Life skills are almost if not more important than book learning in a child when they are young. I don’t believe they need to start the rigors of school when they are 4 or even 5 years old. I always enjoyed easing them into their schooling and usually found out they were more than able to complete Kindergarten when they were 5. By not pushing them, we learned at their pace and in their own way.
Melanie is now in 5th grade and I’m enjoying the pace we have taken. She has Math and Science online with two great programs (click on the words to see what we use). History, we are reading books not only about our Constitution but also about the Presidents and their First Ladies. I read to her books of fiction while she draws and practices her penmanship. We just are together.
Of course she practices her violin and sings with her sisters. She has many chores to do and when that is done she loves to sew or cook and bake. Recently, my 9 year old, made us lunch. She had found a Russian dish (beef stroganoff) which went along well with the language she is learning on Duolingo (yes, Russian).
I believe she will look back on her childhood and be happy for the meandering days, the quiet times with Mom, the fun times in the pool. I want my 9 year old not to say, “I’m stressed” but to say, “I’m blessed.”
So what skills do our children NEED to learn as much as they need their math and reading, etc?
SKILLS TO LEARN BEFORE LEAVING HOME
*How to manage money
*How to cook
*How to be a self-starter
*How to communicate with all ages of people
*How to manage time
*How to stand up for their beliefs
*How to cope with failure
*How to find a job
*How to do their laundry
*How to be organized
*How to clean a home
*How to spend wisely
*How to drive safely
*How to read a map
*How to swim
The Bible puts a great finish on this by saying, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” (Colossians 3:23)
How many skills can your child complete? What more would you add to this list?