Lifestyle

16 Life Lessons Parents Should Teach Their Kids

By  | 
Tony Maples Photography

 

Raising kids is one of the hardest jobs you’ll ever have – just ask any parent.

But, it can also be one of the most rewarding. Especially, when you see your children succeeding in life because of something they’ve learned from you. We teach our kids every day, sometimes even without realizing it.

What are some of the practical and philosophical skills you want your kids to take to bed each night?

1. Change a tire.

16 Life Lessons Parents Should Teach Their Kids

Photo: lazerbrite.com

Girls and boys alike should know how to change a tire. You never know when you might find yourself on the side of the road. Even if they never have to use the skill, you will rest assured knowing they know how.

2. Communicate.

16 Life Lessons Parents Should Teach Their Kids

Photo: hpapeds.com

Communicating with verbal and nonverbal skills seems to be overlooked in today’s society. But teaching kids how to communicate can be the difference in that first job out of school.

3. Clean.

16 Life Lessons Parents Should Teach Their Kids

Photo: thestir.cafemom.com

Clean your room. Clean your room. How many times do you say it each day? Learning how to live in a clean environment and how to be organized is one of the most important lessons in life.

4. Get dirty.

16 Life Lessons Parents Should Teach Their Kids

Photo: mentorwingsacademy.com

Yes. I went there. Although it’s important to learn how to clean up after ourselves, it’s also important to know how to get your hands dirty.

5. Follow instructions and lead at the same time.

16 Life Lessons Parents Should Teach Their Kids

Photo: nashuadentalgroup.com

Servant leadership. Team sports can be very useful in guiding children. Play your position to the best of your ability and your team succeeds. Kids can learn how to excel and motivate others from their position.

6. Passion.

16 Life Lessons Parents Should Teach Their Kids

Photo: best-books-for-kids.com

Being passionate about something gives us purpose. Every kid should have purpose and by finding their passion, we are essentially teaching them more than one skill. They will learn responsibility, communication, respect, confidence, compassion and more.

7. Challenge yourself.

16 Life Lessons Parents Should Teach Their Kids

Photo: pixabay.com

Challenges make you stronger. Life is full of challenges and obstacles and they give us a chance to develop into better people. By learning how to overcome these setbacks, kids learn problem-solving skills and how to be happier adults.

8. Respect others.

16 Life Lessons Parents Should Teach Their Kids

Photo: rewardpointsplus.com

You don’t have to agree with someone to respect them. Playground arguments and sibling rivalries can teach us to coexist with others even when we fundamentally disagree with them.

9. Budget.

16 Life Lessons Parents Should Teach Their Kids

Photo: pixabay.com

Learning to live within a budget is a critical life skill. When kids earn allowances and learn to spend from their allowance on certain items, they learn the value of money.

10. Confidence.

16 Life Lessons Parents Should Teach Their Kids

Photo: armstrongeconomics.com

You are beautiful. Yes, that’s right. Teaching both girls and boys that they are beautiful people can give your child the confidence they need to take the next jump. To sum it up: You got this!

11. Responsibility.

16 Life Lessons Parents Should Teach Their Kids

Photo: cleaninginstitute.com

From being on time to remembering the chores, responsibility is key to being a successful adult.

12. Sew and cook.

16 Life Lessons Parents Should Teach Their Kids

Photo: pixabay.com

These basic skills are sometimes lost on today’s children. Families are busy but taking time to teach boys and girls these small lessons can be rewarding later in life. There will be many times when a simple button fix is all you need!

13. Be happy.

16 Life Lessons Parents Should Teach Their Kids

Photo: Flickr\Chris Yarzab

Happiness is a state of mind. Learning how to be happy isn’t something that comes natural for many people.

14. Compassion.

16 Life Lessons Parents Should Teach Their Kids

Photo: Pinterest/Vampirica

Compassion is what can set us apart from others at the end of the day. Mistakes happen.

15. Math.

16 Life Lessons Parents Should Teach Their Kids

Photo: mathforkeeps.com

I hate to admit it, but math is an essential part of life. Solving problems and equations through math is something that we do each day, even without realizing it most of the time.

16. Learn from the past.

16 Life Lessons Parents Should Teach Their Kids

Photo: libraryplanet.com

History repeats itself. From textbook history lessons to whining over the same bowl of ice cream, learning from our mistakes and changing our habits as a result make stronger adults.