’s a necessity. Some of the ways to prepare them include: how to create and manage a budget, how to open a bank account, save for the future, pay bills on time, how to use a credit card wisely, pay off debt, and how to live within your means.
- Cooking: Everyone needs to eat. Even though there is an abundance of meal delivery services, they are not always affordable. Plus, there’s something satisfying about making a home cooked meal. Our children should learn how to read a recipe, measure ingredients, use knives and other general kitchen utensils safely, shop for groceries, and just be able to cook a hard-boiled egg! If you are someone who can’t cook, then ask a friend who can if they would teach your children. Better yet, the Sweet & Savory Classroom offers several parent/child classes, camps, and clubs.
- Caring for a home: Whether you own or rent, the home you live in needs to be taken care of and maintained. Caring for a home encompasses cleaning, washing dishes, doing laundry, mowing, changing light bulbs, making small repairs, and calling someone to fix things when it requires a professional.
- How to use tools: Knowing how to use basic tools like a screwdriver, hammer, wrench, tape measure, and flashlight can be beneficial in life. By knowing how to use these simple tools you can hang a picture, replace a screw, put together Ikea furniture, care for needs around the home, and so much more.
- Car maintenance: Cars won’t be going away any time soon, so plan on your kids owning and maintaining their car one day. Knowing car maintenance basics such as how to change a flat tire, change wiper blades, jump start a dead battery, when to change the oil and other fluids, washing and general upkeep are all things that will help your child make their car last.
- Emergency preparedness: We often think we won’t be affected by a natural disaster but the truth is, one never knows. Natural disasters are not something we can prevent, but we can be prepared when they arise. Knowing what to include and pack in an emergency evacuation kit, where to hide when a tornado hits, what to do in the event of an earthquake, or even being prepared during outdoor activities can save your life and someone else’s. They also all require planning ahead for the unexpected.
There are so many subcategories for each of these that your list could go on forever. However, this is where I am starting for now. What other skills and knowledge you would add to your list?
