I WISH KIDS KNEW…
I’ve been asking around. “What stuff do you wish that children knew?” The variety and the intelligence of the following list lifted me. I’m hoping it lifts you, too. MORE…I’m hoping that if you are a parent you will adopt a few and train your children to know important things other children don’t. (Not an exhaustive list).
1. Washing Hands. Washing your hands is the number one way to stay healthy. Sure, stay away from sugar and processed food, but what will help you to not be sick in bed is clean hands. It also helps others by not spreading diseases.
2. Visibility. If you can’t see me I can’t protect you. Where will you be where I can’t see you? At school, on the bus, on a field trip. Why is this important to know? Because those are times when you will have to use more self-awareness. It is not always bad to be “out of sight,” but you should be aware of the potential dangers. Your teachers, your chaperones, and your bus driver are not parent substitutes. They are merely adults. Your parents are the only adults who will watch out for you in every situation where they are present.
3. Truth. Believing something doesn’t automatically make it true. Truth is never untrue. False is never true. Don’t give up truth to “get along.”
4. Knowing Truth. The sun doesn’t circle the earth every day. Rather, the earth circles the sun and turns on its axis. Even some adults don’t seem to understand this concept.
5. Using Good English. How to properly use “to,” “too,” and “two.” (It used to be learned in first grade).
6. How to Swim. One of the more common causes of death for children under 18 is drowning. If a child doesn’t know how to swim he or she is more likely to die in a water accident. Parents should also have swimming proficiency as the parent will be the “first responder” in an emergency. Drowning does not discriminate (unlike the articles you will read about swimming deaths) as anyone can die when he or she is prevented from breathing air.
7. Emergency Information. Children should memorize basic information like “mother’s name,” “one parent’s phone number,” “home address including zip code (on a recent teen retreat several teens did not know where they lived and had no clue what a zip code was).
8. Trusted Contacts. Add to the previous, they should have in their phone and brain several “emergency contact” phone numbers and addresses.
9. How the House Works. Children should learn basic chores (taking out the garbage, how to sort and do laundry, how to sweep and vacuum the floor). These things don’t get done automatically. People do them. Children are people.
10. Adulting. They should learn how to “Adult.” How to put air in a tire, pump gas, use real money, how to mail an envelope and how to write a real check. These are taught in age-appropriate segments. There is no reason to make life a mystery.
11. Spatial Awareness. How loud your voice is, what your arms could touch if extended. Knowing where you are at all times. Learning to use a physical map. Keeping track of directions. (I taught my children to always be aware of North and would ask them at random times.)
12. Self-Discipline. Add to the previous, they should learn some physical self-discipline. Tae Kwon Do or Gymnastics programs help them to have awareness of what their bodies CAN do.
13. Diet. Too many kids are chunky. Therefore, learn portion management, how to eat a balanced diet (knowing what that is might help), and how to work toward managing weight and muscle tone. Along with that is regular exercise built into their lives, such as hiking, swimming, and biking.
14. Accident Prevention. How to prevent accidents. Not every emergency is non-preventable. Running with scissors is a bad idea. Don’t test “is it hot” by touching the surface. They should be taught how to reduce accidents through prudent behaviors.
15. Self-Preservation. “Don’t go anywhere alone at night.” “Do not go alone on hikes, swimming, and climbs.” “How to use a knife properly.” “First aid.” “Avoiding stings and bites.” And “Do not approach wild animals.”
16. Dealing with Stinky People. How to react to mean people. How not to become aggressive when angry.
17. Understanding Mistakes (vs Intentions). Intentional acts are NOT mistakes. Everyone makes actual mistakes, it is how we learn. However, many mistakes can be avoided by planning and thinking. Avoid those you can, and learn from mistakes OTHERS make so YOU don’t have to make those. You don’t have to try something to know whether it is a good idea. (For example, alcohol. Watch what happens to others. They get goofy and get sick and sometimes get in fights. OK. Alcohol is something that should not control you; but you should control it.) Purposely heading toward danger is not a mistake.
18. Handling Emergencies. What to do in an emergency. Fire, flood, someone falls and is hurt, etc. Where to go and who to contact. Basic CPR. Potential exits from a house.
19. Sign Language. Pre-verbal infants CAN communicate simple things, like “more” without screaming. Small children can tell you their needs without yelling. Siblings can talk across a room without shouting. It also lends itself to safety issues where one family member is in trouble but can’t tell you directly (“held hostage,” “near river”). Dual linguistics is a good plan for fun and safety.
20. Not everyone will like you. That’s OK, as long as you are treating others well it is ENOUGH! It is amazing (if you think about it) how some people have no use for you if you happen to disagree even a little with their idea. But you don’t have to follow those people. If a person is like that, no matter how closely you follow, at some point they will no longer have need of you. They feed off of anger. You don’t have to do life that way. Spend your time instead being who you are without excuse. Your friends will be friends even if you don’t agree about everything, and that is natural and normal.
Copyright 2025 Donald Whelpley
[PLEASE NOTE that Don is always open to discussing the thoughts and opinions he shares here and welcomes comments as shared in the comment section. He doesn’t use other social media platforms and won’t see whatever you’d like to share with him if you post it elsewhere.
ALSO, Don is always open to offer his thoughts on various topics. If you have a specific request, you can let him know in a comment; he reads – and replies to – them all. ~ Sherry]
See more GUEST POSTS from Don
Since writing this, I have come across several more … and you will, too.
The point is that children aren’t dumb, but they need intelligent direction. Don’t make them learn ALL the hard lessons by their own mistakes. Give them a head start on being smart!