One of my goals as a parent has been to raise my children in such a way that they would become capable adults. Making sure they learned as many of the skills necessary to manage their everyday life well was one of my top priorities.
From the moment you first hold your child, he or she is already growing and developing. Unless something is wrong or there is a delay in development, that child will steadily move toward the future independence of adulthood. Parents are a child's first teacher and the primary source of training. When you think about all of the skills and knowledge needed to "adult," it can become overwhelming.
Most parents work as well as manage a household, and teaching life skills takes a lot of time and effort. Many skills start during the preschool years and are built upon as your child grows and develops. Newly acquired abilities also have to be practiced and repeated often to make sure they are retained. Perhaps you are like me and at some point wondered if you are doing enough.
Taking advantage of resources in your community can take some of the guesswork out of parenting. First, think about all the parents you know (family, friends, co-workers) and ask them questions about what they have done or even what services they have used. Utilizing the local library and educational programs and facilities are also helpful in providing you as the parent with skills needed and can also give your child opportunities to learn, too.
The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service is a resource available in every county in Arkansas. Extension has a mission of improving the lives of Arkansans through sharing research-based information in all areas of the family and consumer sciences, agriculture, and community development. Extension opportunities include parenting classes and so much more. Most programs are free or low-cost and available to everyone.
If you are not familiar with extension, one great resource is our 4-H youth educational program. The core elements of 4-H include youth leadership, youth-adult partnerships, life skills learning, and community service. 4-H programs are grounded in the belief that youth learn best by doing. An extra benefit of 4-H is the whole family can be involved together, making opportunities for great memories and adventures while gaining life skills. Learn more about 4-H.
Another extension resource available to parents and young adults is the free, Grown Up U: Facts for Success podcast. The podcast program focuses on the life skills needed for young adults to successfully navigate the decisions and pitfalls of "adulting" in the real world. Episodes on a variety of "adulting" topics are available. Parents can use them as conversation starters by listening to them as a family and more. Visit the Grown Up U website.
Ultimately, the best way to ensure that your child has the life skills needed to become a capable adult is to do things with your child. This will be messy, take up a lot of your time and possibly force you to step out of your comfort zone. But take it from me, it is worth it!
To learn more about extension programs in Garland County, contact Alison Crane at 501-623-6841 or email [email protected].