Cover Photo: Tim Mossholder

1.How To Wash Clothes

When we were kids, washing clothes was something that our parents took care of. As we got older, laundry became a part of our responsibility. At first, it’s easy to just throw things in there and wait for them to come out clean (let’s face it – most of us skip right over all those important steps). The problem is that you could be causing some serious damage to your clothing and your health. In fact, if you’re not careful you could end up with a nasty rash on your skin or even stains on your favorite shirt.

2. Basic first aid and personal healthcare

• Taking care of one’s health is one of the most important lessons that kids should learn as part of self-care. The following are important considerations:
• Personal health information and over-the-counter drugs are useful skills to have.
• When to see a doctor.
• In the event of illnesses such as common colds, fever, or the flu, taking adequate care of oneself through proper diet and surroundings.
• They can benefit from health insurance. Teach your teen to keep track of his or her health insurance payments so that they can receive help when they need it.
• Take care of medical emergencies by dialing 911 or your country’s emergency number.
• Encourage your teen to learn basic first aid skills such as cleaning a wound, applying bandages, and other first-aid techniques in the event of a medical emergency, as these abilities may allow him to save a life in the future.

3. Make A Bed

It might seem like a simple, unimportant task, but creating a nice bedroom can have a big impact on your child’s well-being. When kids have their own space that is clean and organized, they feel confident in their abilities to handle tasks and responsibilities. As teenagers begin their transition into adulthood, creating a comfortable atmosphere for them helps them develop healthy habits that will last for years to come.

4. Memorize a Prayer

Prayers are more than just words you repeat at a certain time of day. Prayers help you reflect on your relationship with God and may remind you of His presence in your life. Learning to memorize a prayer can help strengthen your bond with God and give you an opportunity to become closer to Him.

5. Washing Dishes

My son has just turned 5 and he’s finally old enough to start doing some chores around our house. One of his first jobs is to do simple things like washing dishes and taking out the trash, and I couldn’t be more excited! I know that if I wait until he turns 10 or 11, it will be harder for him to develop good habits.

6. How To Do Laundry

There are two types of people in life. Those who know how to do laundry, and those who don’t. No matter which side you fall on, you should still familiarize yourself with doing laundry. Being able to clean clothes on your own will save you a lot of money (laundry mat fees add up!), but it will also give you more time to relax. Make sure your child knows how to fold clothes and put them away; it makes cleaning up at home much faster and easier!

7. How To Fold Clothes

One of my favorite clothing purchases of recent years has been a $10 set of four plastic hangers from Ikea. My closet looks a lot better now, and I’m still able to fit all my clothes in it!

8. Color Matching (for clothes, towels, etc.)

Kids are a fickle bunch when it comes to their favorite colors. And while they might not care much now, they’ll likely be thankful later that you taught them how to coordinate all of their stuff with one another. All you need is a permanent marker and some old towels or clothes that are headed for goodwill anyway.

9. Money management or budgeting abilities

It’s never too early to start teaching your kids about money management. Creating a budget for them and making sure they see you practicing it will help them learn how money works. This can instill a sense of responsibility in your kids and ensure that they don’t run into problems when they’re older, such as in college or managing their own finances.

10. Skills in the kitchen or with food

Although parents often encourage their children to learn skills in these areas, it’s common for kids to resist learning how to cook. However, teaching your child simple cooking and serving techniques will help them develop important life skills: self-sufficiency and food management. Skills like these are particularly important as kids head into their teen years; now is a great time to teach them what they need to know in order to eat responsibly later on.

11. Managing a home – domestic skills

Imagine your spoiled child graduating from college and embarking on a new adventure. However, if they lack basic household management skills, they may despise every minute of it. As a result, it is preferable if all teenagers are taught these life skills at a young age.

Methods for locating suitable housing.

• Pay bills, and management utilities.
• Vacuuming, dusting, and cleaning are all basic housekeeping tasks.
• Fixing a damaged circuit, identifying a water furnace, turning it off and on, and dealing with basic plumbing difficulties are all simple tasks that could help them better manage their homes.

12. Hygiene and cleanliness

Make sure that your children know how to take care of themselves. Start teaching them hygiene and personal grooming at a young age and make sure they have access to quality toiletries. When your kids grow older, you can discuss which types of products are best for them depending on their skin type and hair type. Learning about hygiene at an early age will help with their self-esteem as well as give them confidence in social situations by knowing that they always smell good and look presentable.

13. Manners

Let your kids know that they’re expected to treat others with respect, even if they don’t feel like it. If they have a big test coming up or have been really looking forward to an event, you may think that it’s okay for them to sit out of family time. But in reality, without the family time and manners, teenagers can struggle with making friends and getting jobs later on in life. It’s also important to remember that children need time to rest and recharge as well, so make sure your child is able to take breaks from schoolwork when needed.

14. Skills in organization

Time-management skills are incredibly important during your teen years. By teaching your child how to effectively plan out their schedule, they’ll be able to finish schoolwork, chores, and other responsibilities with ease. To get started, have them create a monthly schedule of when they need to complete specific tasks. Have them look at it over the course of a week and adjust if needed. As your teen gets older and can manage more time each day or week, teach them how to break down their schedule into smaller chunks.

15. Behavioral skills

When your kids reach their teen years, they are less likely to listen to what you have to say. That’s not necessarily because they’re being disrespectful; it’s simply a part of growing up. But that doesn’t mean you should give up on them—instead, make sure you are teaching them some vital behavioral skills that will help them in life.

16. Skills in problem-solving

Growing up, you’re given a specific set of instructions on how to do things. Whether it’s making your bed or completing your homework, every day brings a new list of tasks that need to be completed by certain deadlines. As you mature into adulthood, your responsibilities increase, and you are required to deal with problems more often than not. Problem-solving is an essential skill when dealing with anything from health issues to money problems.

17. Driving as well as auto maintenance

Once your child has his or her driver’s license, you’ll want to teach him or her how to properly maintain a car. Even if your child is living in an urban area, learning basic auto maintenance will still prove helpful—not only when there’s trouble with his or her own vehicle, but also in being able to keep track of parents’ cars and pick up on signs that something might be wrong.

18. Navigational skills

Navigational skills are a must for teens. Whether you’re giving your kids driving lessons or just walking around town, teach them how to properly read a map. It might seem like something that comes naturally but having a grasp on basic mapping can help everyone in your family get where they need to go—and find their way back home again!

19. Educational fundamentals

Reading, writing, and arithmetic are crucial educational fundamentals, but they’re not enough to make a child successful in life. As your child approaches her teen years, it is important that you prepare her with some other essential life skills. It will help her tremendously as she grows into adulthood.

20. Knowing how to prioritize your goals is essential.

Teach your children how to recognize their strengths and develop goals that will provide them with both personal and professional satisfaction. So,

• Determine their goals and where they want to be in a few years. Assist them in becoming more focused.
• Set reasonable expectations, or they will be disappointed sooner rather than later.
• Concentrate on their objectives and devise a strategy for achieving them.
• Determine what resources are available to assist them in achieving their objectives.