Kuttyma turns 10 this year.  Gosh! Where have the years gone?

If you have been following me on Twitter and Instagram, you will know that I have been devoting a lot of time on parenting books. I read about how to help girls become confident. Books on how to have relatively stress-free middle school experience and sex ed make it to my nightstand. I try to arm myself with knowledge from books in hopes of navigating the next few years with some semblance of order.

Does the reading help? I have no idea. That is post for few years from now.

But here is a quick list of life skills I will be working with my daughter the next couple of years. We have started on some but it is a work in progress.

Laundry

Doing your own laundry is a must have life skill. From loading the machine, sorting it and eventually ironing her clothes and putting them back in the wardrobe – the complete cycle. Add in hand wash skills for those special pieces in the wardrobe. 

Trash Management

Sorting trash and taking it out regularly is a great responsibility teaching activity.

Time Management Skills

An alarm clock is a great investment and helping kuttyma learn how to manage her time is a project we have been working on. From waking up on time for school, to completing her homework and  allocating time for books requires quite a bit of planning. This is a hard one as it ties down to priorities and figuring out what they are. We are working on it.

Gardening Basics

I am not talking master gardener level work. Just basic herbs and couple of flowering plants. How to differentiate between weeds and plants? How often should you water plants? Again lessons on responsibility.

Cleaning Up

I feel like I have been teaching her to put away her things since she was few months old. We are still working on it.

Cooking

Again a must have skill for adults and kids. Gourmet food is not necessity but learning to cook comfort food is a lifeskill in my opinion. The kitchen gets messier, the cooking time drags on but we work it frequently.

Reading a Map

The apps on the smartphone have spoiled us but learning to read a map is a must have life skill. We work on the city we live in, discuss major intersections and roads we travel on. We give ourselves permission to get lost every now and then.

Picking a Gift

No not a gift card. A thoughtful gift picked out brightens someone’s day. We wander the aisles of the stores talking about the recipients, watching our budgets till we find the right gift. Then starts the fun gift wrapping – another life skill.

First Aid

Basic knowledge on how to clean and treat a wound, a burn, a headache, an upset stomach are all must have life skills. Also, knowing when to seek medical help is essential.

Home Repairs

From hammering a nail to hang a picture, to fixing a clogged toilet – the list can be as long as you want it to be.

So what do you think of my list? What should I add to it? Do you have a similar list?