“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is ******.” Albert Einstein.
Studies reveal that 76% of parents are focused on bringing up their children to be ‘good people’. We all know that the world is changing fast. What we think we can take for granted at one moment has completely changed the next. None of us can predict with confidence what any given aspect of life or work will look like in five or ten years’ time. Most people associate learning with a formal education but learning should, be a lifelong process that enhances a child’s understanding of the world and improves his or her quality of life.
Children these days face many pressures from external and as well as internal sources. With the concept of diminishing of joint families and existence of micro families’ children have no one to go to like grandparents, uncles and more so since in many cases both parents are working. There is a lot of pressure on students today, to perform at school and there is even more pressure within the peer group. They have a fear of failure or worrying about fitting in the group.
There are many issues within a family unit too for example now a day with both parents working and unreasonably high family expectations being placed on the child and lack of time given to children. Due to busy schedules of the parents they don’t spend quality time together. Television, internet and cell phones have contributed to this problem. Children get distracted easily. There is a change in their eating habits with easy availability of fast food. There is absence of the right role model and the world has become more competitive.
These are the common challenges faced by every parent and parents are trying to cope with this but there is a gap or a vacuum. How can we possibly prepare them for the constant challenges that lie ahead? Do we want them to understand how to interact with others? Or How do we teach them to manage their time, money and belongings?
Teaching ‘Life skills’ is becoming an important part of raising a child. But a recent study has revealed that children are losing touch with vital life skills due to overuse of digital devices. Children need to be taught to cope with the world.
Life skills help children know what to do in everyday situations as well as how to make good decisions and manage peer pressure. It helps children to communicate more effectively which in turn helps them in problem solving and resolving conflicts. It enables them to become responsible, caring and productive citizens. Ultimately ‘Life Skills’ makes them be not just ‘Book-Smart’, but also ‘Street Smart’.
Life skills cannot be taught directly. It is a learning with real life experiences and practices. Activities can be planned that will help children develop powers of observation and can also develop skills that allow them plan independently. Wherein children depict their interests, hobbies, school experiences and interpersonal skills. Computers and technologies have assumed to play an important role in our daily lives. But it should be used effectively. Children should be good listeners as well as they should learn to speak freely. Encourage positive attitude of children and ensure constructive interactions. Which will help nurturing their creative skills. Children can be prepared to enter the real world with critical ‘Life Skills’ of life.
Article By: Savneet Bhasin
She is the Chief Executive Officer of Springboard by Uplearn. She loves to share knowledge through training’s and writing.
My kids will eventually need to develop life skills so that they know what to do in everyday situations. Since I can’t teach them life skills all the time, I might choose an expert to educate them while I’m away. I agree that some life skills cannot be taught directly, but I’ll still try my best to be a good parent and let the expert develop what they already have.