Sometimes that means teaching them some of the more difficult lessons in life. As you continue your journey in raising your children, make it a point to incorporate these following lessons into their lives.
1.How to Build Strong, Meaningful Relationships
In a paper published in the Personality and Social Psychology Review, researchers say that meaningful relationships help people thrive. Authors Brooke Feeney (Carnegie Mellon University) and Nancy Collins (University of California at Santa Barbara), say that well-being through happiness, purpose, positive sense of self, social well-being, and physical health come through two types of social support.
The first is the ability to thrive through adversity. Teach your children this concept through example. Show them that you care when they’re having a tough time.
The second is the ability to thrive in the absence of adversity. This comes through supporting each other in opportunities for achievement and growth. Again, you can teach your children this concept through example by supporting their ideas and encouraging their achievements.
At the same time, you can talk to your children about their relationships and encourage ways to strengthen them.
2.How to Stand Up For Themselves
Statistics show that 77 percent of students have admitted to being bullied at one time or another. Furthermore, NBC News reports that 1 in every 6 children is bullied on a regular basis.
Learning how to handle bullies early on can save a child’s life since children who are bullies are 2.55 times more likely to attempt suicide.
But teaching children how to stand up for themselves isn’t about teaching them how to throw a good punch. Instead, encourage your children to talk to an adult if they feel they’re being bullied. Talk to your children about peer pressure, too.
Perhaps most important of these lessons, however, is to teach your children to never back down in their beliefs and values.
3.How to Get Rid of Stage Fright
Approximately three out of every four people suffers from speech anxiety, or the fear of public speaking. At the same time, learning how to overcome stage fright and be comfortable in front of an audience is one of the most important things a child can learn. Your children will use this skill throughout life, whether giving presentations in school or using it as a part of their future career.
Teach your child how to overcome this anxiety while they’re young. Consider enrolling your child in a performance program—like dance, music, or sports—to help him or her get used to an audience. Teach your child exercises to help reduce anxiety, like being prepared, taking deep breaths, and entering the performance with a positive attitude.
4.How to Critically Think
Do your children believe everything they see on TV? How can they learn how to sort out what makes sense and what doesn’t?
Children need to learn how to think for themselves. Critical thinking skills come in handy in school, at jobs, and in everyday life. Unfortunately, many children won’t learn how to critically think if they’re always given the right answer.
Give your children the opportunity to think for themselves. When they ask a question—no matter how off the wall—ask them their opinions first. See if they can come up with the answer without your help.
Encourage your children to think logically, too. Ask them to explain why they think something is true. Teach them to question authority and to ask questions about the world.
5.How to Identify and Fight Sexual Abuse
Statistics show that 1 in every 5 girls and 1 in every 20 boys are sexually abused. Those statistics only get worse as children age.
Unfortunately, sex and sexual abuse is not something most people feel comfortable speaking with their children about. Regardless, it’s something that needs to be talked about.
Children should have a clear understanding of what sexual abuse is and how to detect it. They should also know how to say no, how to fight an attacker, and how to get help if they fall victim to assault.
6.How to Set and Achieve Goals
Do you ever ask your children what they want to be when they grow up? That’s great! They should have dreams in mind. But they should also understand how to achieve these dreams.
Start by teaching your children a system of goal setting by using it to achieve small goals. Marie Faust Evitt of Parents Magazine suggests letting your child choose his or her goal. Then, help your children map out that goal, and applaud their effort on each step taken.
For example, let’s say your daughter wants a new doll. Her goal is to raise enough money to buy the doll. You can help her explore the steps needed to raise that money and then help provide encouragement on each dollar she makes.
7.How to be Independent
It might surprise you that 28 percent of adults can’t cook. Ignorance—or never being taught—is listed as the second top reason for this. Would it also surprise you to know that only one-third of Americans prepare a budget?
When your children head out on their own, they’re going to have to know how to live independently. Use opportunities in daily life to teach them these fundamental skills. Have them help you cook. Involve them in the process of making a budget. When it comes tax time, let them watch what you’re doing. When they become old enough, have your children do their own laundry.
8.How to Respect Themselves
Perhaps one of the most important lessons a child can learn is how to respect themselves. One study showed that nearly half of all young girls refused to take part in everyday activities like swimming due to a lack of body confidence. Furthermore, DoSomething.org reports that “75 percent of girls with low self-esteem reported engaging in negative activities like cutting, bullying, smoking, drinking, or disordered eating.”
Children need to learn how to respect themselves and their bodies before this becomes an issue. Talk to your children about confidence. Encourage their efforts. Lead by example through positive self-talk. Need more tips? Check out thesesuggestions.
Clearly we can’t cover all the bases in one single blog post. What lessons do you think are among the most important for children? Share your ideas in the comment section.
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