How an Early Introduction to 4 Skills and Routines Can Improve Your Child’s Future
The last two years have proved that no one knows what the future holds.
But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t start teaching your children the skills they need to find success later in life.
That’s because most valuable skills stand the test of time — skills like financial literacy, health management, and communication will still be important in 20 years.
Likewise, children and adults alike benefit from routines and work best when some form of daily schedule is in place to give them structure throughout the day.
So, here’s a quick guide to help you introduce 4 skills and routines to your child at an early age.
Financial Literacy
Almost every young adult experiences the shock of earning their own money, only to find they’re now responsible for bills and taxes. Figuring out how to deal with this newfound responsibility is often termed “adulting”, but you don’t need to wait till your child turns 18 to teach them financial literacy.
Depending on your income and the age of your child, you may be able to open savings accounts in your child’s name. Opening a savings account when your child is very young is a great way to start saving for major expenses like college or a car in the future, but it can also be a tool to teach them about responsible savings techniques. So, sit down with your child whenever you plan on depositing money into their account, and show them how you’re breaking down your paycheck to make room for a savings deposit.
By showing your child that you don’t spend 100% of your paycheck, you can instill a responsible financial mindset in them for life. You can even help them practice savings by giving them pocket money and encouraging them to save a chunk of it for a larger future purchase.
Of course, financial literacy is about more than just saving. In reality, your child is coming into a world where buying and selling stocks is more commonplace and easier than ever before. If you have an older child or teen, you can teach them how to invest in stocks. Start by teaching them about the S&P 500 index funds and encourage them to see investments as long-term commitments rather than quick wins that net easy cash.
Driving and Road Safety
No one knows what the future of driving will look like. However, you can feel fairly sure that the children of today will still have to practice good road safety and will likely have to get behind the wheel and drive a car at some point in their lives.
You can introduce young children to road safety by teaching them to respect the road and by modeling safe, calm driving at all times. You can also teach them basic car maintenance at any age by showing them how you check your car for things like tire pressure and oil levels.
When you do start talking about driving and road safety, bear in mind that your child may not be interested in the idea of driving just yet. Try to have age-appropriate conversations about driving that focus on the idea of responsibility and use your experience to coach newly permitted young drivers. For example, if your teen has just received their permit, give them tips on things they may not have learned in driver-ed like looking through the window of the car in front when in traffic to see what’s occurring ahead and double checking blind spots before changing lanes.
Diet and Cooking
The stereotype of unhealthy, ramen-eating college students exists for a reason: most people don’t have the know-how and skills necessary to make nutritious, tasty meals until their late 20s. But, you can help your child get ahead of the cooking curve by involving them in the preparation process and by teaching them the value of a balanced, varied diet.
Start by teaching your child about the value of a healthy diet. A balanced diet, filled with whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and varied protein sources can help improve your child’s mood, and foods like fatty fish and blueberries can aid cognitive function. That’s because blueberries contain anthocyanins and antioxidants, which reduce inflammation and may reduce the severity of neurodegenerative diseases.
When talking about diet and cooking with your child, ensure that you avoid fat-phobic comments; otherwise, you risk instilling unhelpful beliefs and body insecurity. Of course, this doesn’t mean you have to avoid the topic of unwanted weight gain altogether; you just have to be conscious of body types and other contributing factors to excess weight like leptin resistance and gut issues.
Exercise and Fitness
A recent report published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services found that 80% of Americans fail to exercise enough for optimal health. This is a major societal issue and is causing a health crisis across the nation — over 117 million Americans now live with a chronic illness, and a lack of physical exercise causes around 10% of all premature mortality.
You can give your child a great start in life by introducing them to the idea of exercise at a young age and by acting as a role model for them to follow. The amount of exercise your child should complete throughout the day is largely dependent upon their age. If your child is 3-5 years old, they should be active throughout the day to promote growth and proper development. As your child gets older, they might be less active but should still complete at least one hour of vigorous physical activity every day.
At first, you might experience some pushback when you try to get your child off the couch and make them exercise. This is understandable, as exercising after a long break is daunting. The best approach is to treat your child with respect and consider involving them in your workouts. These workouts should incorporate a range of aerobic activity and muscle-strengthening exercises like jumping rope or playing sports that require rapid changes of direction.
Conclusion
No one can be sure of what the future will look like. But you can be sure that your children will need basic skills like financial literacy and will need to develop healthy habits like routinely exercising. You can help your child feel enthusiastic about their future by involving them in your decision-making and having age-appropriate conversations about things like investing plans and driving skills.
