How To Teach Your Child Basic Home Management Life Skills

As parents, we all want our children to stay with us, and depend on us forever. Our kids are not allowed to grow up or move out. Hahaha. I'm just kidding. (Sort of). We all want our children to grow up to be self-sufficient adults. One way to ensure this is by teaching them basic home life skills from a young age.

This was one of the main reasons we decided to homeschool, as there are just some things that aren't taught at mainstream school, and it shows.

These skills not only help children learn how to manage their home, without having to depend on anyone else. but also give them important life skills that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. Here are some tips on how to teach your child basic home life skills and help them develop essential life skills for children:

Start With The Very Basics

You can start teaching your children basic home life skills from a very young age. It sounds crazy, but starting with encouraging your little one to pick up their own toys, put cushions back on the sofa or packing up their books. These skills are easy to learn especially when repeated on a regular basis.

As your child gets older you can move onto more advanced things, depending on age, such as making their bed, tidying your room or cleaning a counter. These will all help your child develop a sense of responsibility and independence.

Make It Fun!

Learning new skills can be challenging, but it doesn't have to be boring. Make it into a fun activity for your child by turning it into a game or competition. I don't know about your children, but mine are and always have been obsessed with using squirty cleaning bottles and a cloth. There's something so entertaining about it apparently! Haha.

When it comes to tidying up toys, we nearly always pop on a fun "tidy up song" on Youtube, or even a timer countdown! Make it a challenge, make it upbeat, instead of a chore. I mean, how many of us much prefer cleaning with a happy soundtrack than in silence?

You could even involve your children in meal planning or cooking, which not only teaches them essential life skills, but gives them an opportunity to spend quality time with you.

Let's Be Realistic For A Second

As a mum, who grew up with a mum, I honestly know exactly what you are thinking. Most of the time, you'd rather just do it yourself. You'd rather cook dinner by yourself, than with your little helpers, or tidy up 'your way' instead of impatiently waiting for your children to do it the 'wrong way'.

Trust me, I know, it can be so irritating, when you are trying to clean up quickly and efficiently, or trying to make dinner, and it just takes so much longer when your children are involved. I get it, I really do. But the importance of asking them to help, encouraging them to learn these new skills, is huge, and it is so so worth it, even if it means things take a little longer.

Picture this, you spend a few minutes every week, teaching your children to cook a meal with you, and then when they are a teenager - they can cook dinner for themselves, and for you. Ah May Zing. Hahaha.

It's Not Just Cooking And Cleaning

Basic home life skills are not just about cleaning and cooking, but they also include more 'life/home management' skills such as creating a budget, saving and managing money or paying bills.

One thing all struggling adults think, I know I do is 'WHY WEREN'T WE TAUGHT ANY OF THIS AT SCHOOL?!' - maybe if I was taught more life skills at school, I would be better at saving money, or I would understand my tax assessments far more than I do now.

Money skills can start very basic, from learning to count money, to using a piggy bank!

Encourage Responsibility

As your child becomes more proficient in basic home life skills, it's important to encourage responsibility. Let them take on more tasks around the house and be sure to praise and encourage them when they complete tasks successfully. This will help your child to develop a sense of responsibility and self-sufficiency.

Teaching your child basic home life skills is an excellent way to encourage important life skills and teach them how to manage their home. By starting with the basics, you can help your child develop valuable skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. So start teaching your child basic home life skills today, and watch as they grow into responsible, self-sufficient adults!

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