The humans in Wall-E were mostly there for comic relief. They couldn’t do much without robot assistance. After generations of living in hover chairs, with their every need cared for at the push of a button, they lost the capacity and the will for ordinary daily tasks. They were out of shape, with short fingers, no neck, and their legs were barely eight inches long. They were a parody of what we might become someday. What if that day is closer than you think? There are many articles arguing that our reliance on Google and artificial intelligence is eroding our abilities and making us dumber.
Don’t get me wrong. There are many ways tech helps us. We can push a button on our phone to turn on the lights, order just about anything delivered to our front door, and ask for a simple summary of even the most complicated things. But my teenagers will never know a world without all this technology. I want to make sure they learn to use these tools properly, and at the same time, I’m teaching my kids the life skills I needed when I was growing up. Here are 5 old-school skills you need to teach your kids.
1. How To Write With a Pen or Pencil
When my son got his learner’s permit, he wasn’t sure how to sign his name in the little box. He’d never learned cursive writing, reminding us that all the screens in our kids’ lives are eroding basic abilities we once took for granted. Screens aren’t going anywhere, and we should teach our kids to use them properly. But we should also want our kids to know analog skills like writing. Writing helps our kids’ dexterity, their ability to read, and makes them slow down and process the information they’re hearing in class. Don’t just teach your child how to sign his own name, but look for other moments he can write, like a thank you card for his grandmother.
2. How To Read a Map and Navigate the Streets
When my daughter started driving, it was clear she had never really paid attention to street signs in our town. Sitting behind the wheel, she told me it was no big deal because Google Maps would get her wherever she needed to go. If you’re teaching kids life skills, knowing how to get from point A to point B without a phone is a big one. Being able to get to the grocery store or school without GPS also contributes to a much healthier brain. According to Neurologist Pearl Kurian Jones, M.D., “[F]requent GPS users had weaker spatial memory and struggled more with unaided navigation… This suggests that digital navigation tools may weaken hippocampal circuits that would otherwise be maintained through active use.” Keep your teen’s brain sharp (and build her confidence!) by having her navigate without help.
3. How To Talk to a Real Person
So much is done by direct message these days that my kids often panic when they need to call customer service or make some kind of appointment. I want my kids to know how to advocate for themselves and how to ask for help politely and fairly. Knowing how to talk to a real person is a really important skill for your child to learn: Talking is how they’ll form friendships, build confidence, contribute to a group project, and get hired for that first job.
4. How To Wait
We used to watch TV episodes one at a time, but our kids often get a full season on a streaming service all at once. We used to have to hunt for things in multiple stores, but now everything can be ordered from Amazon with next-day delivery. It shouldn’t be a surprise that our kids have a hard time waiting for things! When teaching kids life skills, look for chances to help them learn to be more patient. This could mean denying them snacks when they’re waiting for dinner, not needing to fill every moment while they’re in line, and sometimes going to the store instead of ordering everything online.
5. How To Do Mental Math
The cribbage board and cards are never far from my kitchen table because my wife is constantly challenging one of our kids to play. This isn’t just a great way for her to bond with the kids without screens; it also forces them to do fast-paced mental math. Having confidence in mental math isn’t just about school. When your teenager is more comfortable with numbers, he’ll also have an easier time with everyday problems. Why? Because he’s used to looking at difficult tasks and breaking them down into smaller, simpler steps.
Sound off: What are some other old-school skills you should teach your kids?
Huddle up with your wife and ask, “How can the kids learn from our childhoods?”