Once school is out, you have the whole summer to spend time with your children. This is the perfect opportunity to teach them some life skills. You have plenty of time and you can help prepare them for the future.
Gardening
The beauty of gardening is that it is quite versatile. You can grow flowers, vegetables, fruits, herbs, trees, etc. You can make your garden very specific to you and your family. While gardening can teach your children many wonderful skills, it also helps them develop helpful attributes. As your child learns to care for the plants you cultivate, they will learn responsibility. They will understand what it is to care for plants and what needs to be done to make sure they grow. It can also help them develop a sense of ownership. One of the most valuable skills a child can learn from gardening is patience. Plants take a long time to grow and produce fruit and flowers. Gardening can help your child learn how to wait for things that are worth it. Overall, according to Montessori Nature, gardening can be very beneficial to your child’s development.
Swimming
Learning how to swim is an important skill. It can help save a life, but it also provides a way to have fun and to exercise. It is worth it to teach your children to swim. For the best results, you need to make sure they are comfortable in the water. You can start when they are young and hold them in the water with you. Show them it’s safe and relaxing. As they get older, you can begin teaching them basic swimming skills. Of course, you should always remember safety. According to SwimJim, no matter how shallow the pool is, you should make young children wear a life jacket. Always monitor your children when in the water and assist them if they are struggling.
Cooking
Eventually, your children will grow up and head off on their own and they will need to know how to cook. Cooking may seem like a skill for older children to learn, but you can involve children of all ages. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, it’s helpful to expose your children to cooking throughout their development so they can learn through observation and slowly build on important skills. For example, your children can be taught the importance of sanitation such as washing their hands, using separate cutting boards for meat and vegetables, and washing fresh produce. As they get older, they can help out with prep work, storing food, and eventually helping out with actual recipes.
As parents, it’s important to prepare your children with skills they might use in the future. With all the time you have available in the summer, make an effort to teach your children some valuable skills. It will help them in the future and allow you to spend time together.
Read this next: How to Keep Your Child Confident During Potty-Training
