Preparing Your Kids For Modern Life: 7 Lessons To Help Get Them Ready For The Real World

Preparing Your Kids For Modern Life.

Today’s kids face unprecedented challenges in the real world.

With so much constant exposure to virtual worlds and digital experiences, it can be difficult to develop skills that will set them up for successful adult life.

As their parents, we play an active role in helping their kids succeed in their future.

And we do this by providing them with essential life skills they need to thrive outside school.  

Here are 7 helpful lessons that will help prepare your children for the real world.

First… in preparing your kids for modern life, teach them to have a strong work ethic.

As kids grow up, parents are their first and most important teachers. And one of the most important lessons to teach kids is a strong work ethic.

Once it’s ingrained in their minds, it will stay with them throughout the rest of their lives. The best way to cultivate a strong work ethic in your kids is to show them by example.

If you are constantly working hard and setting a good example for your kids by doing chores around the house and showing up for work daily, they will embrace those values.

A strong work ethic will support them in life, modern or not. Part of work means being able to understand and follow directions. It keeps children safe when they’re young.

And ensures they’re doing what’s expected of them as they move through life.

For more information, read this article on Following Directions: How To Help Kids Develop This Important Skill.

Second… in preparing your kids for modern life, encourage them to make time for their faith.

Faith is an integral part of life.

But it can get pushed to the side as kids grow up and become more and more involved in modern life. This is unfortunate.

Because faith is a powerful tool for helping kids cope with life’s challenges. If your child has been letting faith fall by the wayside, now is the time to re-engage in religion. 

While teens are often busy with school and social life, they can still make time for their faith.

While your kids are at home, encourage them to attend church services with their friends. (Or to participate in religious activities and services online.)

Always encourage your kids to make time for prayer and spiritual reflection.

A personal relationship with God is so essential to their lives!

Third… in preparing your kids for modern life, teach them effective communication skills.

Communication is an important life skill in any relationship.

Including the relationship between a parent and a child.

Unfortunately, many kids do not learn proper communication skills in school. The good news is that it’s never too late to help your kids learn how to communicate appropriately. If your kids are young, you can encourage them to talk to you about their feelings.

You can also make it clear that it is not OK for kids to yell and scream when they get mad. If your kids are older, it’s a good idea to coach them on communicating effectively with their peers.

Fourth… in preparing your kids for modern life, show them how to deal with negativity and stress.

We all want to raise responsible kids.

And to achieve that, there’s perhaps nothing more important for kids to learn than dealing with stress and negativity. This is because these kinds of influences constantly surround them.

Whether it’s social media, school stress, or pressures from extracurricular activities, kids have plenty of negative influences in their lives.

One of the best ways to help your kids deal with stress and negativity is to model positive stress management techniques.

Try to find ways to de-stress in your own life, and talk to your kids about your strategies. If your kids see you positively dealing with stress, they will likely follow in your footsteps.

Fifth… in preparing your kids for modern life, teach them to have confidence in their own abilities.

Building a strong sense of self-confidence is vital at any age.

But it’s especially important for teens. Teens are at a stage when they’re figuring out who they are and what they want to do with their lives. A strong sense of self-confidence will help them navigate the challenges of this transition. 

There are several ways you can help your kids build a strong sense of confidence in their abilities. For example, you can encourage them to take part in extracurricular activities and spend time working on their hobbies.

And you can also make sure to praise your kids for their successes and encourage them to forgive themselves for their failures.

Sixth… in preparing your kids for modern life, show them basic life skills.

In a perfect world, every parent would teach their kids how to change a tire, use a credit card, and cook a few different meals.

Unfortunately, there’s room for improvement regarding the life skills kids learn in school. And there are plenty of ways for parents to fill in the gaps. One of the simplest ways to help your kids learn basic life skills is to engage with them in real-life scenarios. 

If your kids are learning to drive, offer to change a tire or jump a car.

Or if they’re taking a trip with their friends and paying with a credit card, offer to help them navigate their transaction. And if your kids are cooking with their friends, offer to teach them how to make a few simple dishes.

Indeed, there are many ways to teach kids about life skills. For example, you can teach them how to make healthy meals, do their own laundry, or clean their rooms.

A simple way to further teach is to take your kids on field trips to help them learn new things. Plenty of museums, nature reserves, and other educational venues can help kids learn new skills.

Finally, in preparing your kids for modern life, teach them financial skills.

Financial literacy is an important skill, but it is often overlooked in public schools.

It’s essential that parents step in to fill the void.

The best way to equip your kids with financial literacy skills is to make a point to teach them about money from a young age.

Also, make a point to talk to your kids about your finances. This will not only help them learn about money, but it will also help them learn about how to navigate relationships.

Final Thoughts:

Raising children is challenging.

But it’s also a hugely rewarding experience.

It can be difficult, however, to prepare them for adulthood when modern society poses so many challenges.

That’s why, as parents, we need to step in and help their kids get ready for the real world. There are many ways to do this, but the most important thing is to start early and be consistent.

Were you encouraged by what you read?

Then, would you share this article with a friend, co-worker, or family member?

Or, maybe you can send it to a friend or family member?

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© Melanie Redd and Hope Ministry, 2022. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Further, excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Melanie Redd and Hope Ministry, LLC. Please give appropriate and specific directions to the original content.


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