When raising kids, parents often feel like they are in way over their heads. Raising a child is no small feat; most parents don’t know where to start. Schools focus on academics early on, but what else do kids need to succeed? It is easy to forget that kids are little people with big potential. And while academic skills are essential, some non-academic skills will help your child grow up as a well-rounded and successful adult. Let’s take a look at some crucial skills every kid needs…
Cooking
Cooking is a skill that will serve them well at any age, and it gets kids outside the box and thinking in ways beyond academics. Start your child cooking early; it takes patience and practice to get good at it. Parents can start by teaching their kids simple, nutritious recipes like cakes and muffins. As kids age, parents can transition to different skills, like making a simple applesauce recipe to use in other recipes or making their own pizza dough or pastry. You can also use food to encourage other essential skills. Cooking can encourage your child to be creative with their food by trying new combinations and experimenting with different ingredients. Cooking also promotes critical thinking, as kids must follow a recipe and think critically about what they are doing as they work.
Empathy
Empathy is understanding what other people feel and why they feel that way. Empathetic kids have the skills to collaborate, communicate and work towards shared goals. Empathy is a skill that parents can cultivate through everyday interactions and playtime as early as toddlerhood. Start with reading books with your child that highlight different cultures. This sparks curiosity and gets kids thinking about how people around them live and the differences between their lives and their own. You can also try playing age-appropriate board games that encourage your child to think about how their choices affect other players in the game. You can also try getting creative with arts and crafts. Many materials, like colored paper and glue, allow your child to get creative while also thinking about how their creations make other people feel.
Resilience
Kids who are resilient bounce back from failure and challenge themselves. They don’t feel like failures because they don’t give up when they fall. They learn from their mistakes and don’t let them stop them from trying again. Kids can develop a high degree of resilience through active play. When your child is outside playing, they are bound to fall and get hurt. Instead of rushing to their side, encourage your child to get back up and keep playing. Resilience is also cultivated through silly, child-focused activities like dress-up or themed play. These activities encourage kids to engage in imaginative play without feeling like they have to be “perfect,” like in many academic settings.
Time Management
Like cooking, time management becomes increasingly important as your child grows up. Kids who understand managing their time will be more efficient, productive, and successful in school and beyond. Your child will benefit from working their time as early as they can read. Start with simple books that introduce kids to the concept of schedules and to-do lists. As your child gets older, they can start scheduling their own time. Give your child a calendar and encourage them to write down their engagements. This will help them think critically about how they use their time and identify areas where they can become more efficient.
Conclusion
As you can see, many non-cognitive skills are just as important as academic skills. If you start early, you can help your child develop these essential skills and set them up for a successful life! These skills will help your child succeed in life and grow into a well-rounded, successful adult.
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