There are many ways in which you could start sharing valuable life skills that can equip them for life, here are five skills that you can pass down to your child.

Financial literacy

A financial skill learned is worth thousands of rands not being wasted in the process. Teaching your child financial literacy can be the most valuable lesson you can pass on to them that will help them well into adulthood. Helping your child learn how to differentiate between needs and wants, saving and investments and allowing them to make financial mistakes when they are young can establish a solid foundation when it comes to making their finances work for them instead of the other way around. 

Teaching them to stand up for themselves

There is only so much we can do to protect our loved ones from situations or people that take advantage of them. Creating a space where they can learn to say 'no' or to report situations that have placed them in danger can help establish a habit where they know they can stand up for themselves. Teaching them that they do not owe anyone an explanation when it comes to protecting their personal space and learning to report anyone who persists on violating this are the first steps.

Decision making skills

Our lives are filled with decisions we need to make - the ones we make and the ones we don't make, along with the consequences that come with it. Helping your child grasp the concept of making decisions and the impact it can have will lead to better decision-making skills in the future. You can start with basics such as allowing them to choose their own clothes, make a decision between ice-cream flavours, right down to delaying instant gratification to get a gadget or toy that they have been eyeing.

Learning to communicate effectively

Communication is at the core of our human existence. It can either make or break how we navigate our way through certain situations and how we choose to express ourselves. Boosting your child's writing and speaking skills by exposing them to educational content such as reading or simply interacting with children in their own age group through different scenarios can equip them with a life skill that can come in handy in expressing themselves.

Coping with emotions

A soft skill that can sometimes be overlooked is learning how to deal with our emotions which play a critical part in how we deal with the situations that we find ourselves in. It can also prepare your child to learn the skill of remaining calm in emergencies. Our feelings can be an indicator of our wellbeing. Developing the skills that can help us identify and navigate our way through negative and positive emotions can prevent situations from escalating into something that can cause more problems than solutions.