#414 - What I Hope My Kids Know When They Move Out
Apr 21, 2025
31:22
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Quick takeaways
Teaching children to manage their living spaces promotes responsibility and self-expression, contributing to their overall well-being and independence.
Instilling the value of engaging with their communities helps children develop empathy, accountability, and a sense of belonging in society.
Deep dives
Tending to Their Space
Children should learn to take care of their living spaces by regularly organizing and cleaning them. This includes putting items back in their designated places, managing their belongings, and noticing when things need attention, such as taking out the trash or doing laundry. It’s important for them to see their space as a reflection of themselves, where they can express their individuality, such as displaying photos or keeping plants. Daily interaction with their environment fosters responsibility and a sense of ownership, helping them appreciate how a well-cared-for space contributes to their well-being.
Tending to Their Bodies
Basic hygiene practices are essential for children to understand the importance of taking care of their bodies. This encompasses daily routines such as brushing teeth, cooking simple meals, and recognizing what foods are safe to eat. Important life skills also include basic first aid and stress management techniques, teaching kids to respond to basic health needs and emotional challenges. Encouraging children to listen to their bodies helps them develop a healthy relationship with food, rest, and overall wellness throughout their lives.
Tending to Their Time
It’s crucial for children to understand the value of managing their time effectively. This includes developing routines that support their daily activities and enabling them to identify how long tasks will take, fostering independence and accountability. Lessons about the consequences of procrastination can teach them to prioritize essential tasks before they become urgent. Allowing them to explore their own preferences for structuring their day can empower them and diminishes the pressure to conform to any one method of time management.
Tending to Their Communities
Teaching children to engage with their communities instills a sense of responsibility towards others and the environment. Kids should learn about civic duties, such as voting, and how to interact respectfully with those around them, especially in service roles. They should also be encouraged to seek out opportunities where they can actively contribute, whether through volunteering or simply being kind to a neighbor. These practices cultivate empathy and a deep understanding of social interaction, ultimately fostering a sense of belonging and accountability within their communities.
My oldest is wrapping up his freshman year of high school, and I can feel how fast it’s all going. This episode is about what I hope he—and all my kids—know before they leave home.
It’s not a checklist of adult skills (though those can be great); it’s more about the slow, everyday work of becoming. I’m sharing a few helpful categories and what falls inside them for us, but your version will look different—and that’s the point.
This isn’t about doing it all. It’s about starting small, right where you are.
