In today’s world, have you ever wondered what is the first thing a baby does when he comes out of his mother’s womb? Did you say “doctor”? Oops, you made a mistake. The child will see a smartphone as he enters this digital world. During his childhood days, he would see many more such digital distractions. I call these glitches “screen-devils.” As soon as your baby is able to sit up and balance himself, there is a high possibility of you giving him that phone to entertain him and in due time he will get addicted to these screens.
Thanks to the digital age, our children are more glued to screens and less aware of the real world. Sadly, they lack simple life skills and are bound to struggle with survival issues later in life.
What are life skills?
These are basic skills that are necessary or desirable in everyday life. These are simple skills like helping others, folding clothes, tying laces, cleaning utensils, etc. The digital clock is taking over the mental health of our children, resulting in decreased social skills and physical activity.
Did you know, you can inculcate these life skills in children right from childhood?
Let us look at some of the ways we can educate our children about life skills from an early age to position them better in the future.
1. Be self-reliant
Children as young as preschool can be trained to take care of their own chores on a daily basis with adult supervision and guidance. They can be trained to do their basic chores like packing their bags, wearing their clothes for school, putting away their dishes in the kitchen after meals, cleaning up their toys during and after playtime, etc. Children at this age are very active and involving them in daily activities not only develops their energy but also helps them develop their essential life skills.
2. Be helpful around
Encourage children from a very early age to help others. Toddlers can help their peers or adults at home in arranging the table for eating, putting away shoes in racks, helping parents with folding clothes, etc. This will provide plenty of opportunities to keep them engaged while they’re away from screens. Helping others will develop their emotional skills as well as gross motor skills.
3. Give importance to things
Parents are very quick to meet the demands of their child. It is necessary to establish need versus value from a very young age. Children at 18 months of age have a high capacity to absorb what they see and are exposed to. When we explain to our children the difference between needs and wants, they will learn about the value they have.
4. Basic Etiquette
Basic manners can be taught to children from a very young age. Polite greetings to friends and guests visiting home, simple table manners, washroom manners, sharing, caring etc. Unfortunately, many parents neglect these simple skills when children are young and find it challenging to deal with the missing social-emotional skills and manners as they grow up. Manners are important life skills and the world of digital technology is limiting it to text messages.
5. Reward for deeds
Children should not be rewarded without deeds. It is important for children to understand that rewards are given only when there is a worthy cause. This life skill will always keep them motivated in life to do better. A child who is 18 months old can understand that he will get food only when he finishes his meal and will make a sad face if he leaves the food.
It is our primary responsibility as parents to develop all the possible skills and values in our children from a very early age so that they become independent, strong and moral human beings.
“Teach me and I will forget. Show me and I may remember. “Indulge me and I will learn” – Benjamin Franklin