When I was growing up my parents assigned each one of us multiple chores every week. We all learned to cook, wash dishes, iron, clean, plant and care for a garden and even bake. My sister also learned to help my father with various home projects involving various tools.
Today most children don’t have a clue how to do house work or how to make a meal that doesn’t involve the microwave.
When children have a challenge, the first thing parents want to do is solve the problem. It is a natural instinct to protect our children. But what we are doing is taking away from children an opportunity to learn how to reason through their choices.
If they make this decision, the possible results might be . . . but if they make this decision the results might be . . . Depending on the choice, the possible challenges might be, the best possible results might be . . . and the worse case scenario might be . . .
As these children grow up and learn how to reason through challenges and understand what the potential outcome might be, they make much better decisions. They will be more self assured and be more likely to make decisions that will not involve them getting into trouble once they leave home and are out on their own.
They more we talk to our children the easier it is for them to learn how to think through each challenge they face.