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5 valuable lessons you can teach your children (that they won’t learn in school)


By Edaein OConnell
26th Mar 2020
5 valuable lessons you can teach your children (that they won’t learn in school)

Why not take this time to teach the kids some valuable lessons they won’t learn in school? Here are five that will stay with them throughout their lives


With schools closed for the foreseeable future, children are at home and parents are trying to keep their minds occupied. In many ways, this is the perfect time for children to learn vital tasks that they can use for the rest of their lives. Valuable and interactive exercises to carry them through. Here are five of the most important life lessons that you can teach your kids at home right now.

Cooking

 

 
 
 
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Cooking is a critical skill but it is one that many people today are lacking. Now is the time to get the kids helping with breakfast, lunch or dinner. Not only is it insightful but it’s fun for kids too and allows them to get really stuck in. If you are unsure of child-friendly recipes, Jamie Oliver has created an Instagram cooking series called #KeepCookingCarryOn where he creates simple dishes and live streams the process.

Recycling

Global warming is still an issue even though it may be now on the back page of priorities. We still need to do our bit to help the planet. Get the kids involved in the task by making a game or providing an awards system when it comes to daily recycling.

Growing their own food

Research carried out by Ohio State University and Cornell University in New York found children are five times more likely to eat salad when they have grown it themselves. So, there is no better time than now to start planting and getting those fingers green. Not only does it get them thinking about food in a beneficial way, it also allows them to spend more time outside over the coming weeks.

Documenting the past

Stories of the past are often remembered through spoken word, however, stories that are written or recorded are much more valuable. Documenting the past of our grandparents is a lesson we should all learn. It keeps their life and lessons alive long after they are gone. Get the kids to video chat their grandparents over the next few weeks and record the stories they tell. Not only is it important for the little ones, it’s also a great way to keep grandparents involved at a time where they may be feeling isolated.

Saving

Saving is a lesson which isn’t taught enough but is one that will benefit you at every age. Start a rewards system for every time the children complete a task. The reward can be as small as 20c but tell them to save it as the days pass by and place it into a piggy bank. Then once all of this is over, count the money with them and see what they can buy with it or decide whether they want to keep it.


Read more: 7 good news coronavirus stories to put a smile on your face Read more: ‘Take Care’: This beautiful poem by Michael D Higgins will make you feel better Read more: 5 classic films you and the kids should watch first on Disney+