Top 4 Skills Children Need to Learn in Schools and Beyond

These days, millions of kids are spending their precious youth years in schools. The word precious is used in the strongest possible terms. They are precious because the mindset and skills developed during these early years can make or break their future.

The best thing a child can do during these years is to learn  skills and values for life.  In addition to subjects such as Mathematics, sciences and languages that are formally taught in schools, below are 4 of the best skills that they need to learn today to participate and compete in tomorrow’s world.

1. Learning Skills. Before going to school, children need to know WHY they need to learn and HOW. They need to learn how to learn. Before buying school uniforms and equipping their children with exercise books, pencils and bags parents need to sit down with their children and discuss WHY they are going to school after all in the language they understand. Children need to understand why their parents have freed them from household tasks and let them go to school. This way, they will be able to see a goal in front of their life. Once they come to understand their life goal, then with the help of their parents, they will need to further think critically HOW they can achieve their goal. And this is where education comes in. In addition to formal education, they also need to learn to be effective communicators and collaborators with fellow students, teachers, parents and the society at large.

2. Financial Skills. Whether you believe it or not, today’s children have become money-oriented. They want to be rich. Two weeks ago, I asked a 4^th grade student called Nathan (his name changed for privacy) “What do you want to be?” And he replied “I want to be a rich man like…” And then I asked “ok, but how do you become rich?” And then he was silent. Dreaming to be rich in itself is not bad. But, if it is only a dream and they don’t know how they can realize it, then it becomes risky. They may look for unethical ways of earning it like theft and involving in risky jobs. In addition to how to get money, why they need it should also be scrutinized carefully. How they plan to spend it once they get it is also very important. Are they saving it? Or spending it in drinks or playing games?

3. Digital skills. Today, children are growing up in an environment where digital technologies have changed the way children live, learn and play. Making the best use of digital technology is, therefore, critical for them to succeed in life. Like any other technology such as electricity, digital technology also comes with both advantages and disadvantages. Among the advantages, children can use digital technologies such as mobile phones, computers, tablets and the Internet to access quality educational resources. This can help them succeed in their studies. On the other hand, there are disadvantages including addiction to mobile app games, YouTube videos, and Facebook chats unless due care is taken in time. Uncontrolled access to digital technologies can seriously damage the social life of children to the point of being screen addicts. So, parents or caregivers need to shape and balance their children’s physical and digital lives.

4. Social Media Skills. Social media is one type of digital technology. In social media, users can create and share content. If used properly, social media can be used to keep in touch with loved ones and staying up-to-date with what is going on around. However, social media has also become a breeding ground for fake news and hate speech. Children can easily be victims of social media unless they are protected by parents and/or law. Examples of social media include Facebook, YouTube and twitter. Children below the digital age of consent should not be allowed to create accounts and use social media without their parents’ knowledge. Those above the digital age of consent should also be skilled enough to identify the source of information posted in social media and analyze it critically. They need to know that not all information found in social media is true.

These are only some of the important skills that I came up with. Feel free to add yours in the comments section below.