Kids and life skills

Kiboko

When I was at Uni I temped every holiday period, secretarial jobs pay more than bar work, supermarkets etc, so I still think the skills are relevant even if they don't want to be secretaries when they finish their education. By the way, estate agents record house details and the branch secretary has to audio type, a lot of bosses also record letters etc, my kids were curious about shorthand so i taught them, I've never heard that it was a bad thing to have too many skills before

kalaika

Kiboko wrote: »

if anyone has any helpful hints as to other things I could do I would be grateful.

LE3 wrote: »

but for me the one most important life skill that you haven't mentioned: First Aid. I feel EVERYONE should have a basic knowledge of first aid!

This.

You never know when you might need it. Not necessarily the 'big' first aid things like resuscitation, but things like what to do if someone gets a severe cut/gash (how to help reduce blood loss), what to do if someone faints, what to do if you come across a motorbike accident, what to do if someone's choking, etc

Fae

Going against most of the other posters I think shorthand is a great skill, I work in an office and recently taught myself speed writing (quicker to learn than shorthand) If I had the time I would learn shorthand myself.

Fae

Sally_A

Great idea! I would add....

Knowing how to use 999 properly (careful, fire engine obsessed youngsters have been known to abuse this).
What to do if you became ill, collapsed, fell down the stairs - which neighbours they should call on (and let the neighbours know too).
Respect animals/pets.
What to do if the smoke alarms go off/there is a fire - practise a family evacuation, especially if you live in anything taller than a bungalow.

The above are mainly for the youngest, but will give confidence, and security as you have role played the situation.

Kiboko

kalaika wrote: »

This.

You never know when you might need it. Not necessarily the 'big' first aid things like resuscitation, but things like what to do if someone gets a severe cut/gash (how to help reduce blood loss), what to do if someone faints, what to do if you come across a motorbike accident, what to do if someone's choking, etc

Could not agree more, in fact they both did St Johns amblulance First Aid course at Brownies

Kiboko

Sally_A wrote: »

Great idea! I would add....

Knowing how to use 999 properly (careful, fire engine obsessed youngsters have been known to abuse this).
What to do if you became ill, collapsed, fell down the stairs - which neighbours they should call on (and let the neighbours know too).
Respect animals/pets.
What to do if the smoke alarms go off/there is a fire - practise a family evacuation, especially if you live in anything taller than a bungalow.

The above are mainly for the youngest, but will give confidence, and security as you have role played the situation.

Brilliant, thank you

newyearnewme_2

I think it is important that by the time they are all grown up they should

1) have a bank account
2) have a passport
3) be able to change a plug
4) be able to play a musical instrument/read music
5) be able to speak a foreign languauge
6) be able to swim

Not everyone might be agree with these but i think if you can aim for the 1st 3 an then at least one of the last 3!

HKitten

When they're old enough, how much you have to pay in this world is a good lesson. I'm not being pessimistic - when I first moved out of my parents home I was genuinely shocked to realise how many expenditures you have as an adult beyond just 'a place to live, a car to drive and food to eat'.

For example, with cars - you don't just buy a car, you need to tax it, get an MOT every year, get insurance, and regularly buy petrol. Until I actually owned a car, I had no idea how to do half those things.

I also didn't really understand things like how your water bill works, and my electricity bill is frankly still a bit of an enigma. You don't just buy a TV, you also need a TV license. You don't just rent a house, you pay council tax and utilities and some form of contents insurance...

Honestly, I wish someone had run through all these things when I was younger so I'd known what to expect and how to sort it all out. I really just moved out and had to learn as things came up.

Bennifred

Excellent thread!

I would say that the most important of all the skills mentioned is the people skills - good people skills will get you a long way in life, even if you lack in other areas. Teach them to look people in the eye when greeting them, how to shake hands, to "do as you would be done by".

marleyboy

Has nobody mentioned creativity? Whereas computers and machinery are forever taking over manual labour, the World will always need artists and designers to create them.