When it comes to teaching young children essential skills, some things are undoubtedly more trickier than others.
And it’s more than just struggling to get the kids to eat the meals they are adamantly refusing.
A poll of 2,000 parents revealed that tying shoelaces, whistling, and eating with cutlery, are among the toughest skills to pass on to their young children.
Image source: iStock
The study commissioned by PACEY, the Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years shed light on the experiences of parents who have spent much more time indoors with their children due to the pandemic.
According to the survey, parents may be pressured to take on the dual role of caring for their children as a parent and teaching them to develop important skills as a teacher.
The fourth most challenging skill to teach children is how to ride a bike, followed by telling the time and using buttons.
Rounding off the top 10 activities in the list, are how to teach children skills such as swimming, brushing their teeth, trying different foods as well as writing their names.
Noting that parents are facing so many pressures now, PACEY chief executive Liz Bayram seeks to reassure them that every child is unique and that they will develop skills at different times.
“Try not to compare children with their siblings or friends – some adults still struggle with things like whistling and riding a bike,” said Bayram.
Still, despite the challenges faced, parents remain steadfast in helping their children develop these skills, and 83% of parents said that they take pride in doing so.
Further down on the list holds some of the most essential life skills that parents find trickiest to teach—but are needed on a daily basis.
Image source: iStock
These include teaching children how to use the toilet or potty, getting dressed, putting toys away, and explaining the difference between left from right.
Mathematics is also an area in which parents struggle to teach their children. Teaching children how to count to 10 and 20 were highlighted as major challenges in the poll, in addition to teaching them how to count money.
And beyond these tangible skills, other crucial ones that parents struggle with include teaching children how to cross the road safely and sharing things with other children.
The list goes on, with many more challenging tasks that come with caring for children such as introducing them to household chores.
Teaching children how to set the table and wash the dishes, for example, is not as straightforward as parents think.
That said, little ones catch on things fast and the survey found that 78% of parents were amazed at the speed of how their children are developing and picking up new things.
And above all else, Bayram reminds: “Parents are going through such a lot at the moment and need to be kind to themselves – no one can be a full-time teacher, parent and worker all at once.”
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40 Toughest Life Skills to Teach Young Children
|
| 1. |
Tying shoelaces |
| 2. |
Whistling |
| 3. |
Eating with cutlery |
| 4. |
Riding a bike |
| 5. |
How to tell the time |
| 6. |
Buttoning a button |
| 7. |
How to swim |
| 8. |
Brushing their teeth |
| 9. |
Trying different foods |
| 10. |
Writing their name |
| 11. |
Putting toys away |
| 12. |
How to blow your nose |
| 13. |
Tying up hair |
| 14. |
Getting dressed |
| 15. |
Washing hair |
| 16. |
Making a bed |
| 17. |
Putting dirty clothes in a laundry basket |
| 18. |
Learning parents’/home phone number |
| 19. |
Colouring inside the lines |
| 20. |
Learning to tell your left from right |
| 21. |
Sharing things with other children |
| 22. |
How to count money |
| 23. |
Zipping a zip |
| 24. |
Using a potty/toilet |
| 25. |
How to cross the road safely |
| 26. |
Learning their home address |
| 27. |
Adding numbers |
| 28. |
Doing a forward roll |
| 29. |
Counting to 20 |
| 30. |
Swinging on a park swing |
| 31. |
Helping with cooking |
| 32. |
How to wash dishes |
| 33. |
How to load/unload the dishwasher |
| 34. |
Counting to 10 |
| 35. |
Hopping |
| 36. |
Knowing the alphabet |
| 37. |
Washing face |
| 38. |
How to set the table |
| 39. |
Washing hands |
| 40. |
Riding a scooter |
Now that you have seen the list, perhaps this presents a good time for you to observe how else you can utilise the time at home with your kids.
Ultimately, what you should know is that every activity with your children presents an opportunity to acquire a myriad of learning and developmental skills—and maybe for yourself too!
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