Future skills that every child should learn

What does it take for children to survive and thrive in today’s landscape?

Problems these days are easier to solve due to the accessibility of the latest technology, however children will need to practice specific skills to be valuable in the fast-pace world and in a future workplace run by complex systems. In order for children to survive in the future, more emphasis should be placed in Life Orientation (L.O) skills.
According to a recent Non-Governmental-Organisation (NGO) article, LO is aimed at developing and engaging learners in personal, psychological, neuro-cognitive, motor, physical, moral, spiritual, cultural and socio-economic areas. This is so they can achieve their full potential in dynamic environments.

Critical thinking and problem solving

To get ahead in a competitive world, critical thinking and problem solving will help school children to analyse questions without being entirely subjective but rather objective. Critical thinking and problem solving will help your child exert control over the environment they situated in. It also aids in questioning situations to make decisions based on pros and cons of a given scenario. It is vital for learners to enhance critical thinking skills as it promotes creativity and is highly valued in tertiary education and in the workplace. Critical thinking also enhances language and presentation skills. Here are several tips that can help improve your child’s critical thinking.

Give your child opportunities for taking on responsibility

It is vital for children to step out of their comfort zones and take on tasks that are typically done for them. This will allow them to question themselves on how they’re going to solve the problem.
Allow them to make their own beds or lunches or tidy their room, this will allow them to understand what responsibilities are, and will encourage them to think through a course of action to solve the problem.

Practice the 5Ws and H

The Five Ws and one H questions will assist your child to understand how to gather information logically. By asking them questions about what’s happening – what, why, when, where, who and how, helps children think through their choices and actions relating to any problem.

Who is it about?

Why did it happen?

When did it happen?

Where did it happen?

How did it happen?

These questions will also help your child talk through their thought process. Questioning also helps discover your child’s individual way of thinking, helps mental blocks and how they apply specific approaches to achieving their goals.

Get your child to write

Writing can be a magical medium for your child to express themselves as well as to enhance their creativity and imaginative skills. For example, get your child to write about their day at school or any event they wish to discuss, this will allow them to clarify their explanations and sharpen their arguments.

Ensure plenty of time for free play

Unstructured time at home allows children to play and learn in an environment that is unrestricted by any set outcome. This alone encourages the development of new neural pathways as children navigate their own ideas and perceptions. Open-ended play, offers countless ways for children to think about the world and make their own decisions

Improve your child’s reasoning skills

Argumentation is an essential part of communicating as it allows your child to express their own ideas clearly and teaches them to listen attentively to those of others. In doing so, children draw on the skills of discussion, dialogue and conversation.
Speak about controversial topics as this will hone your child’s critical thinking skills. It will also allow them to think out of the box and help increase their interpretation, reflection, evaluation, inference, explanation and decision making process skills.