Beyond the Classroom: Unconventional Life Lessons
It’s essential that you allow your kids a formal education so they can read, write, and learn about the world. However, there are some lessons most kids won’t learn in school. To prepare them for adulthood and to be more well-rounded, you need to think beyond the classroom and consider some unconventional life lessons.
From the importance of understanding tax season to how to survive when stranded on the roadside, there’s a lot your kids need to know. Consider these lessons, games, and methods of helping your children prepare for the real world.
Fun Ways to Teach Kids About Money and Taxes
As your kids start to learn math in school, use this as an opportunity to supplement those lessons by teaching them about math in fun ways. Many enjoyable card and board games can teach your kids about money and keep them engaged. Younger kids may get a kick out of playing The Game of Life, which allows them to own pets, start a family, or opt to go to college while learning how to make and manage finances along the way. As they get older, try Monopoly, where they can hold paper money in their hands that they can use to buy houses and hotels. They’ll also learn a bit about paying rent, which will be an important lesson later in life.
Many card games can also teach young people a lot about money management, such as Exact Change, which is like Uno, where the first person out of cards wins, but it’s about money and change instead of shapes. Even playing solitaire can teach the players about strategy and demonstrate how one move can impact the rest of the game or their life.
While your children start to grasp the basics of money, income, investing, and expenses, you can also start to teach them about taxes and how impactful they can be. You can have fun while showing that taxes are a part of everything. When they’re old enough, show them an old paycheck to see how much you made and what is left over after taxes as a way to grasp the concept further.
Music Lessons Help Kids to Thrive
If your child is interested in playing a musical instrument and the school doesn’t offer a class, consider private lessons or teaching them yourself. In addition to playing beautiful music, learning an instrument is an unconventional way to teach various important skills and lessons. For example, playing the violin requires concentration, focus, and memorization. These are all necessary attributes that will help them play the songs correctly and mold their brains as they age and take on more complex tasks.
Just about any musical instrument will help kids develop their fine motor skills as they make the necessary movements to make sound. Once they start playing in a band, they’ll learn the value of teamwork.
Teach Outdoor and Survival Skills
You should also go beyond the classroom and the house by taking the kids into the wilderness to teach them some essential survival skills. Use this as an opportunity to take them away from the modern conveniences of tech and teach them how to fend for themselves if the time ever comes.
To really take them out of their element, bring them primitive camping. You’ll go to as isolated an area to better connect with nature and learn a few things in the process. While out there, teach them how to safely build a fire, pitch a tent, and educate them on basic first aid strategies. When they’re not learning, primitive camping provides the kids a space to run and explore while bonding with the family in a way they can’t always do at home.
Since, as a parent, you always want to provide a safe learning environment, prepare for the trip accordingly. Pack warm clothing and sleeping gear, inform emergency contacts back home of your plans and where you’ll be, and although you shouldn’t use it, consider bringing an emergency cell phone just in case.
Show Teens How to Be Independent
Although you may be sad about the idea of your kids one day leaving the house, teach them important lessons that they can take with them when they live on their own, like how to maintain a car and change a tire.
The ability to change a tire on the spot can be a lifesaver when an unexpected blowout occurs. Teach them that if they get a flat tire, they should pull off the road to a safe place. Then, show them how to use a jack to lift the car, take off the lug nuts, and put on the new or temporary tire. While going through the instructions, have your teen do the actions themselves so they gain a full understanding.
You can also teach them how to read and use a map and compass in case they ever need to find their way and modern technology, like GPS, is unavailable.
There are other ways that you can teach your kids to be more independent, even when they’re young. Although it may go against your better judgment, allow them to make mistakes so they can see what went wrong and learn how to adjust their behavior the next time. Also, don’t neglect the chance to assign your kids chores around the house. Certain chores, like taking out the trash, require them to think ahead and plan, which can come in handy when they take on more responsibilities down the road.
Conclusion
You can teach your kids many lessons to help them live a more fulfilling life now and in the future. Take every opportunity to teach them new things, and they’ll be more well-rounded as adults.
