What life skills can educators teach students?

As teachers, it’s your job to set your students up for the best possible chance in life. And while your responsibility ends to some extent when the little ones leave the classroom, it would be wrong to underplay the impact that you have on the way they view the world. 

Away from the curriculum itself, educators also have the chance to leave an impression on how students think about other aspects of life. Education doesn’t just mean maths and numeracy skills. It extends to shaping how a child approaches milestones and hurdles in life, as well as what they can do to succeed. 

In this guide, we’re going to assess some of the most important life skills that a teacher can impart, from knowing how to make a budget that works to reframing the way children approach the viewpoints of their peers. 

1. Understanding different points of view 

This is one a lot of adults might do well to remember. While we all like to believe what we think is right, the reality is very rarely black and white – especially when it comes to conflict. Teaching a child how to think about the point-of-view of others is an intrinsic skill which will set them up for later success. Ask them to put themselves in someone else’s shoes, whether in a real or fictional scenario. By pretending to be someone else, they can better understand how someone might see things differently to them. 

2. Budgeting

Managing our money is one of the most important things we do in our day-to-day lives. Yet, strangely, this is an area which rarely gets any attention when we’re at school. You can give your class an edge for their later years by introducing them to the concept of saving and allocating their money for specific purchases. This could extend to simple advice like making a monthly pot for sweet treats, or something a bit more complex for older teens around how to manage their credit score. 

3. Communication 

The way in which we speak to others has a large impact on how they see us. Being a good communicator is one of the most effective ways to get an advantage in life. After all, most people are happier to work with someone they enjoy speaking with. Despite that, as many as 1.4 million kids are believed to struggle with effective communication in schools. Teachers can give advice on how to best speak to others during these formative years in the classroom. Think about making manners a priority, and try exercises where you give examples of rude, acceptable, or fantastic forms of dialogue between people. 

4. Empathy 

Compassion for the people we share this world with is an underappreciated trait. Educating kids on how to think about what impact their actions might have on others is another factor which could be instrumental in their future lives. Despite feeling like something which might be hard to work on, studies have shown that empathy training has had a direct impact on improving the performance of kids in this form of emotional maturity. 

Away from the curriculum itself, educators also have the chance to leave an impression on how students think about other aspects of their lives. Education doesn’t just mean maths and numeracy skills. It extends to shaping how a child approaches milestones and hurdles in life, as well as what they can do to succeed. Are you ready to make an impact in the lives of your students beyond academia? Use this list as your starting point for improving their wider life skills.

The author

Harriet Young

Harriet enjoys going on hikes and connecting with nature with her two Labradors. Though she enjoys being vegan, she is adventurous and enjoys trying out new food. Skilled in PR, creative media, and content strategies to assist brands and companies in developing and enhancing their online presence. Primary competency: - Market and audience insight - Campaign planning and strategy - Digital initiatives that result in 'earned' media attention that is organic. https://www.thesixthdegree.media

https://www.thesixthdegree.media