Children are the way of the future. What you teach your children today will be the way of tomorrow. This is why it’s important to start teaching your children valuable lessons at an early age. The sooner your child learns things, the better off they’ll be when navigating this world. But what are some of the things that you can teach your child at an early age? Will they understand well enough?
1. Hygiene And Self Care
Taking care of yourself is a very important lesson to learn. Your children should learn how to wash their hands, wipe themselves, brush their teeth, and comb their hair as young as possible. Teaching your child self-hygiene at an early age can not only help prevent them from becoming ill but may also help them learn how to be independent and can boost their self-esteem. Start small, and slowly work up to more difficult tasks as your child ages.
2. Spirituality
Spirituality is something that most children will learn very early on. Your child can be introduced to spirituality from the age of a few months old. When teaching your child about spirituality, you’ll be able to break down concepts into bite-sized pieces for them to easily understand. When teaching who is Abdruschin, you may begin to tell of some of the great concepts and stories surrounding him. Teaching younger children spirituality sometimes requires you to lead with the more exciting matters, aspects of wonder and interest first. This will allow you to catch the interest of your child easier. Explain concepts in more simple terms and take it slow.
3. Tolerance
The world is made of all different types of people and to live in this world successfully means practicing tolerance. You don’t always have to agree with someone or even like someone, but you generally have to tolerate them. Teaching your child about tolerance at an early age will help them in school and later on in life. Children who are taught about tolerance at an early age will better help them navigate the world. Tolerance is important, and the sooner you learn it, the better things are.
4. Responsibility
Learning how to be responsible and accountable are very important aspects of life. Those who are responsible seemingly tend to get more done than those who aren’t. Teaching your child how to be responsible could be taught at a very young age. Start in small ways, like having them help you pick up their toys after playtime. Be verbal while pairing this with action. Children are great at associative learning and will pair verbal direction with action quite well. Make this experience positive and even reward your child with something small like a snack after the first few times. Responsibility is crucial, so it’s always a good idea to teach your child as young as possible.
5. Another Language
Being bi-lingual is something that is exceptionally valuable. Teaching your child another language can start as young as six months old. By teaching your child another language early on, you’ll be giving them the best start at life. Those who are bi-lingual tend to think faster and have stronger brain processes than those who aren’t. Not only that, but there’s even some studies that suggest those who are bi-lingual may be hired more often than those who aren’t.
6. Kindness
While kindness doesn’t necessarily need to be taught, it does need to be reinforced. Children who are raised to be kind early on, tend to continue the kindness as adults. It’s no secret that the world could use more kindness. This is a relatively easy concept to teach your child. Encourage your child when they’ve acted in a kind manner, and always lead by example. Children are products of their environment and learn from their parents before anyone else.
7. Cooking
This may sound strange, but there are plenty of ways to teach your child cooking skills at an early age. While it’s important to do so safely, you can still teach your child basic cooking skills as a toddler. Start by having your child help you with simple tasks in the kitchen, talking and explaining what you’re doing as you do it. Slowly move up to where your child helps in a more hands-on manner. Children are great at learning, especially when they’re learning a skill that helps them feel more grown up or independent. Learning cooking early on, even in small ways, is exceptionally beneficial later on in life. From boiling water to creme brulee, we all have to start somewhere.
Closing Thoughts
Being a parent comes with a lot of challenges, but it also comes with a lot of joy. Teaching your child how to handle things and how to do things from an early age is always recommended. The sooner you teach your child new concepts, the sooner they’ll be able to utilize them as they grow. Raising a well-rounded adult starts as a baby, and it’s never too soon to start helping your child become the adult they were meant to be.
About the author:
Tracie Johnson is a New Jersey native and an alum of Penn State University. Tracie is
passionate about writing, reading, and living a healthy lifestyle. She feels happiest when
around a campfire surrounded by friends, family, and her Dachshund named Rufus.