Life Skills for Your Child: Filling the Curriculum Gap
Many parents understand the importance of teaching their kids lessons and providing learning opportunities outside of school that will better prepare them for the real world. And it’s no wonder. According to a study by YouthTruth, fewer than half of all U.S. high school students feel prepared for college or career life. Another 87 percent indicated they believe their school is not aiding them in developing the skills they need for post-graduation success.
In a recent TED-Ed speech, high school student Aliezah Hulett spoke about how schools should teach more real-life skills to students and work to fill the gap between what they learn in school and what they need to know for success later in life. Important life skills include social manners and conversation skills, job hunting and time management, along with personal finances, health and road safety. Until schools jump in, it’s up to parents to fill the gap. Here are some tips you can put into practice now to help your child in the future.
Health and Wellness
Whether your child is involved in school or extracurricular sports, focusing on health and wellness outside of school is important. The CDC estimates 20 percent of kids between age 6 and 11 are obese, as well as another 17 percent of kids 12 to 19 years old. These numbers can be chalked up to poor diet and lack of physical activity, two things parents need to address in their children’s lives.
Make family exercise a priority, even if it’s simply a walk after dinner every night. You may even consider taking a workout class together, or joining a gym or the local YMCA. In addition, limiting fast food and junk food, along with preparing nourishing meals for kids, is a good start. Getting your child involved in cooking healthy meals is also key for them to continue using those skills in the future.
Financial Education
Other than accounting and basic finance classes, most school curricula do not include basic life skills in finance. It’s a parent’s duty to ensure kids and teens are knowledgeable about basic life skills when it comes to finances and money management.
Teaching your child to live within their means at an early age is key. Setting a weekly budget for treats or fun activities can be helpful. That way, your kids learn to prioritize their wants and learn, when the money is gone, it’s gone. Furthermore, setting up a long-term financial plan for your child for things like vacations and summer camp, or even a new bike, can teach them the importance of saving.
This can be done through your child’s allowance or chores around the house, along with any money they earn through a job. Simply put money into jars so that their savings can be seen (often more exciting for kids, as they can see the accumulation of money), or set up a bank account in your child’s name.
Overall, when parents play an active role in educating their teens about the importance of attaining certain life skills, they are better equipped to grow up prepared and become self-sufficient, confident adults in the real world.
Behind the Wheel
Did you know teen drivers are at a higher risk of car accidents than any other age group? In fact, 16- to 19-year-old teen drivers are three times more likely to be involved in a fatal car crash than drivers 20 years old or older.
As such, parents should play an active role in educating their children on safe driving principles. Parents should consider explaining safe driving practices to children from a young age.
And since 4 out of 10 people fail their DMV driving test the first time they take it, you may consider utilizing resources like driving-tests.org, which offers a variety of engaging resources and practices tests to help your teen pass their DMV test. After all, preparation is the best road to success.
