As adults, we don't always think about the essential life skills we use every day. It is easier to cook dinner or pay the bills ourselves than to involve the kids in those chores, but someday they will have to take responsibility for their own homes and budgets. Teach them life skills during childhood so they will not have to learn through trial and error later, when the consequences of failure are much higher.
Teach Decision Making Skills
Step 1
Look for teachable moments. When your child is faced with a decision, encourage him to slow down and thoughtfully consider his choices, rather than simply acting on the first alternative that comes to his mind.
Step 2
Brainstorm with your child to define the problem and all possible alternatives. Rather than informing your child of their choices, allow her child to take the lead in this process.
Step 3
Give your child time to examine all possible or probable outcomes for each alternative.
Step 4
Allow your child to make the best decision he can, then follow up and analyze the actual outcome. Congratulate him on a good decision, or help him see how another decision might have worked out better.
Teach Household Tasks
Step 1
Involve your child in menu planning, grocery shopping, and meal preparation. A young adult who knows how to plan, shop for, and prepare their own meals will be better able to maintain a healthy, nutritious diet. She will spend less of her money on fast food, giving her more financial options as well.
Step 2
Assign age-appropriate chores. A young toddler is capable of tidying up his toys after playtime. A school-aged child can run the vacuum or clean a bathroom, while a teenager can assume responsibility for preparing (and cleaning up) a family meal once or twice a week.
Teach your child how to do the chore correctly. Explain each step, and write it down (or use pictures). Allow your child to do the chore independently if she is able, then evaluate the job with your child. Explain any shortcomings, and thank her for a job well done.
Step 3
Teach school-aged children time management. Chores are a good way to do this. Give your child a list of daily and weekly responsibilities, including homework, chores, and personal hygiene tasks. Ask him to work out a schedule for completing each item on their list, then expect him to live by his schedule for a few days before re-evaluating it. Discuss what worked and what didn't work, and brainstorm better ways to fit everything in.
Step 4
Teach budgeting and saving skills. Before your child begins her first job or receives her first allowance, sit down and ask her to define her financial goals. For a school-aged child, her goal may be to save for a toy or video game. For a teenager, she may want to have money to go out with friends or for college. Ask her to write out a budget by estimating how much money she will earn each week, and dividing that sum into three categories: savings, necessities, and play money. A child that can earn her own money should be expected to pay for some of her necessities such as clothing.
