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Over the years when I have recruited staff – I always look for those staff who have common sense. It’s hard to find these days – the younger generation of adults coming into the workforce have been sat down in front of the TV or had a phone or computer stuck in front of their noses to keep them busy when they were younger. They haven’t been exposed to chores, simple tasks, helping out at home, shown how to look after themselves, and problem-solving from an early age. So common sense is not that common and if you find an employee without common sense, it takes years to drill that into an adult.
I have 3 children and 3 foster children, I’m a grandmother to 7 and a great-grandmother to 7 and I’m super proud to say that just about all of them have common sense except the ones that were brought up when they were younger by someone else.
The best time to teach common sense is from a young age. The younger the better. Kids need to use their brains and dexterity skills to learn and figure out how to do things by themselves. They are great at working things out and with some adult guidance, you will be surprised at how important these skills they learn are.
It carries them through their whole lives and will always stand them in good stead, but it requires perseverance and patience from their parents. It’s quite a feat to teach common sense so I encourage all parents to make it a priority for their family. Down the track, your children will realise that these skills will always stand them in good stead. So don’t be a slave to your children, thinking that that’s what love is all about. Your job as a parent is to prepare them for the world, not baby them. You need to teach them how to stand up and look after themselves and yes, it’s easier to do things by yourself instead, as it’s quicker but in the long term the kids will suffer.
I was inspired to write this when my granddaughter sent me some photos of her two-year-old son helping with chores in the kitchen. It reminded me of how she and my children grew up and I’m so thankful that she is now passing down her skill set to her young son. Who knew that a two-year-old had the skill to get school lunches portioned out and ready for school the next day while helping Mummy?
So, start now by teaching your children how to contribute to your household. Yes, it is much easier and quicker to do it yourself but you aren’t doing your children any favours. In fact, you aren’t doing yourself any favours either. Common sense is the most important skill you can give them.
Start with simple things that a two-year-old can do:
Dirty clothes – picking them up and putting them in the washing basket, sorting them out into whites, colours, and blacks and putting them into the washing machine, folding clothes, and putting their own clean clothes away.
Dirty dishes – helping to wash up with supervision, packing and unpacking the dishwasher, and putting dishes away.
Sweeping the floor, using the brush and shovel.
Taking rubbish out to the bins.
Feeding the animals.
Watering the garden, pulling out weeds.
Preparing food – getting food out of the refrigerator, helping to put food on plates, washing food ready for cooking, measuring out ingredients.
Setting the table.
Cleaning – dusting, wiping things down with vinegar and water, don’t let them near chemicals. Get them their only little cleaning cabby with everything they need and make it a game.
Shopping – putting things in the trolly.
The list goes on but all the above is a good place to start.
This is not slavery and there should not be any money paid for these tasks. This is about teaching them the responsibility of being a family member. It shows them the value of being in your amazing family and that for all of their life, they must contribute to helping people to get the best life. By default, you are also teaching them common sense. As they get older, they will realise that it will also make them more employable, better citizens, helpful and kind in everything they do. Common sense is not that common unless you work hard to make it that way.
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