Eight Important Life Skills Your Child Should Have By the Time They Are a Teen
Eight Important Life Skills Your Child Should Have By the Time They Are a Teen
Raising children is not easy, yet somehow your parents and your parents-parents managed to accomplish it. Sometimes it is brilliantly accomplished and others, well…not so much. The subjectivity of child-rearing has given us expressions ranging from “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” to “Were you raised in a barn?” Parents have said everything from “Will you talk to YOUR son?” to “That’s my boy.”
We all have to start somewhere. Here are nine important life skills every child should know before the become a teenager.
1. The importance of remembering names. How important is a name? Just yell out “mom” in a a crowd and see how many women turn around. A person’s name is one of the most personal, valuable things they have. Knowing who new people they meet by their name is so important as they get older and that should be a skill they learn before becoming a teen.
2. How to give a firm handshake. This is a life lesson that should take all of a minute to teach. Nobody appreciates a limp handshake. A form handshake however can demonstrate respect and confidence.
3. Looking people in the eye. When you look someone in the eye it invites trust and a willingness to connect. Being “shy” may work when your child is four but probably not so much at fourteen.
4. Basic table manners. No, your teen may not need to know how to set a table for a formal dinner but they should know how to properly use a knife and fork when eating in public. Knowing where to put a napkin can be helpful as well. Then there’s not slurping soup or chewing with your mouth open thing. You probably get the picture.
5. Personal hygiene. If your teen knows the difference between smelling fresh and over-using body-spray you are a step ahead of the game.
6. The value of money and benefits of saving. If you are good at this, odds are your child may be. If not, call in some help.
7. Knowing how to swim. If your child doesn’t know how to swim by the age of 13, good luck getting them to learn later. Actually, learning to swim is critically important if you live in a warmer climate or near water.
8. How to be polite. Few things make a parent more proud than to hear how nice, respectful and polite their child is. Please, thank you and an occasional “yes sir” can go a long way.
Of course the list could go on and on, and it does. Teaching our children some of these skills needs to be done consciously and by example. What can you teach your child today?
Do you have questions about your insurance? Find an insurance agent near you with our Agent Finder
Search All Blogs
Search All Blogs
Read More Blogs
The Benefits of Buying a New Constructed Home
See Why Many Younger Homebuyers are Choosing New Construction
When Did Super Bowl Halftime Shows Become Such a Big Deal?
For Years Traditional Marching Bands Served as Entertainment For NFL’s Biggest Game
Why You May Be Required to Have Business Insurance
While The Law May Not Require it, Other Factors May Dictate The Need For Business Insurance
Should You Have Life Insurance? HINT: Ask Your Spouse
Odds Are Your Spouse Would Want You to Have More Life Insurance Coverage
Changes in the Auto Industry You May Have Missed
The Brands, Models, and Features That Have Come and Gone
Six Things You Will Not Regret Splurging On
You Deserve to Have These Items Without Buyer’s Regret
How Television Marked the Seasons
You Didn’t Need a Calendar. You Just Needed a TV Guide.
Think You Can’t Afford Business Insurance?
In Some Ways You May Already Be Paying For It
Is Life Insurance a Part of Your Financial Plan?
Why Life Insurance Should be a Part of Your Family’s Future
What to Contemplate When Getting an Auto Insurance Quote
There’s More to Consider Than Just State Minimums