Building Character: 4 Life Skills Every Kid Should Learn

Parents love their children—that's a given. As a result, many parents want to do as much for their children as possible. Unfortunately, this means that as kids grow up, they don’t always have the basic life skills that they need to survive in the real world. Every child should learn these four basic life skills before going out on their own. Parents have to let go of their children at some point. Teaching them these things will truly make their lives easier.

1. Simple Car Repairs

Before your teen gets behind the wheel, they should know how to handle basic car repairs. If they get stranded with a flat, they should be able to change a tire on their own. If their car overheats, they should know how to let it cool down for several minutes and where to pour the antifreeze. They should also know how to use jumper cables in case their battery dies while they’re out and about. Teach them how to know how much is a fair price to pay for repairs. If you’re handy, teach them to do some simple, and even some major, repairs themselves. Take them to a junkyard, like U Pull & Pay, and show them how to find working replacement parts on the cheap.

2. Swimming

While swimming may sound like a fun pastime instead of a necessary life skill, every child should know how to swim for their own safety. Knowing how to submerge themselves without panicking, how to float and how to use strong strokes will help children who are in an emergency situation in the water. They should also know some basic water rescue methods, just in case they’re in the position to help someone.

3. Budget Grocery Shopping

Kids should know how to grocery shop while sticking to a budget. That way, when they finally pay for their own groceries and live on their own, they won’t blow their entire budget on snack food while forgetting necessities like soap, sponges and napkins. If you opt to pay for your teen’s groceries while they’re in college, give them a gift card with a set amount each month and insist that they stick within that budget. Teach them to cook the food they buy—it’s significantly cheaper than ordering delivery or going out to eat, and it’s healthier too.

4. Laundry

Laundry is a basic chore that people have to do for their entire lives. Laundry can be taught to young children if you have a washer and dryer in the house. Get them into the habit of doing their own laundry the correct way and on a schedule so that they always have clean clothing. It’s also useful to bring young adults to the laundromat a few times so they can learn how to use commercial washers and dryers.

Even if parents have the best intentions, they can still ultimately and unknowingly harm their children by leaving them unprepared. When you teach your children these life skills, you’ll strengthen your bond and ready them for the future.