As adults we often forget some core skills our children need to know to navigate into the adult world. In this dynamic and global society we live in, we know they need good reading, math, reasoning and communication skills.

We focus our efforts on ensuring they receive the best education possible; completing high school and entering either post-secondary education, technical school and training, the military or being prepared to enter the workforce directly from high school.

Many parents in the Cortland county community also move to engage their children in the broader community, church, school and extra-curricular activities.

Individual, family and community asset development is an essential part of building a strong, well connected young person.  A person who knows their peers, family and community believe in them has a sense of security.  Knowing that resources are there for them in time of personal growth or in time of need is also beneficial.

Our children need to know some essential skills in order to not only survive but thrive.  A child learns more from their parent(s) than how to use a fork and knife.  Instilling these core skills can motivate our children to be more connected with our community and want to stay to make it home and a dynamic place to live.

Through interactive, family and one-on-one learning situations our children can learn such skills as planning and serving healthy well balanced meals-along with proper food storage of leftovers. Kids do love to cook and being a part of meal preparation serves to teach them these skills and provides a great bonding time for parent and child.  Using all household appliances, from knives to the microwave to doing laundry are all essential life skills. Sewing on a button, making a bed and packing a suitcase all may seem to be simple tasks but they are learned skills.

Few of us have household staffs to do our cooking, cleaning and laundry.  Teaching our children these skills will enable them to set up their own households as they leave the nest. Speaking of which, when your child leaves the nest, essential skills of knowing where the circuit breakers and water shut offs are, and how to use them are quite important skills. Most of us have never had to use a fire extinguisher.  Knowing how to use one in the event of a fire in the home is of critical importance.  

Nowadays our cars are almost like our second home.  Young people should know how to check the oil level and add oil if needed.  Jump starting a car and added air to a tire are two basic automobile skills all young people should know. 

Moving the skills building to the larger community parents can teach their children about making a budget, using an ATM machine and opening, using and balancing a checking account. Teaching a child to save is of great importance and just as important as the proper use of credit cards.  Too many young people get into debt even before they start working full time.  Credit cards are a way of life now, but their proper use, along with saving ‘for a rainy day’ and not always giving in to instant gratification, are also essential skills to master.

Our children represent the lessons we have passed on to them. It’s not through osmosis, but rather in many instances it is learning by doing. As parents it is our job to ensure our children have some basic core skills to get them through their adult life.