How practical life skills can improve your child’s outlook on life
How many times has your toddler been close to tears of frustration because “No, I can do it myself!!”.
And how often do we get frustrated with ourselves, because it feels like it would be easier and faster to just do it for them?
Mastering practical life skills is the basis of independent living for everyone.
Being able to do even basic things for yourself builds confidence and contributes toward overall life satisfaction.
A math genius that doesn’t know how to meal plan to a budget or get their laundry done each week is going to struggle to reach their full mathematician potential. They will be turning up to their first job looking unkempt each day. And may resort to takeaways on their student income to get themselves fed each day! Not budget-friendly OR brain-friendly.
Feeling powerless or overwhelmed in a situation can make us feel anxious.
But taking a useful skill, learning, practicing and mastering it can make us feel empowered, confident and like we are able to take on new experiences. A philosophy that pays dividends over a lifetime as we continue to deal with the challenges life throws at us.
Supporting and empowering your children to master practical life skills starts as a mindset.
Your biggest tool is observation!
Get onto your child’s ‘level’ and take a look around:
Is there any task you currently do for your child, but with a few tweaks they could be doing themselves?
Maybe they can put their own toys away, but the cupboard is a bit difficult to reach or open?
Imagine the frustration of KNOWING you can do something but the tools you need are juuuust out of your reach...
Accessibility barriers are a huge obstacle to growth and learning, but we often don’t notice them unless we are the one who can’t ‘reach’.
Thinking about your family’s daily routine from your child’s perspective could yield some interesting ‘a-has’!
Here’s a few age appropriate life skill suggestions to take into consideration, plus a few tools and tips on how you can make tasks more ‘do-able’ for your child independently.
1. Getting their own drinks and snacks
Have you ever been a visitor in someone’s home, and started to feel a bit thirsty or hungry? But you feel it’s rude to ask for something? And you most certainly aren’t going to open up the cupboards to help yourself! Now imagine if you sometimes felt a bit like that in your own home?
Putting your child’s crockery, cutlery and a few grab-n-go healthy snacks in a low down kitchen cupboard or drawer is a great way to make them an active participant in their own meal making, as well as allowing them to learn to manage thirst and hunger cues for themselves.
2. Tidying up after themselves
It might be access to a brush and dustpan, wet wipes for sticky fingers, or transitioning to ‘no-fold’ hampers for their clothing storage. Wherever you start, empower your children to take on small tasks and responsibilities for the upkeep of their home and belongings. It’s a great way to build gratitude and mindfulness into their daily routines.
As grown-ups we know the power of working hard for something, therefore wanting to take care of and maintain it. You know what went into having it and you don’t want to have to waste your precious energy starting again! It’s not about being grateful for the sake of ‘having stuff’, but for how it supports us to live happy and healthy lives. And of course, enjoy the relaxing calm of living in a clean and tidy home!
3. Making decisions about their schedule
Now of course, a little goes a long way! We are not necessarily saying you let your child be responsible for scheduling their transport to school, or when and where they would like to spend Christmas. Juggling a schedule in today’s hectic world is complex even for us adults!
But having choices and making decisions is what empowers people to feel confident and go forth in the world. It is no different for our little ones. How can you give your child more choices and decision-making power for how their routine plays out? Would they like to do their homework first, or watch TV? Do they want to have a shower in the morning or at night? Sometimes when we give our kids choices, they don’t always make the best decisions. But hey, neither do we, and experience is how we become better decision-makers in life.
Sometimes empowering your child to be autonomous requires letting go of perfection for the parent. Nobody can predict the future and ‘mistakes’ are an inevitable part of life, however we perceive them. But nothing boosts our self-esteem more than reaping the rewards of our own actions and knowing “I did that”. Added bonus: you might just get to do a bit less around the house and have more time for yourself.
If your child has difficulty doing age-appropriate tasks because of their anxiety, or has struggled to progress in certain motor or cognitive skills, don’t be afraid to ask for help! Encourage your children to reach out, and Gheorg is always here for them to talk to. Download now.