With the strict home quarantine, parents are looking for different ways to entertain their kids and keep them learning. Now that you’re spending more time at home, why not try teaching your child practical skills that she’ll be able to use for life?
As Erin Taylor, a parenting coach and author, tells Romper, “Each of these tasks are valuable for children to learn during this pandemic shutdown. These tasks teach children vital life skills they will need as they grow into independent adults.”
7 practical skills every child needs to learn
Sewing
Knowing how to sew is a valuable skill because you never know when you might encounter an outfit mishap. Teach your child how to thread a needle, how to mend simple tears, how to sew on a button, and so on. Romper says that sewing can teach your child hand-eye coordination and improve her fine motor skills.
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWCleaning
Your child will eventually have to live in her own home, so it’s only right that she learns how to do basic cleaning tasks. Start by showing her how to clean up her toys after playtime, how to clear the table after meals, how to wash dishes, and so on. If you don’t start now, your child might struggle to learn those skills as an adult.
Making her bed
Get your little one involved in folding the blankets and fluffing the pillows when you wake up instead of simply leaving your bed in a mess. This simple task helps teach your child responsibility and can help you be more productive, according to The Spruce.
Meal preparation
You don’t have to assign your child to cook lunch or dinner. Teaching her how to make simple snacks, like a sandwich, is a great first step. Author and former dean of freshmen at Stanford University Julie Lythcott-Haims tells Parenting, “I’m not saying stop making dinner for your kids, but I am saying you ought to have confidence that they could make a breakfast for themselves, that they could make a lunch.”
CONTINUE READING BELOWwatch nowHome maintenance tasks
There are always small tasks that have to be done to maintain the home, so why not teach your child to do some of them? According to Verywell Family, you can show your child how to change the toilet paper roll in your bathroom or put a new garbage bag in the trash can, while older kids can be taught how to change a light bulb or unclog a drain.
Using basic tools
If you have tools at home like a hammer and a screwdriver, you can also demonstrate to your child how to safely use them. These are skills she will be able to use when she grows up and encounters things that need to be repaired at home.
Laundry
Laundry can be a pain for all of us. To make it less stressful, involve your child in the process. Start by teaching her how to fold the laundry and when to bring her dirty clothes to the laundry area. When she’s a little older, you can also teach her how much detergent to use based on the size of your load, how to get stains out of clothes, and so on.
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