Every Tuesday is Finance & Family Day at Zen Habits.
Everyone knows that our school system, in general, is not giving our kids the basic reading, writing, ‘rithmatic and science skills needed to be competitive in the high-tech workforce of the upcoming generation (at least, that’s the general assumption, and we won’t argue it here).
But there’s [...]
Every Tuesday is Finance & Family Day at Zen Habits.
Everyone knows that our school system, in general, is not giving our kids the basic reading, writing, ‘rithmatic and science skills needed to be competitive in the high-tech workforce of the upcoming generation (at least, that’s the general assumption, and we won’t argue it here).
But there’s much more to life than those basic subjects, and unless you have an exceptional teacher who is willing to break out of the mold, your child isn’t learning the crucial things he or she needs to learn in life.
Think about your own experience for a moment. When you got out of high school, did you know everything you needed in order to survive in life, let alone succeed? If you were lucky, you knew how to read and had some basic history and math skills, and if you were even luckier, you had good study habits that would serve you well in college.
But were you prepared for life? Most likely not, unless you had parents who did you that favor. In fact, many of us screwed up our early adult lives because we didn’t know those skills — and we’re paying the consequences now.
That’s a part of life, you might say, learning these lessons. But it’s also possible to prepare your child a bit before they go out on their own, and if we can’t get the schools to teach these skills, then let’s do it ourselves.
What follows is a basic curriculum in life that a child should know before reaching adulthood. There will probably be other skills you can add to this list, but at least it’s a starting point.
A note on how to teach these things: These subjects should not be taught by lectures or textbooks. They can only be taught by setting examples, by conversation, by showing, and by allowing the child (or teenager) to do these things on their own (with supervision at first). Once you’ve talked about the skill, showed your child how to do it, and let them do it under supervision a few times, give your child the trust to do it on his own, and to learn from his own mistakes. Check back every now and then to talk about what he’s learned.
Financial
- Saving. Spend less than you earn. It’s such a simple maxim, and yet very few young adults understand it or know how to follow it. Teach your child from a young age to put part of money he receives or earns in the bank. Teach him how to set a savings goal, and save for it, and then purchase whatever it is he was saving for.
- Budgeting. Many of us dread this task as adults, and suffer because of it, because we lack the understanding and skills necessary to make budgeting a breeze. Teach them simple budgeting skills, and what’s involved, and they won’t have problems as an adult. You could wait until teenage years to do something like this — but it’s a good thing because this shows them why basic math is necessary.
- Paying bills. Give them bills to pay and have them pay it on time, online or in the real world. Learn how to write a check, paper and online, and how to make sure that you’re never late with bills again — either pay them immediately or automatically.
- Investing. What is investing and why is it necessary? How do you do it and what are different ways of doing it? How do you research an investment? How does it compound over time? This is a good conversation to have with your teen.
- Frugality. This is something to teach them from an early age. How to shop around to get a good deal, to compare between products of different prices and quality, to make things last and not waste, to cook at home instead of eating out too much, to control impulse buying. When we go out and do a shopping spree, including before Christmas, we are teaching them just the opposite.
- Credit. This is a major problem for many adults. Teach them the responsible use for credit, and how to avoid it when it’s not necessary, and how to avoid getting into too much debt, and how to use a credit card responsibly.
- Retirement. Is it better to work hard and retire or to take mini-retirements throughout life? That’s a personal question, but your child should be aware of the options and the pros and cons of each, and how to do each. Why it’s important to start investing in retirement when you’re young, and how much of a difference that can make through compound interest. How to do it automatically.
- Charity. Why this is an important use of your money, and how to make it a regular habit. This should be not only a financial issue, but a social one. Show them how to volunteer their time and effort as well.
Thinking
- Critical thinking. One of the most important skills not taught in school. These days, we are taught to be robots, to listen to the teacher and not to question, to accept what we are told and not to think, to be good employees and to shut up. If you’re an employer, you might want your employees to be like this, and if you’re a politician, you might want your citizens to be like this. But is that how you want your child to be? An unquestioning, naive, ignorant citizen/employee/student? If so, carry on. If not, just start introducing the habit of questioning why? And the skill of find out the answer. And how to question authority — there is no one right answer. Conversation is a good way to accomplish this skill.
- Reading. Sure, we’re taught to read. But schools most often make this boring. Show your child the wonderful imaginative worlds there are out there. And show them how to find out about stuff in the world through the Internet, and how to evaluate what they read for credibility, logic, factualness.
Success
- Positive thinking. While critical thinking is an important skill, it’s also important to have a positive outlook on life. Sure, things may be screwed up, but they can be changed for the better. Find solutions instead of complaints. And most of all, learn to believe in yourself, and to block out negative self-thinking.
- Motivation. Learn that discipline isn’t the key to achieving a goal, but motivation. How to motivate yourself, different strategies, and how great it feels to achieve a goal. Start them with small, easily achievable goals, and let them develop this skill.
- Procrastination. It’s a problem we all deal with as adults (and even as kids). Now, I believe that there should be a time for goofing off, being lazy, and having fun. But when there’s something to do that we really need to do, how do we get ourselves to do it? Learn the reasons behind procrastination, and how to address them. How to beat procrastination.
- Passion. One of the most important ways to be successful is to find something you’re passionate about, and do that for a living. Your child won’t know the answer at a young age, but you should show her how to find her passion and how to pursue it, and why that’s important.
Social
- Anti-competition. As kids, we’re taught how to be competitive. In the adult world, that’s how we behave. And that results in back-stabbing, undercutting, feelings of resentment, and other life-affirming things like that. Instead, teach your child how there is room for many people to be successful, and how you’re more likely to be successful if you help others to be successful, and how they’ll help you in return. Learn that making friends and allies is better than making enemies, and how to do that. Learn cooperation and teamwork before competition.
- Compassion. Not taught in the schools at all. In fact, instead of teaching children how to empathize with others and try to ease their suffering, our schools often teach children to increase the suffering of others. Learn to put yourself in the shoes of others, to try to understand them, and to help them end their suffering.
- Love. Compassion’s twin brother, love differs only in that instead of wanting to ease the suffering of others, you want their happiness. Both are crucial.
- Listening. Are our children taught how to listen in school? Or how to talk at someone. Perhaps that’s why many adults don’t have this critical skill. Learn how to truly listen to someone, to understand what they’re saying, to empathize.
- Conversation. Goes hand-in-hand with listening, but the art of conversation is something that isn’t taught in school. In fact, kids are taught that conversation is bad in most cases. But in most cases, a conversation is what is needed, not a lecture. This is an extremely important social skill that should start in the home. Learn to converse with your child instead of talk at him.
Practical
- Auto. Why cars are needed (no, not to look cool), how to buy a practical car, how to take care of it. How the engine works, what might break down, and how it’s fixed. Should be taught to both boys and girls (that should be obvious, but I had to say it).
- Household. How to fix things around the house and keep things maintained. Plumbing, electricity, heating and cooling, painting, roofing, lawn, all that good stuff. The tools and skills necessary to do just the basic maintenance and repairs. And how to know when to call a professional.
- Cleaning. Too many adults grow up without knowing how to do laundry, to clean a house properly, to keep the house clean and uncluttered, to have a weekly and monthly cleaning routine. Teach your child all these things instead of just telling her what to do.
- Organization. How to keep paperwork organized, how to keep things in their place, to to keep a to-do list, how to set routines, how to focus on the important tasks.
Happiness
- Be present. For some reason, this extremely important skill is never taught to us when we’re kids. In truth, the younger we are, the more natural this skill is. As we get older, we start thinking about the future and the past, and the present seems to slip away from us. Some skills for living in the present would go a long way.
- Enjoy life. Kids don’t have much of a problem with this, but some awareness of its importance and how to do it, even as an adult, would be helpful. Set a good example of this, and your kids will follow.
- Find purpose. Whether this is a higher religious purpose, or the purpose of making your family happy, or the purpose of finding your calling, having a purpose in life is extremely important. Teach your children the importance of this and show how to do it yourself.
- Develop intimate relationships. The best way to teach this is to develop an intimate relationship with your child, and model it with your spouse or other significant other (within appropriateness). Teach them the skills for developing these types of relationships, talk about the importance of it, and how to get through the bumpy parts as well. There are bad times in every relationship, but with the right skills of communication, empathy and compromise, they can get through them.
Do you have any skills to add to this list? Let us know in the comments.
Other family day articles:
- How to Become a Patient Parent
- How to be a Great Dad
- Organize Your Family with a Family Binder
- 50 Grocery Shopping Tips
- Best All-time Children’s Books
- How to Teach Your Kids Good Habits
- Get Your Kids Outdoors
- 100 Ways to Have Fun with Your Kids for Free or Cheap
- Family Day and Family Meetings
- Baby Makes Eight: Raising Six Kids, Part 1 (Finances)
- Baby Makes Eight: Raising Six Kids, Part 2 (organizing)
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每个人都熟悉我们的教育系统，一般而言，并没有教会我们小孩基本的阅读、写作、科学的技能，而这些都是他们在即将到来的高科技时代中竞争的必备技能（至少，这是摆在我们面前的现实，我们不在这里对它进行争论）。
但是，生活中需要的技能远比在学校中学习的基本学科多，除非你遇到一个愿意打破常规的老师，否则你的孩子将无法学到他应该在生活中掌握的至关重要的技能。
思考一下你自己的经验。当你高中毕业后，你知道你要在生活中生存下来所需要的所有东西吗？如果你幸运的话，你知道怎么阅读，掌握了一些基本的历史知识和数学技能，如果你更幸运的话，你掌握了一个好的学习习惯，那会让你在大学中更容易适应。
但是你为生活准备好了吗？大多数好像还没有吧，除非你有一个非常关切你的父母（教会你那些技能）。实际上，我们中的很多人迷茫地度过了成年的早起阶段（20岁－30岁），就是因为我们没有掌握那些技能。我们正在为此付出代价。
那个阶段（指从小学到高中）是生活中必经的阶段，你可能会说，在毕业之后再学习那些课程（指必备的技能）。但是我们也能让小孩在独立之前掌握其中的一些技能，如果学校不能教会他们这些的话，那就让我们自己动手吧。
接下来所要谈的就是孩子在成人之前需要学习的课程（技能）。或许你也可以添加其他的技能在这张列表
中，但是至少这张列表是一开始时应该学习的要点。
需要注意的是要如何教会他们这些东西：这些课程不能通过说教或者课本来教授，它们只能通过实例、交谈、演示和允许孩子自己去做这些事情（刚开始要给 予一定的监督指导），从而教会他们。一旦你告诉了他们某个技能，就要演示给他们如何去做，然后让他们在监督之下自己做几次，给孩子独立做这些事情的自信， 让他从错误中学习经验。不时的通过交谈检验他们所学到的技能。（译者：我认为孩子是父母的镜子，要想让孩子掌握这些技能，父母一定要以身作则，才能起到正 确的指导作用。）
理财
- 存钱。花的钱不要比赚的多，这是多么简单的道理，很多年轻人都懂得这个道理，知道该怎么遵守它。从小就教会你的小孩把他收到的或者赚到的零用钱存在银行里。教导他如何设定一个节省计划，然后让他学会节省，最后用这些钱给他购买任何他想要买的东西。
- 预算。我们（指成年人）当中的很多人害怕这个工作，因为它而遭受许多麻烦，这是因为我们缺乏做细致的预算的理解和技能。教会孩子 简单的预算技能，这样一来，他们在长大时做预算的话就没问题了。你可以等到他们到了十几岁的时候在教他们——这也是个好事，因为这会告诉他们为什么学习数 学是必要的。
- 付款。给他们帐单让他们自己付款，并且教育他们付款要准时，在网上或者实地支付。教会他们如何写支票，证件以及如何在网上支付，以及如何确定支付不会迟到——不论是立即支付还是自动支付。
- 投资。什么是投资？为什么投资是必要的？你是怎样投资的？有哪些不同投资的方式？你是怎样研究一项投资的？投资是怎样随着时间变化的？这是一个与你的孩子进行谈话的好话题。（译者：应该从小就培养孩子投资的意识，人生就是一项投资）
- 节俭。这是应该从小就教会他们的。在购物时节省，比较不同价格和质量的产品；使用耐用的物品，不要浪费；在家里吃饭，不要在外边花太多的钱吃饭；控制购物的欲望。当我们外出大量购物的时候，包括圣诞节前，我们也要教导他们节俭。
- 信用。这是大多数成人所面临的一个主要问题。教育他们对信用负责，如何避免欠过多的债务，如何安全的使用信用卡。
- 退休。努力工作然后退休，还是终生工作（只有很短的退休时间）呢？这是个个人问题，但是你的孩子应该知道如何在前者与后者之间做出 选择，并且知道应该各要怎么去做，为何要在年轻的时候考虑退休的事情，这两个选择有什么不同，以及如何自动去做。（这一段翻译的不大清楚，我也没有完全弄 明白后几句是什么意思）
- 慈善事业。告诉他们为什么这是钱的一项很重要的用途，以及如何将它培养成一种习惯。这不但是一个财务问题，更是一个社会问题。也要引导他们如何无偿奉献自己的时间和努力。
思考
- 批判性思维。这是一项在学校中所没有教的重要技能。目前，我们被教导成为机器人，听从老师的话，不要问为什么，接受老师告诉我们的 东西，不用去思考，做老实的雇员，闭上嘴。如果你是一个老板，你可能会希望你的员工像上边说的那样，如果你是一个政客，你可能会希望你的市民像上边说的那 样。但是你想要你的孩子也成为那个样子么？一个没有疑问、无知的市民/雇员/学生？如果是那样的话，请继续看下一个技能，如果不是的话，就开始介绍给你的 孩子，为什么要养成质问的习惯，并培养他们如何寻找答案的技能。怎样权威的发问——没有一个正确的答案来回答这个问题。谈话是一个不错的方式来完成这个技 能的教导。
- 阅读。当然，我们在上学的时候学过月的。但是学校通常所教的令人厌烦。将学校之外精彩的世界展示给你的孩子，指导他们如何通过网络找到材料，并且告诉他们如何评价他们阅读材料的可信性、逻辑性以及真实性。
成功
- 乐观的思考。虽然严密的思考是一项非常重要的技能，对未来生活的前景充满乐观也同样重要。当然，事情有时候会很糟糕，但是它们会好起来的。积极地去寻找解决问题的方案而不是抱怨，最重要的是，要让他们学会相信自己的能力，不要抱有任何消极的念头。
- 动力。让他们知道，实现目标的关键不是纪律，而是动力。如何激发自己的动力，有什么不同的方法，并让他们感受到实现目标的快感。刚开始给他们设定小的、容易实现的目标，让他们逐渐发展这个技能。
- 不要拖延。拖延是大多数成年人（甚至是小孩）所面对的问题。现在，我认为应该可以抽出一段时间来无聊地打发，可以偷懒一会，娱乐一下。但是当我们必须做某些事情的时候，我们应该如何自己去做它呢？分析一下拖延背后的原因，如何克服拖延，这是你能够教会孩子的一项基本技能。
- 激情。成功的一个重要途径就是找到某个你充满激情的东西，并以它为生。你的孩子在年轻的时候不知道这个问题的答案，但是你应该指引他如何找到他的激情所在以及如何继续发展它，并且告诉他为什么这是如此重要。
社交
- 反对竞争主义。当我们还是小孩的时候，我们被灌输的是竞争主义。在成人的世界里，竞争也是我们行为表现。那会导致卑鄙的手段、怨恨 以及其他类似的东西。相反的，给你的孩子讲授许多成功的人的经历，让他们知道如果你帮助他人成功的话，你也会更容易成功，以及他人会如何以帮助你作为回 报。让他们明白结交朋友或同盟比树立敌人的好处更多，并告诉他们如何去结交朋友。让他们在竞争之前学会合作与团队精神。
- 同情。这在学校中是没有教过的。实际上，学校不但没有教会孩子如何同情他人，帮助他们减少痛苦，相反的学校经常教育孩子增加他人的 苦难（作者为什么会这样想呢？可能美国与国内的情况不同吧）。学会站在对方的角度看待问题，尝试着理解他们，并且帮助他们摆脱苦难，这是你应该教导孩子 的。
- 关爱。关爱是同情的同胞胎兄弟，不同的是，它不但希望为对方减少痛苦，同时希望对方快乐。这两者都是至关重要的，因此教会你的孩子拥有一颗关爱的心，他的生活也会充满快乐。
- 倾听。我们的孩子在学校中学会如何倾听了么？或者如何与他人交谈？或许这就是为什么许多成年人没有掌握这个至关重要的技能的原因。学习如何真正地倾听他人讲话，去理解他们所说的话，去领会其中的涵义。这对于交往非常重要，你的孩子应该学会。
- 交谈。与倾听有着密切的联系，但是交谈的艺术是在学校中所没有教的。事实上，小孩接受的教育是在大多数情况下交谈是不好的（比如说 上课谈话、与陌生人聊天），但是大多数情况，交谈是必须的，而不是演讲。这是一个非常重要的社交技能，它应该从小在家中就培养。学会与你的孩子交流，而不 要只让他听你讲话。
基本技能
- 开车。为什么需要汽车（不，不是为了摆酷），如何买一辆实用的汽车，如何保养汽车，发动机是如何工作的，汽车抛锚了该怎么处理，如何修理汽车。这些都是你应该教会孩子的基本技能。
- 家务。如何修理屋子里的器具以及如何保养它们。铅制品，电器，加热器和制冷器，油漆，草坪，一切的器具。基本的维护和修理的工具和技能，以及如何打电话请专业的人员帮忙。
- 清洁。太多的成年人不知道如何洗衣服，不知道如何打扫房屋，不知道如何保持屋子干净整洁，甚至不知道每周或者每月进行一次打扫。教会你的孩子所有这些事情，而不要只告诉他们要做什么。
- 组织。教会他们如何使每样东西各就其位，如何列一个活动安排表，如何解决日常事务，以及如何集中精力在重要的事务上面。
快乐
- 享受生活的乐趣。小孩在这一点上没有多大的问题，但是知道它的重要性以及如果做到这一点，即使对一个大人，也会非常有帮助的。为你的孩子树立一个好的榜样，你的孩子会跟你学的。
- 找到目标。无论是崇高的宗教信仰，还是使你的家庭快乐的愿望，抑或是找到工作的目标，生活里有一个目标是非常重要的。教育你的孩子目标的重要性，以及如何自己找到目标。
- 发展亲密的关系。教会你的孩子这个技巧最好的方法就是与你的孩子建立亲密的关系，以你与配偶或者其他人为模范。教会他们发展这些类型的关系的技巧，告诉他们这一点的重要性，以及如何克服遇到的难题。在与人交往中总会有摩擦，但是掌握了正确的沟通、折衷的技巧，他们就能轻易的解除误会。
你有其他的技巧要添加到这个列表中吗？不妨在评论中告诉大家。
PS：原文为27个技能，本文删去了比较难翻译过来的一点，嘿嘿，还请原谅。这篇文章是为广大的父母写的，目的是告诉你应该怎么样对孩子进行早期教 育，如果你想让你的孩子成才，那么文章中所提到的这些技能应该尽早教给孩子，这些都是他们在这个社会中立足的基本技能。做为一个刚刚成年的大学生，我深刻 的体会到以上技能的重要性，我正因为缺乏某些技能而烦恼。如果你希望你的孩子在将来能够有一个更好的发展，能够更好的成才的话，那么这些技能是必须教给他 们的。学校不做这个工作，就让家长们自己动手来做吧！
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