From the moment our children are born they are on a journey to independence. But to live independently without us one day, as adults, we need to teach them essential life skills. They cannot learn life skills out of a book or at school. These are things they learn from their parents and from other important adults and role models in their lives.
To be ready for school involves mastering certain life skills so that they can happily and confidently manage being at school without you. Sending a child to school without life skills is like driving a brand new car without an engine. Life skills involve a number of very practical things. By the time your child goes to school she must be able to:
- Feed herself at mealtimes and make a sandwich and juice by herself
- Go to the toilet by herself, and remember to wash her hands afterwards
- Blow her nose without help
- Get up and get dressed by herself in the morning, and tie her shoelaces by herself
- Bath and wash herself
- Remember at least three instructions at once
- Concentrate for at least 20 minutes on an activity or game
- Follow a basic routine (when to sleep, when to get up, when to eat etc)
- To look after her own possessions
- Go on play dates to a friend without you
- Understand and label her basic emotions/feelings
- Organise her own fun and games without an adult constantly telling her what to do
- Complete tasks without needing praise every step of the way
- Swim well enough to be water-safe, identify drinkable sources of water
- Cross the road safely
In addition, we need to help our children learn how to be resourceful – can they solve every day little problems? Do they know how to protect themselves from danger? Are they resilient – can they bounce back from adversity, when things go wrong? Does your child have the ability to keep trying? Are they fundamentally honest and do they respect others?
Good life skills are the basis for getting along with others, fitting in to society, and having the confidence to believe “I can.” With all of this in place your child will have such a positive start to life. Passing on and teaching life skills, is a parental responsibility.
You are your child’s first teacher * Children learn best through play * A good matric starts at home
Did you know?
Our daily routine gives us a framework around which we build our lives. There is a time to wake up and a time to go to sleep. There is a time to eat and a time to help with the chores. There is a time to play and a time to tidy up the mess we have made. There is a time to wash and brush our teeth. Keeping a good routine at home also helps your child adapt better to life in the classroom. Routines help create a positive and secure atmosphere at school in the same way as they make children feel safe and secure at home. They help children understand the following: This is what we do. This is when we do it. This is how we do it. These are your limits. This is what is expected of you. This is what is expected of me.
These tips have been provided by Brain Boosters. For more info email Tracey jigsaw@polka.co.za
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