What Top 10 life skills should every adult have (or at least try to gain)?

Question

As a parent of 3 beautiful children, I want to make sure that I at least try to teach them everything they need to know to become independent, self-reliant, confident, happy adults. I have my own ideas regarding some of the essential life skills (e.g. washing dishes, cooking, literacy and numeracy, the ability to drive, how to respect other people, how to budget their money, etc, etc), but I'd really like to hear other people's suggestions.

** Please limit your list to 10 life skills only - otherwise, we'll run out of webspace! :)

Note: For those parents who have children (young or old) with physical, intellectual or other disabilities, I'd also be really interested to hear your Top 10 list.

Answer 1

1. money budgeting (without credit cards)

2. respect for themselves and for others, younger and older

3. basic housing keeping, cooking, laundry

4. the difference between WANTS and NEEDS (big one in todays society )

5. balancing a checkbook (can someone teach me)

6. Caring for others less fortunate and giving of resources/time (not to be self centered)

7.be hard working but to always save time for fun

8.how to drive SAFELY

9. how to care for the envionment and things in it (animals,  etc)

10, computers.. they can never learn too much.. to get even a min. wage job today requires use of computers.

8.

Answer 2

1: the ability to dress themselves

2: being able to prepare meal, no i dont mean ordering in.

3: general cleaning so thier house wont be a sty

4: money bugeting, not over spending shopping etc

5: respect and truthfulness

6: allow them growing space to have a great social life and let them choose a sport to play or something where they can socialise out of school

7: a good daily ruitine so they will be able to organise time

8: washing your own clothes

9: limit their amount of time on computer etc so they can do other creative stuff

10: dont spoil them or under spoil them

Answer 3

1.  Be able to keep your pants on and not sleep around.  Respect your body and insist that potential mates do the same.

2.  Be able to manage your finances, realize how to live within your means, not buy things you "want" but only things you actually NEED and can afford, and have some money in savings

3.  Be able to drive a car with a manual (stick-shift) transmission

4.  Know basic first aid (take a class in college, at the YMCA, or through the Red Cross)

5.  Know how to put gas in a car (how to use the hose, remember which side your gas fill is, etc... many people seem not to know), know how to change a flat tire, know how to check tire pressure and oil level, etc.  (Triple A can't be there for EVERYTHING)

6.  Have a moral compass of right and wrong, not a slipperly slope of gray areas.  Attend some form of church/synagogue etc regularly

7.  Be polite, use thank you, please, etc.  Realize that you won't always get your way, so deal with it maturely and don't throw a tantrum whenever something goes wrong.

8.  Learn proper spelling and grammar (way too many kids spell in their texting lanquage all the time... teach them that it's actually "later" not "l8r" or "because" not "Bcuz".  Professional communication is a huge plus in the workplace.

9.  Be able to keep their room, apartment, or house tidy.  No need to be obsessive about it, but don't have tires in the front yard, stacks of old newspapers on the beds, etc.

10. have some basic cooking skills.   No need to be a master chef, but be able to to more than just boil water and run the microwave.  Fry an egg, bake cookies, peel vegetables, etc.

Good luck !!

Answer 4

As a child, we that is me and four brothers and one sister were sent in search of the golden boomerang, the fuel that powers the atom, and a holy man that didn't manipulate the minds of others for profit.  Still looking.

Answer 5

1.  Perserverance--You can't "quit" something until you've proved that you can do it at least as well as most other people.  Ex.  sports, music, a job, etc.

2.  Forgiveness--If you can't forgive someone for their mistakes, don't expect anyone (or God) to forgive you.

3.  Service to others

4.  Kindness

5.  Responsibility

6.  Truthfulness

8.  Financial management

9.  Good personal hygiene--bathe regularly, brush your teeth, and if you're a boy make sure your pee goes in the toilet, not on the floor or bowl.

10.  In the schedule of life (or on trips) eat when there's food, use the bathroom when it available--whether you need to go then or not, and sleep when you can.  In other words be adaptable to life, don't expect it to accommodate you.