What skills do you prioritise/consider of highest importance for your DC?

[wordfactory]

Following a fascinating thread about learning Mandarin, there seems a divergence among parents as to what skills are imperative for our DC to master and which will have the maximum impact upon their ability to thrive.

So what do you consider the most important? And why? And how do you ensure they receive priority treatment?

Conversely, what things make you think meh?

Critical thinking
Knowledge of as much as possible, really

oh yes encourage a love of learning for learnings sake, just because its interesting :)

We teach our DC to plan ahead and to learn about making money work for you. School just teaches people how to work for others.

Courage and compassion .

empire that's interesting.

DH and I teach our DC how to find, make and keep money. We always have. We also include them in our family's financial planning.

Too many poeple are squeamish about discussing cash I think.

Empathy. Should be the most valued ability for everyone imo.

Reading - you can learn practically anything once you can read, being unable to read closes so many doors in life. To me it's entertainment and leisure as well as a life skill.

Compassion, critical thinking and confidence would all come close behind.

I wish school was about learning through play for much longer than it actually is, more running about outdoors and having fun.

wordfactory, what sort of things do you teach them WRT money and what ages are they? i would like my dcs to have a good grasp of how money works but i dont know where to start or what is age appropriate. my dcs are 6 and 2 (almost 3)

imagination
observation
inquisitiveness
politeness

everything else can be built on them

That's almost what i had to do today PushedToTheEdge, otherwise DD might have given up on the cross coutry time trial!

wordfactory Dh and i get out there and show our DCs that life's not just about test results. I'd rather they enjoyed their school lives.

Depends on the child and their existing strengths/weaknesses

For my DS, we prioritise maths at home with him.

I wish children were taught more programming at primary age, that, imo, wouldbe a very useful skill.

We will be teaching DS ourselves.

Programming is just as useful as a second language, so many job opportunities involve being able to programme.

I see life skills as very important too, and focus on teaching these to DS. I couldn't give too hoots if he doesn't appreciate poetry, what a waste of time that is, but he should be able to cook, manage money, build a computer, wire a house and fix a leaking tap.

Good manners, confidence, honesty and a strong sense of self.

"Programming is just as useful as a second language, so many job opportunities involve being able to programme"

We are currently teaching DCs to use Microsoft products like Word and Publisher. Then there are image manipulation software like Fireworks. All very useful skills to have at secondary school

IMO your DC's time would be better spent learning these skills as opposed to learning skills that will look good on a CV in 10 years time. Programming is one of those skills employers expect you to gain as an adult, usually at university

booeyhoo my DC are almost 13, but for as long as I can remember we have shared financial information with them: how much we earn, how much our house is worth, how much things cost (food, housing, school fees, cars).

As they got older we also included them in other financial activities: investments (showing them when they increased and when they tanked), some property we rent out etc
We taught them about depreciation on certain things and how you factor that in.

We also answered all questions, without being squeamish. When they asked how much things cost, were worth, how much others earned, we always answered to the best of our abilities.

We also give them pocket money which they can spend as they see fit.

DS is incredibly interested in all things economic and from a young age knew how to calculate tax, interest etc

Confidence, independence, self-esteem and good social skills.

Everything else can follow

Most important skills - being a decent person/get on with people; being able to THINK; being willing to learn; be independent and not follow the crowd; life skills like budgeting

All of which are a long way from Mandarin which leaves me totally 'meh'

Academically - awareness of importance of culture, science, literature, sport even if they don't directly indulge in it themselves. God, that all sounds wishywashy

thank you wordfactory.

do your dcs have to earn their pocket money? if so what things do they do to earn it? i struggle with whether or not to get ds1 to earn his because there is a limit to what he can do to earn it and it is things like helpin in teh house which i sort of think he should be doing anyway and not for reward. but then should i teach him that he will just 'get' money given to him for nothing?

They don't earn it per se. But I would have no problems docking it if they were being horrible!

overmydeadbody, I feel exactly the opposite :o You can hire someone to fix a tap, you can't pay someone to feel the elation of the 'soul' and mind that poetry can bring! I'd far rather DS learnt to appreciate poetry.

I think the most important things (perhaps not skills exactly) in life are courage and generosity. Without them it is an insipid and vain life. Unfortunately you can only really teach dc this kind of thing by example. They watch how you live and how you interact with people and tackle things and they read between the lines, much more than they listen to what you say.

It is also essential to keep a firm grip on your sense of humour, even if no-one else around you seems to have one, otherwise it is all just too grim.

and question everything. Never do something because that is how it is done.

Aswell as being articulate, honest, hardworking and loyal they must be able to swim!

A woman of my own heart IwishIwasmoreganised

Curiosity

Critical Thinking

How to be organised (time management, self discipline,learning how to prioritise, project planning and follow-through, ordering their possessions). I firmly believe that if they are organised, then things like budgeting will be second nature.

Learning how to handle failure in a positive way

Perseverance

Politeness

Good hygiene

Mainly well you can only pay someone to fix the tap if you actually earn money , and last time I checked, aspiring 'poets' didn't earn much at all.

PushedtotheEdge I would hope any secondary age pupil would already know how to use Microsoft software! My 9 yr old DS can already use Word, Excel, Powerpoint, uses Lynux on his own computer, can use various open source programmes that run on Lynux including GIMP (like photoshop).

Programming should be taught in schools. Kids use computers all the time, it would be easy to teach them.

And I'm only really focussing on what they should learn academically.

Other life skills like curiosity, kindness, open mindedness etc I hope to instil in my children through their life experiences, discussions, example, and encouragment, as well as surrounding them with good role models.