Tell your kids just how important the health of the ocean is to our planet. Credit: Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nSo, how does caring about the environment translate into success? It helps your child look at the big picture, and understand that there are problems in this world that need to be solved. For all you know, they may grow up to invent something that can cut down on carbon emissions, like how Elon Musk created luxury electric cars with Tesla.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nTeach your child to think rationally before reacting. Credit: Pexels<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n20. Critical Thinking<\/h2>\n Are you teaching your children to stop and think about something before they react with emotions? Critical thinking can be defined as “the objective analysis and evaluation of an issue in order to form a judgment.” This is incredibly important because your child needs to stop and analyze a situation before making a rash judgment. When people can think rationally through their problems, they are more likely to work through complex issues.<\/p>\nCritical thinking is essential to success. Credit: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nUnfortunately, there are plenty of adults who do not think critically. They jump to conclusions or lash out based on emotions stemming from insecurity. These kinds of people rarely ever get very far in life because they are not thinking critically.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nTeach your kids to share and communicate well with others. Credit: Burst by Shopify<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n20. Communication Skills<\/h2>\n In the professional world, communication skills are perhaps one of the most important things people need to succeed. They need to know how to communicate well during a job interview, a presentation, and while working together with other people. Even if this advice sounds basic, you need to teach children some good old-fashioned manners.<\/p>\nCommunication is key to success. Credit: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nRemember to tell your kids to truly listen to what other people are saying. They should be fully present in a conversation rather than just waiting for their turn to speak. You may want to start out using puppets so that kids can see an example of a good conversation between two people, or find educational content that will help them.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nYou can teach your kids to love learning new things. Credit: Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n19. Instill a Passion For Learning<\/h2>\n A lot of people make the assumption that you are either born “smart” or “stupid.” There is a myth that some people have the natural inclination to learn while others don’t. While it’s true that some people are natural-born geniuses, this isn’t the whole story. The reality is that you can teach your children to love learning, which can even raise their IQ from an early age.<\/p>\nCredit: Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nChildren who read at an early age usually succeed later in life. Everyone – not just children – become passionate about learning something when they are in control. The boredom only comes from something we are forced to learn even though we really don’t want to. Read bedtime stories when they are very young so that they know reading is fun. And once they are old enough, pay attention to their interests and find a way to expand on that. For example, if they love My Little Pony, maybe try to expand by getting them a book on horses. When they get older, they will naturally gravitate towards diving deeper into the things that interest them.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nTry to give children more time to choose what they want to learn. Credit: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n18. If You’re a Teacher, Change Just 20% Of Classroom Time<\/h2>\n Esther Wojcicki spent her career working as a high school teacher, and her education methods were incredibly successful. Her idea is to spend at least 20% of classroom time allowing students to do their own self-guided learning. Normally, students have to sit and listen to a lecture every single day and are punished for speaking to each other in class. This gives them very few opportunities to collaborate. Wojcicki points out that everyone cares so much more about what they choose what they are learning. It also gives them the skill to be more creative and self-motivated once they enter the workforce.<\/span><\/p>\nGiving students a self-guided study is helpful in fostering collaboration. Credit: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nDuring this self-guided time, students are not sitting in desks. They are collaborating in chairs and on couches, working on their own projects in their journalism class for the school magazine. As the teacher, Wojcicki is standing on the sidelines, waiting for students to ask questions if needed.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nYou should teach your children how to cook. Credit: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n17. Prepare Kids For “Adulting”<\/h2>\n After public schools got rid of Home Economics class, a lot of Millennials grew up not knowing how to do basic “adulting” skills like properly cleaning a house, cooking, or balancing a checkbook. All of these skills are essential to living a successful adult life. Are you teaching your kids the basic necessities, or hoping they figure it out when they get older?<\/p>\nKids can learn how to clean from a young age. Credit: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nStart incorporating cooking lessons into your weekends, and have your kids help clean from an early age. Remember that it’s okay if they make a mess at first. They’re still learning and it’s part of the process.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nKids will probably be excited to learn with technology. Credit: Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n16. Give Them Time With Technology<\/h2>\n In today’s world, it is necessary for children to know how to use computers, smartphones, and other technology. Nearly every job that exists is going to require them to use the Internet. Even if you are insistent that you want your kids to have an “old-fashioned” childhood without too much screen time, it is still necessary to make sure they know how to use computers.<\/p>\nToday, it is necessary for kids to be skilled with tech. Credit: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAs a parent, you can give them productive technology time so that they are using these tools to learn rather than wasting time. Sure, you could let them play Angry Birds for hours at a time, but will that really teach them anything valuable for the future? There are classes in robotics, coding, and 3D printing, and many of them can be found for free at your local library or community center. This will teach children to be productive with tech, rather than wasting time on social media.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nNowadays, having knowledge of media is more important than ever. Credit: Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n15. Teach Them About The Importance of Media<\/h2>\n In today’s world, unfortunately, algorithms on social media are trained to show us what it thinks we want to hear. During a speech, Esther Wojcicki recommends that children should be taught about media. She teaches an incredibly successful journalism program for high school students. All of her students are aware of how to find a reputable source, and can, therefore, spot questionable news when they see it.<\/p>\nEven if your kids never enter the media industry, it can still be valuable to understand. Credit: Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nMaybe your local area doesn’t have a journalism program like Wojcicki’s. You can still teach them about the basics of how the media works so they understand to be more critical of what they see in the news. Also teaching them about movies and TV will help them to understand the inner-workings of an industry that they may be interested in later on in life.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nTry to give your kids exposure to diversity. Credit: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n14. Encourage Diversity<\/h2>\n Successful people like CEOs are expected to do business with people from all over the world. This requires you to be very cultured and accepting of other people’s differences. It’s all too easy to live in a bubble of your friends, family, neighbors, and local schools. Your children may grow up never meeting anyone who does not look like them unless you make an effort to expose them to diversity.<\/p>\nTeach your kids that we are all the same. Credit: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nYou can choose to travel to a foreign country or put your kids in a program where they will meet kids from all different backgrounds. The earlier a child meets other diverse people, the easier it will be for them to simply accept it as a normal part of their everyday life.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nTeenagers should be learning entrepreneurial skills. Credit: Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n13. Give Them Entrepreneurial Skills<\/h2>\n Whether your child wants to run a business or not, helping by giving them entrepreneurial skills will give them the tools to succeed in their career. If they have a really good grasp on how businesses work, they can become a great employee for someone else and eventually be a huge success.<\/p>\nA lemonade stand can be a great way to teach entrepreneurial skills. Credit: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nOne of the best ways to do this at an early age is to let them have a lemonade stand. Instead of providing them with all of the ingredients, teach them how much it costs to buy the lemons, sugar, and plastic cups. This will help them learn about expenses versus profit. If they are in a sports league, you could also volunteer to run the concession stand. Girl Scouts also learn entrepreneurial skills by selling cookies. There are many ways to accomplish this, so you just need to find the best fit for your kid.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nDon’t force your kids into playing sports if they actually hate it. Credit: Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n12. Don’t Force Your Own Dreams On Your Kids<\/h2>\n It may sound like a cliche, but a lot of parents truly do push their own dreams on their kids. You see this a lot in sports. Maybe the father believed he could have gone to the major leagues if he only practiced harder. So he pushes his own sons into joining multiple little league teams in hopes they’ll become a star. This kind of behavior happens over and over again, and it’s actually counterproductive.<\/p>\nFar too many parents try to push their dreams onto their own children. Credit: Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nYour child is an individual who has their own dreams. If they are living their life trying to please you and complete your dreams on your behalf, they’ll never have the opportunity to fulfill what they actually want to do. This becomes a vicious cycle. Let your kids pick what they actually love, and allow them to follow their passion. Maybe they won’t be the next major league star, but they could end up being a prima ballerina or a best-selling novelist instead.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nThere is so much more to life than going to college. Credit: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n11. There’s More To Life Than College<\/h2>\n Once a child enters High School, they are told that going to college is the only way to succeed. For years, kids put a lot of pressure on themselves to get good grades and be accepted into a good school. But few of them figure out exactly what they love to do. Unfortunately, Millennials know all too well that just because you get a degree in something does not mean you will actually use it in your career. There are plenty of minimum-wage workers out there with college degrees.<\/p>\nNot everyone goes to college, and that is totally okay. Credit: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nRemember that some of the most successful people in the world didn’t finish college. Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Oprah Winfrey all dropped out of college. They all had a strong sense of purpose and knew what they wanted to do with their lives. If your child is still going to college, that’s great too, of course. Just make sure they realize that there is a bigger world out there and that they focus more on what they love instead of what society tells them is “right.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nTeach your child how to live an independent life. Credit: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n9. Don’t Do Everything For Them<\/h2>\n As parents, you feel the need to protect and provide for your kids. But there is such a thing as doing too much for them. Some parents even go as far as to do their kid’s homework! Remember that if you do everything for your child, they will never learn how to do it themselves.<\/p>\nYour kids will likely have a lot of fun feeling all grown up. Credit: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nA shocking number of Millennials do not know how to do basic “adulting” skills, like laundry. This is shocking for some people to imagine, but it’s because parents completely sheltered their kids from doing real work in hopes that a college degree would afford them to hire a housekeeper someday. Remember that kids will eventually grow up and they need help being prepared for the real world.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nMentors can help guide your kids in specialized fields. Credit: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n8. Encourage Them to Seek Mentorship<\/h2>\n In nearly every self-help book about success, there is almost always a mention of mentorship. But this can start at a much earlier age. Even if your child looks up to a student who is older than them, this can be a way to have someone who will guide them through the obstacles they will face. If your kids don’t have older siblings or cousins to help mentor them, consider programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters.<\/p>\nIf your child knows what career they want, they can find mentors in that field. Credit: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nMentors could also be babysitters, nannies, and tutors that you hire to help your kids with their homework. If they already know what they want to do when the grow up, try to find a specialized program after school that will help them learn. For example, if they want to build robots, see if there is a robotics class offered at the local community center.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nGive your kid feedback right away to help guide them. Credit: Pixabay<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n7. Give Them Realtime Feedback<\/h2>\n When you were in school, you probably experienced getting a bad grade, and not feeling totally sure what you did wrong. It can be very frustrating to complete a project, only to be told to “go back and try it again” without any sense of direction. This is why it’s very important to give your kids realtime feedback. This way, you can congratulate your child when they are doing something right, but also pick up on their mistakes immediately so that you know what to work on.<\/p>\nLet your kids know when they are doing a good job. Credit: Burst by Shopify<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nHowever, do not mistake this with constantly hovering over their shoulder. This realtime feedback should be done when they are still learning how to do something. Once they get the hang of it, take a step back and let them work independently. Then, when they show you their work, congratulate them and give constructive criticism if needed.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nTeamwork is one of the greatest assets in the real world. Credit: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n6. The Value of Teamwork<\/h2>\n Most successful adults have to work on a team at some point. Even super-geniuses like Elon Musk need a team of people to make his dreams into a reality. Plenty of schools offer group work, but this does not always turn into teamwork. In fact, a lot of the time, group work falls onto the “smartest” kid in the group while the lazy kids relax and hardly do anything. There is a huge difference between that sort of group work and experience where kids are truly all contributing something vital to a team.<\/p>\nLearning teamwork as a child transitions to the adult workplace. Credit: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nIf your children cannot achieve this sort of experience in the public school system, try to seek opportunities outside of school. Not sure where to start? Check out your local community center and join the Facebook group for your local town. You could find loads of opportunities that you never knew existed.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nTry to give your kids positive incentives to do things. Credit: Burst by Shopify<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n5. Give Them Positive Incentives<\/h2>\n Positive incentive always works better than negative, whether you are a child or an adult. After all, if you were not given money to go to your job, would you show up to work? Think about the following statements: “If you don’t clean up your room, you’re grounded!” versus “If you clean up your room, you can spend an hour playing Minecraft.” The second option sounds a lot more appealing to a child, right? Instead of punishing kids for disobeying you, give them incentives for positive behavior.<\/p>\nGiving children an allowance helps them learn to manage money. Credit: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nGive your children rewards for their efforts. Consider giving them an allowance if they get good grades in school or if they do their chores. An allowance can also help them learn to manage money properly. And if they do not do their chores, they can’t complain about not getting what they want. Remind them that if they do their chores, they get their reward. This is exactly like the real world. If you work hard, success will follow.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nHelp your kids think about the world at large. Credit: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n4. Think About The Big Picture<\/h2>\n Too many people are focused on their own problems that they forget to look at the big picture. Teach your kids about the world at large and why it’s important for them to know about global issues. Aside from the issues, they should also understand that there is a huge world of possibilities out there for them. If you teach your kids to only think about everything that’s happening in your small town and the opportunities available there, they may never have the opportunity to move somewhere else and achieve their dreams.<\/p>\nLet your kids dream big. Credit: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nTeaching kids about the “big picture” can also mean helping them understand how one thing leads to another, and how an industry works. For example, tropical fruit is grown in other countries, shipped by boat to the United States, and sent in trucks to the grocery store. By understanding “big picture” concepts like this, kids will begin to look at the world around them in a different way, and it may spark inspiration for a budding entrepreneur.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nGive your kids a different perspective on the things they are learning. Credit: Burst By Shopify<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n3. Give Them Multiple Representations<\/h2>\n If your child is struggling to understand something you are teaching them, it may be that they just need to see a different example. Try to give them hands-on and real-life experiences whenever you can. For example, if you are teaching them about farming and sustainability, wouldn’t it make a lot more sense to bring them to a farm so they can see it in real life?<\/p>\nTaking a kid to a farm or animal sanctuary helps them learn a lot about life. Credit: Burst by Shopify<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nGiving multiple representations of a lesson becomes especially important for the core values that you wish to teach your child. Make a list together with your partner of what core values you think will bring success to your child’s life and create a plan together on how to show them examples of this again and again.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\nSome siblings bicker over things, and yet their parents do nothing about it. Credit: Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n