Important life skills that we need to teach our children

Always say please and thank you, respect your elders and don't talk to strangers -these are orders that were around years before any parenting book was written. But the old ones are obviously the best, as these three pieces of advice top a list of the most important life lessons we can teach our children. Remembering to say please and thank you topped the survey, with good table manners and always telling the truth also making the top five spots. Practical skills also made the final list, such as teaching your child to swim, how to tie a shoelace and brushing your teeth twice a day . Social skills like looking people in the eye when talking to them, having a firm handshake and learning to get along with people you don't like that much also featured, along with morals such as treating others with kindness and showing compassion.Here's the list of the 59 most important life skills –

·         Always say please and thank you

·         Respect your elders

·         Show good table manners

·         Always tell the truth

·         Don't talk to strangers

·         Brush your teeth properly twice a day

·         Treat others with kindness

·         Be confident

·         Be helpful

·         Admit when you're wrong

·         Work hard at school

·         Know when to say `No'

·         Save money and spend it wisely

·         Be independent

·         Learn how to swim

·         Appreciate wild life animals

·         Show compassion

·         Accept defeat with grace

·         Deal with rejection and disappointment

·         Comfort others

·         Have a loving relationship

·         Don't walk home alone at night

·         Get along with people you may not like that much

·         Always look on the bright side

·         Distinguish needs from wants

·         Support yourself financially

·         How to add, subtract, multiply and divide

·         Look someone in the eye when talking to them

·         How to tie a shoelace

·         Eat your greens

·         How to ride a bike

·         How to write a thank you letter

·         Tell the time on a clock with hands

·         How to make your bed

·         Always accept a challenge

·         How to deal with tragedy

·         How to resolve a dilemma

·         How to negotiate

·         To always clear your plate after dinner

·         Read before you go to bed because it's good for you

·         How to drive a car

·         How to throw a ball

·         Don't get involved in unnecessary dramas

·         Watch TV and pay video games in moderation

·         How to read a traditional map

·         How to dress for an occasion

·         How to bake a cake

·         How to give a firm handshake

·         How to tie a tie

·         How to write an essay

·         How to wrap a present

·         How to change a flat tyre

·         How to fly a kite

·         How to start a fire

·         How to pitch a tent

·         How to dive into a swimming pool

·         How to do a cartwheel

·         How to use chopsticks

·         How to open a champagne bottle

Source | Times of India | 22 August 2015