^{Photo from Freepik}

Between cleaning their rooms and navigating big emotions, when is the best time to teach children essential life skills?

Children start as fragile and oblivious beings needing guidance and protection to survive and flourish. However, there will come a time when they need to learn how to fend for themselves, and this is when the importance of life skills for children shines.

One of Dora Przybylek’s advocacies as an author is helping teach children competencies they don’t get to learn at school. Her Luisita series book collection is among the tools that encourage parents to expose their children to different experiences offering different learnings. They also engage children, teaching them essential skills like cooking, social and emotional intelligence, and coping with life’s challenges.

What Are Life Skills and Why Do They Matter?

Kids grow. Although parents want nothing but to be beside their kids and cradle them safely, they will reach a certain age where they have to break away from their parents’ surveillance. Whether it’s as simple as navigating around the neighborhood to get to point B from home or experiencing and navigating friendship problems, parents need to teach real-world skills for kids.

Real-world skills or life skills are everyday abilities that go beyond textbook intelligence or academics. They develop other aspects of children’s lives to help them form strong foundations toward success by ensuring they’re well-equipped to handle adult experiences like building strong relationships, overcoming challenges, and developing resilience.

Life Skills vs School Skills

Discussions about life or school skills are not an either-or situation. Parents don’t have to choose between either, as they should go together. Children need both traditional education and real-world skills to navigate life effectively and confidently.

This is where parents and caregivers step in. Knowing the importance of life skills for children helps adults be more patient and proactive in teaching them. These adults are responsible for filling the void that school teachers can’t offer, bridging the gap to complete skill development.

Why Start Them Young?

Is teaching communication skills or building resilience in children really necessary?

Kids develop positive behavior through life skills. They not only become smarter and more responsible individuals but also learn to be kinder and more empathetic with others. This is one of the reasons why it’s best to start teaching life skills as soon as possible—the world benefits more from kinder children who grow up to be even kinder and more responsible adults.

In addition, early childhood skill development is better than waiting until teenagers. This is ultimately because children tend to be more flexible. They’re able to learn various skills without pessimism and a more apprehensive approach to life.

What Are Some Essential Life Skills for Children?

People need numerous skills to thrive in life. Some they learn in childhood, others, they acquire as they age. This article will focus on the more important, must-have life skills parents can encourage or guide their children to develop.

Self-Control and Focus

Before children learn to independently go through the dynamic changes of life, they must first start managing established daily routines. This is essential because these young minds thrive on schedules, which create a feeling of security and help develop self-control.

Habits are the foundations of learned positive behavior. If they do something consistently, it will be engraved in their lives until they become adults.

Empathize

Children may be perceived as naïve and unknowing, but they can be highly emotional. Parents must encourage their kids to take someone else’s point of view. It’s integral that they learn how to observe what others are feeling and their motivations to be more mindful and cautious of their actions, building emotional intelligence.

Communication

Interaction is always present in life, even in children. Although their environment can still be limited and managed by their parents, they must learn to build social-emotional skills. This includes effectively communicating their feelings and thoughts with other children and politely talking to those around them, especially when it involves asking questions or favors.

Managing Big Emotions

Emotions can be scary for children. However, they can’t always be protected from them. The people they interact with and the situations they’re in can trigger emotions. Hence, parents must help their kids recognize and react to their feelings appropriately, avoiding tantrums or hurting others to express what they’re feeling.

Responsibility and Accountability

As young as they are, children should be encouraged to help around the house as much as possible. This includes doing chores they can manage, like cleaning their rooms or washing dishes after meals. The point of doing this isn’t to pass the responsibility of the adults to children. Instead, it’s to teach them how to be clean and organized.

Owning up to their mistakes and apologizing should also be taught as early as childhood. It’s always better to have compassionate children who know how to be kind. Manners and kindness are best developed in childhood.

The Lifelong Importance of Life Skills for Children

Early childhood skill development gives them a better head start at living a good life. When they’re already taught the above skills, they can make better choices, build stronger relationships, and develop high self-esteem. These don’t only lead to success in school but also interpersonal lives and their future.

Life skills shape children into great adults who are capable, intelligent, and compassionate. These values then have a ripple effect on others, making the world a better place for everyone.

Growing up right is something parents want for their children. Hence, it’s best to start teaching them the valuable skills now. For insightful stories crafted to model life skills, head to Dora Pszybylek’s books and grab a copy from her Luisita series.