As parents, most of us know the basics–we know that we teach our children to read and dress themselves, we may even know that we need to work with them on things like social development, teaching them how to throw a baseball or kick a soccer ball, or even help them learn how to clean and organize their rooms. There are so many other “life skills,” however, that parents can have a hand in teaching their children. We just have to be aware and look for those natural opportunities to help our children develop important life skills.
Who knew that shopping for furniture, returning a damaged or inadequate item, or opening a new checking account could all be important teaching and learning opportunities for parents and children? By sharing life’s ordinary daily processes with our kids and gradually letting them take a more active role, we are giving our children an important gift. The gift of confidence and self-sufficiency is something that will go with them into the world of adulthood.
As an example, I recently bought a bag of cat food from a local pet super-store. When I got the bag home and opened, there were little weevils or some such larvae crawling around in the bag. I have to confess that is the first time that has ever happened for me with cat food but I got myself ready to take it back to the store for a replacement. My eldest daughter and her friend were getting themselves dressed to head in the same direction to do some shopping and the light went on–why not ask my daughter to make the return for me? It would be a good learning opportunity for her and even though she has seen me handle such situations dozens of times, it would be good practice for her too. She handled it just fine and returned with a new bag, a fresh receipt and a coupon off future products. Maybe I would have made a bigger fuss, but she did just fine.
As parents, there are all sorts of opportunities to help our children develop life skills–sending them for a gallon of milk, or letting them help pay bills, taking them with us to run ordinary errands, etc. Family life lessons do not always have to be dramatic–sometimes it is those ordinary situations that can be so valuable.