Hey Mama! Have you heard of the new challenge, ‘75 Hard’? It’s a mental and physical toughness challenge that’s sweeping the nation. Adults are challenging themselves to maintain a set of “vital skills” every day without fail for 75 days. Rey to Z thought it would be fun to include the kiddos in this challenge by creating a list of 75 vital skills to teach kids. They challenge you to teach one per day for the next 75 days.
Plus, check out our fave Rey to Z custom baseball hats for the whole fam and capture some amazing photo ops!
75 Hard For Kids. 75 Days of Lessons For Capable Kids.
1. Good Manners: Teach them the magic words like “please” and “thank you” to encourage politeness and gratitude. Set up a mock dinner. Show them how to set a proper table, and how to conduct themselves at a formal event. (Their future first dates will thank you!)
2. Responsibility: Assign age-appropriate chores to teach them the value of taking care of their surroundings and belongings. Create a fun, colorful chore chart and hang it somewhere central. Make sure the reward for their chores is clear and so are the expectations. Hint: One mom puts her kiddo’s chore money in a jar at the beginning of the week so they can see it. At the end of the week, if the chores are done, they can open it. The visual helps her kids stay motivated.
3. Time Management: Introduce the concept of schedules and routines to instill discipline and help them manage their time effectively. Have the kids come up with their own routines and schedules – getting them involved will be fun and give them a sense of ownership.
4. Organization: Teach them to keep their toys, books, and clothes in designated places, fostering tidiness and reducing clutter. A fun idea is to have the kids create signs or pictures for bins and shelves showing where things go.
5. Goal Setting: Encourage them to set small achievable goals, helping them develop a sense of purpose and motivation. Maybe it is to jump off the diving board by the end of summer. Maybe it’s to try out for sports. It could even be a small goal like finishing a drawing they started. As they grow up, the more achieved goals that they have in their memory, the more confidence they will have to try new things.
6. Money Management: Teach them the basics of saving, spending, and budgeting to develop financial literacy from an early age. Help them budget their chore money. Let them set up a lemonade stand and budget for the necessary items to make the lemonade (then take them shopping and have them add up the bill before you check out.) All of these things help them to see that money plays a part in things they want to accomplish. Bonus: Let them pick a charity or cause to donate to.
7. Problem-Solving: Encourage critical thinking by presenting them with age-appropriate puzzles, riddles, or brain teasers. Find some online educational games and lessons that are fun for different ages or purchase games for board game night.
8. Decision Making: Involve them in decision-making processes, allowing them to weigh options and understand the consequences of choices. Give them a choice as often as possible and resist the urge to change their decision for them. If they want to wear a tutu and cowboy boots to the store, let them!
9. Emotional Intelligence: Teach them to identify and express their emotions, helping them develop empathy and resilience. Practice helping them name their emotions. Print an emotions wheel and hang it up somewhere central. Encourage your kiddos to use it to help them name tough emotions.
10. Active Listening: Encourage attentive listening skills by practicing active listening during conversations with them. If you have more than one kiddo, have them practice reflecting back to one another the message they have heard.
11. Reading: Foster a love for reading by introducing books that match their interests and reading together as a daily habit. Create a cozy reading nook or get them involved at their local library.
12. Writing: Teach them how to write simple sentences, letters, or a journal to enhance their communication skills. Journaling is an excellent way to help them understand themselves. Another fun activity is to use a writing prompt generator. Give them a notebook and a pen and read them a writing prompt. It will be so fun to see where their imaginations go!
13. Creativity: Provide opportunities for artistic expression through drawing, painting, or crafting, nurturing their creativity. Possibilities are endless when it comes to fostering creativity. The most important part of this is to allow them full autonomy in their creative creations. Let them color the sun blue and the ocean yellow if they want to.
14. Problem-solving: Encourage them to find creative solutions to challenges they encounter in everyday life. Use active listening to reflect back to them the problems that they come to you with, then ask them leading questions to help them determine the answer on their own, rather than giving it to them. Instead of saying “You should (fill in the blank),” Try asking “What do you think is the best way out of this?”
15. Patience: Teach them the value of patience and delayed gratification, instilling perseverance and resilience. Help them learn ways to enjoy the waiting process like creating a fun countdown calendar.
16. Independence: Encourage them to do things on their own, such as dressing themselves or tying their shoelaces, fostering independence. Remember, it won’t be perfect and it will take a few extra minutes, but they will gain confidence and independence that they will vitally need as teens and adults.
17. Empathy: Teach them to consider and understand the feelings of others, promoting kindness and compassion. One way to teach empathy is to model it. For instance, saying something like “You must feel sad when your friend doesn’t say hi to you at school. I can tell because your shoulders slump a little and you stop smiling.” By naming their feelings and explaining the non verbal cues that alerted you to them, you are teaching them how to recognize emotions in others.
18. Healthy Habits: Educate them about the importance of good hygiene, exercise, and nutritious eating habits for overall well-being. Make healthy meals together. Get outside. Show them your own healthy habits and they will follow suit.
19. Mindfulness: Introduce simple mindfulness exercises to help them stay present and focused in their daily activities. For instance, while you are on a walk together, have them stop for a moment and ask them to name the things they see, hear, smell, and feel. It will teach them to stop and notice these things in daily life. Also, try saying things like “I really love hearing the birds chirping this morning,” or “Wow this coffee smells so good.” This will model how they can appreciate and tune into life’s small pleasures and take in the moment.
20. Gratitude: Encourage them to express gratitude by writing thank-you notes or keeping a gratitude journal. Try a game called “3 Things,” every day at the end of the day you must each name 3 things you were grateful for that day, no matter what kind of day you had. This may even help Mama to feel more gratitude also!
21. Problem Identification: Teach them to recognize problems around them and think of ways to solve them. Ask them “What do you think is the main problem here?”
22. Teamwork: Encourage participation in team activities or sports, teaching them cooperation, collaboration, and communication. Make your family into a team. Everyone helps. Everyone contributes and everyone gets rewarded. It will help them feel part of something which is a very important part of their development.
23. Environmental Awareness: Educate them about the importance of taking care of the environment through recycling and conserving resources. Take them to clean up the local park, or find out more about how recycling can help the environment. Teaching them the “why” of the things you do to help preserve the environment will give them a feeling of ownership for helping also.
24. Tech Literacy: Introduce age-appropriate technology and teach them how to use it responsibly. So many parents are quick to discourage technology completely, but a healthy understanding of how to use it to find information is an important skill for their tech-dominated futures.
25. Basic First Aid: Teach them simple first aid techniques, such as applying a bandage or recognizing when to ask for help. This could include practicing how to call 911 and how to find someone who can help them in public, should an emergency take place.
26. Time Management: Help them create a daily or weekly schedule to manage their activities and responsibilities effectively. Set timers for their tasks with rewards and consequences for staying within the allotted time.
27. Conflict Resolution: Teach them peaceful ways to resolve conflicts and promote healthy relationships. Teach them “I” statements. Show them de-escalating techniques for arguments, like non-aggressive body language and reflective listening.
28. Courage: Encourage them to face their fears and try new things, fostering self-confidence and personal growth. Let them try things that scare them (and maybe you too, mama.) Overcoming fear is imperative for a successful adult life.
29. Self-Reflection: Teach them the importance of self-reflection and learning from their experiences. Try the game ‘How I won and lost today.’ Every night at dinner have them tell something they “won” or were successful at or happy about, and something they “lost,” or felt they could have done better at or were disappointed in. This will help them reflect on their choices and the natural consequences of them.
30. Nature Exploration: Take them on nature walks and teach them about the wonders of the natural world. Give them a ‘treasure box’ to take with you and put interesting rocks, pretty fall leaves, or other things they find along the way in their treasure box and share with the family later.
31. Critical Thinking: Engage them in discussions that require analytical thinking and reasoning. Ask open-ended questions that require them to come up with their own answers.
32. Accepting Differences: Teach them to embrace and appreciate diversity, promoting inclusivity and respect. Take it a step further and talk about how people’s differences are important to the world to fill different needs.
33. Respecting Elders: Instill the value of respecting older individuals and listening to their wisdom. A fun way to foster genuine care and respect for elders is to volunteer at a local retirement community and help the kids get to know some of the residents.
34. Public Speaking: Encourage them to speak in front of small groups, helping them build confidence in their communication skills. Have a family show and tell night and let them prepare a presentation, speech, song, dance, magic trick or share about something they love.
35. Networking: Teach them how to introduce themselves, make conversation, and build connections with others. Talk to them about how to ask questions and actively listen in a conversation. Model this for them in your own interactions.
36. Financial Success: Educate them about different currencies, basic banking, and the concept of earning and saving money. Play a game with fake money and let them plan a pretend trip, budgeting for hotels, rental cars, and entertainment by researching pricing online and paying “the bank” (you) for them with their fake money. See if they can stay within a budget and if they do, go out for ice cream or reward them somehow.
37. Making Time for Hobbies: Encourage them to explore their interests and dedicate time to hobbies that bring them joy. Be sure to let them play an active role in choosing their hobbies.
38. Social Etiquette: Teach them basic social etiquette, such as introducing themselves and using proper table manners. Play a game of scenario questions with them. Questions like “Mama is on a phone call. You are really hungry for lunch. Should you A) Interrupt her and tell her you are hungry or B) Wait for her to finish her call first?” This will get their minds turning about etiquette and politeness so that when they are in a real-time scenario, they will have rehearsed the best behavior.
39. Resilience: Teach them to bounce back from failures and setbacks, emphasizing the importance of perseverance. Offer empathy and compassion but always encourage them to get back up and try again.
40. Learning from Mistakes: Help them understand that mistakes are opportunities for growth and learning. Teach them to name their mistakes and ask them “What could you have done differently?”
41. Internet Safety: Educate them about online safety, including the importance of privacy and responsible internet usage. Teach them to have boundaries and privacy.
42. Self-Care: Teach them the significance of taking care of their physical and mental well-being. Allow them to bask in the sun for a few extra minutes, take a long bath, or lollygag at the ice cream place. Allowing them to honor themselves in things that feel good to them will naturally encourage them to pursue self-care. Also – you should model it yourself, mama!
43. Self-Expression: Encourage them to express their thoughts, opinions, and emotions freely. As long as respect and safety are met, allow them to vent and voice opinions freely.
44. Continuous Learning: Foster a love for lifelong learning by exposing them to new ideas, concepts, and subjects. Go on tours, visit museums and national monuments, and explore together.
45. Healthy Communication: Teach them effective communication skills, including active listening and expressing themselves clearly.
46. Respecting Personal Boundaries: Help them understand the importance of respecting personal space and boundaries. Allow them to set their own reasonable personal boundaries that don’t compromise their safety or respect for the household. Set your own personal boundaries.
47. Cultural Awareness: Introduce them to different cultures, traditions, and celebrations, promoting inclusiveness. Teach them to honor the traditions of other cultures.
48. Learning to Cook: Involve them in simple cooking tasks, allowing them to develop basic culinary skills.
49. Building Confidence: Encourage them to participate in activities that boost self-esteem, such as public speaking or performing arts. Sports, art, or even pet sitting or helping watch their siblings will help them build confidence.
50. Resourcefulness: Teach them to find creative solutions using available resources. Ask them “ Where do you think you could find the information you need to figure this out?” Offer ideas if asked.
51. Digital Citizenship: Educate them about responsible and ethical behavior in the digital world. Explain that Cyber Bullying is just as hurtful as in-person bullying.
52. Mindful Eating: Teach them to eat slowly and savor their food, promoting healthy eating habits. Talk about how the food smells and tastes. When possible make time for savoring meals together.
53. Understanding Emotions: Help them recognize and express a wide range of emotions in a healthy manner. Help them name their own emotions and the emotions of others.
54. Respecting Personal Space: Teach them to ask for permission before entering someone’s personal space or touching their belongings.
55. Historical Knowledge: Teaching kids about history is so important. Not only the history of the world around them, but weven their family lineage and ancestry. This can be a fun activity for the whole family.
56. Cultural Experiences: Expose them to diverse cultures through books, movies, or visits to cultural events, and the best part – trying different foods.
57. Negotiation Skills: Teach them how to find compromises and negotiate fair outcomes in various situations. Allow them to negotiate with you and win sometimes when reasonable.
58. Learning from Peers: Encourage them to spend time with kids their own age and try new activities that their friends enjoy.
59. Environmental Stewardship: Teach them the importance of caring for the planet through actions like recycling, conserving energy, and reducing waste. Teach them about leaving no trace when hiking or camping. Talk to them about littering.
60. Self-Defense: Enroll them in self-defense classes to promote personal safety and empowerment. Talk to them about how to defend themself physically and verbally when necessary and in a respectful and safe way.
61. Decision-Making Skills: Encourage them to analyze choices, consider consequences, and make informed decisions. Teach them how to make pros and cons lists, where to find the information they need to make a decision, and how to think objectively.
62. Computer Basics: How to use search tools, simple photo and video editing software, creating basic documents and email etiquette are all great skills.
63. Situational Awareness & Preparedness: Talk to them about recognizing suspicious situations. Teach them how to handle themselves with strangers. Talk about strategies for how to escape a fire, or take cover from a tornado, hurricane, or earthquake. Talk to them about situations they could get into and how situational awareness can help them stay calm and prepared.
64. Linguistics Pick a language and get the whole fam involved in learning a foreign language! This will serve them well and be a ton of fun for the family. You could even try foods or experiences from the culture of the language you are learning.
65. Finding help: Teach them about the importance of advocating for themself. Talk about what to do if they need help in different situations. Teach them how to express their needs.
66. Global Awareness: Expand their worldview by teaching them about different countries, cultures, and global issues. Talk about current events (as appropriate.)
67. Conflict Resolution: Help them develop skills to resolve conflicts peacefully and find win-win solutions. Help them to manage tough feelings.
68. Entrepreneurship: Encourage their entrepreneurial spirit by fostering creativity, and problem-solving, and encouraging them to explore business ideas.
69. Active Citizenship: Engage them in discussions about current events and social issues, encouraging them to become active participants in society. Immerse them in their community.
70. Philanthropy: Teach them the value of giving back to the community and supporting charitable causes. Take them with you to volunteer.
71. Critical Media Literacy: Help them develop critical thinking skills to navigate and analyze media messages. Teach them how to determine trustworthy sources and avoid scams.
72. Perseverance: We all know that life requires this skill more often than not! Teaching our kiddos to keep on keeping on is so important. Help them find solutions instead of quitting when things get tough.
73. Household Duties: It may seem far off but before you and the kiddos know it, they will be on their own. Teaching them basics like how to cook nutritious meals, do laundry and clean the house will serve them well.
74. Basic Handy Skills: How to use tools like a hammer, a screw driver and a tape measure will come in handy, literally.
75. Humility: Humility is such an important quality. A fun way to teach this important life skill is to practice random acts of kindness. Pick one thing per week to do for a stranger and let the kids in on it.
You’ve got this Mama! Teaching our kids valuable skills and knowledge from an early age sets them on a path toward a productive and fulfilling future. By incorporating these 75 fun and practical things into their daily lives, we can help them develop essential life skills, foster independence, and cultivate their full potential. Remember to embrace a casual and friendly approach, making the learning process enjoyable for both you and your littles. With your love, guidance, and these valuable lessons, your kids will grow up to be successful and productive individuals, ready to conquer the world. Happy teaching!
P.S. Don’t forget to grab the whole fam custom baseball hats from Rey to Z!
Our top picks are their Mama Baseball Hat, Sibling Hats, Dad Hats, and even Grandparent Hats! Snap some keepsake pics in matching hats as you teach those babies all the skills they need for a beautiful life!
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