Raising children can be a challenging task – with the way the world is rapidly evolving, it can be difficult to determine what information your child should know and what will be obsolete by the time they’re adults. However, there are some key skills that will always help them, no matter how the world changes.

Additionally, these are also skills that every adult should know and be familiar with. If you’ve not had the opportunity to learn, teaching your children can be a good introduction, and if you have, you’ll benefit by polishing those skills as you impart this knowledge to your little ones. 

Wondering what skills we’re talking about? Here are some family-friendly life skills that you – and your children – can benefit from.

Cooking

Even if it’s just the basics, learning to cook is a must for everyone. After all, while you may be around to make food for them right now, they’ll need to know how to make a simple meal for themselves whenever they move out for college.

Cooking helps children be independent and self-reliant and saves time that would otherwise be spent waiting in a restaurant or after ordering takeout. Making your own meals is also far easier on your pocket than eating out, and it gives you greater control over the menu. Additionally, many people who get into cooking for the utility it provides find that it can actually be a relaxing hobby.

Furthermore, knowing how to make your own food serves as a safety net in an emergency when food delivery apps may not be available. While not everyone is a chef with hundreds of recipes in their repertoire, basic meals like pasta and sandwiches should be something every person knows how to make.

Upcycling and DIY

The reality is, hiring professionals or buying everything new can get quite expensive. While there are some home improvements that should only be handled by people with training and some décor pieces that you should always buy new, knowing your way around DIY and upcycling can help save a ton of money. 

If your kids find upcycling tedious, consider making it a game for them to play. As pointed out by the information found on www.detectorlist.com, it is possible to buy metal detectors for children. Grab your own detector and take your kids to the beach to see what they can find – and then challenge them to upcycle it into something useful when you get home. 

Not only does this make upcycling fun, but you may also get lucky and find something relatively valuable! Just make sure you’re only using your metal detectors where permitted to do so. 

When it comes to DIY, some things you should know how to do include painting a room, doing basic repair work on your vehicle, and unclogging a sink. These are all relatively simple skills that come in handy frequently and can cost a lot if you need to hire a professional each time. 

Basic First Aid

While it’s essential to know the number to call emergency services, children should also be aware of basic first aid. Knowing these skills can help save lives until first responders arrive at your location. It can also make it easier to treat minor injuries that don’t require a doctor’s attention. Common injuries like cuts and scrapes are addressed in first aid classes, helping your children handle these concerns without unnecessary panic. 

Ideally, you should ensure your child has basic, age-appropriate first aid knowledge before they can stay home alone. They should also be aware of basic fire safety and know all emergency numbers required. For uninterested children, the promise of adult responsibility and staying home alone can serve as a way to motivate them and help them focus on first aid classes – and as they grow older, they (and you) will be grateful for the lessons.

There are several other household and life skills that will come in handy for your child, including basic carpentry and financial literacy. Not all these skills will be ones they enjoy – for example, many children struggle with chores related to cleaning up, including doing the laundry and washing dishes. 

However, these are also skills that will be necessary for their adult life. For life skills your young ones have trouble learning, consider gamifying the learning process as mentioned above or rewarding them in some way for their diligence. They may not thank you right now, but they definitely will when those same skills come in handy. And who knows, they (and you!) may also find new interests, hobbies, and maybe even a new career along the way!