Disclosure: In any review for a product or service, products or compensation may have been provided to me to help facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” and "Terms of Use" tabs for more information.
Many people today are afraid of teaching their children the facts of life. However, as parents, we need
to remember that our main job is to prepare our children for adulthood. Below are five topics that are
normally reserved for adults that children need to be trained in.
Relationships
Talking to your children about dating and relationships can be especially difficult for many parents, but
as a television increasingly shows dating of younger and younger kids it is an important discussion.
Start by explaining the seriousness of relationships and that is should be taken very seriously. Explain
that these serious relationships should be postponed until they are old enough to handle them.
Finances
Finances are a major part of our lives, and children need to be trained on how to handle money well.
Giving an allowance for chores can help children learn to associate work with money. If your employer
has “bring your child to work” days, be sure to take advantage of these as well. A good work ethic is one
of the best gifts you can give your children.
Help your child develop good financial habits, such as saving a portion of each week’s allowance. Have
children help you write out the bills every month, and occasionally let them help balance the checkbook.
You don’t need to expose your kids to everything but letting them in on some of the basics will help
them become more responsible and financially secure adults.
Addiction
Our culture values pleasure a great deal, and addiction is a problem on every level of society. New
research is showing that the sugar in sodas and the fat in fast food produce addiction like responses in
the body. Illegal and prescription drug abuse are seen among all segments of the population. Tobacco
and alcohol abuse continue at alarming rates.
Inform yourself about the addiction cycle so that you can speak honestly with your children. Nothing
undermines a parent’s guidance more than misinformation. Being well informed will help you answer
their questions truthfully.
Establishing a trusting relationship is one of the keys to preventing substance abuse and addiction in
children and teens. Create an environment where the child feels comfortable discussing situations that
they encounter. If you discover that your child or their friends have engaged in substance abuse, be firm
but handle yourself well. Don’t burn bridges that took years to build in a moment of anger. If you need
help you can read more about addiction.
Faith
For most people of faith passing their religious beliefs onto their children is important. Unfortunately,
many children are exposed to a kiddie version of the religious experience that fails to make a lasting
impact on their lives. Religion becomes either a burden – just a set of rules – or else is seen as
something that one outgrows, like a belief in Santa Claus or the Tooth Fairy.
Children don’t develop the ability to really comprehend abstractions until their early teens, so start
by sharing your faith in concrete ways. Demonstrate how your faith influences your daily decisions.
Participate in the traditions and rituals of your faith and involve your children in them as well. Explain
the meaning of the various activities that you do, but remember that kids learn more by watching and
doing than by listening. If you want your children to develop a mature faith, lead them by your own
example.
Social/Political Issues
Politics can be confusing even for adults; scandals and heated rhetoric can make it that much harder. Yet
one of a parent’s duties is to help their children become good citizens, especially in a democratic society.
Start small. Share with your children the issues that really matter to you. If you’re passionate, share that
passion by getting them involved in the process. Even if you’re not particularly passionate, you can still
demonstrate good citizenship by getting involved.
Donating your time to clean up a park with your child helps communicate that the environment is
something that we need to take care of. Serving at a soup kitchen can help kids empathize with people
who have less than they do. Help children to understand that our society is our responsibility to care for.
We each have an impact, for good or for ill.
Parenting is about loving, comforting, caring, and protecting our children. It is also about raising,
training, and preparing them to become productive members of society. Starting them young is the best
way to lay a foundation that they can stand on for the rest of their lives.
It’s funny that you wrote this because I found myself having awkward conversations lately with my second grader that I never had with my parents about drugs and relationships. Great job explaining the topics.