Since everything’s changing all the time, it sometimes makes me think I’m clinging to lessons from the past with things I teach my kids. But I believe old life lessons still have plenty to offer. It’s with these lessons that I’ve dealt with life’s ups & downs—and I want my kids to benefit too. Here are ten “outdated” life lessons that I believe are still worth teaching your children. You’ll give them tools that’ll help them find their own way, no matter what the future brings.
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Patience Is a Virtue
I keep telling my kids to take a breath & be patient, even though waiting feels strange in our instant world. However, good things usually take time. Like when we bake cookies together, we have to wait for them to be just right or when we plant seeds in the garden, it takes weeks to see them sprout. Doing so helps my kids slow down & enjoy life’s little moments.
Hard Work Always Pays Off
I tell my kids to always give it their all and instead of trying to find the easy way out, they get their hands dirty. When my daughter struggled with math homework, she stuck with it—and her grades improved. Or when my son wanted to learn guitar, he practiced every day until he could play his favorite song. Seeing their proud smiles when they reach their goals reminds me why hard work matters so much!
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Respect Your Elders
Respecting older people is always important & I taught this to my kids. Of course, they might roll their eyes when Grandpa starts telling his fishing tales again—but I remind them he has a lifetime of experiences. They’ll listen to Grandma’s stories about growing up without the internet to discover how different things used to be. Essentially, they learn to appreciate the wisdom that comes with age.
Money Doesn’t Buy Happiness
I explain to my kids that just buying more stuff won’t make them truly happy, no matter how much fun new toys might be. The excitement fades! Instead, we’ve made memories camping in the backyard & having movie nights—these experiences bring us closer. It helps kids value what really matters, like laughter with friends or family game nights.
Manners Matter
Even today, I firmly believe that manners are important and I remind my kids to say “please” & “thank you,” as well as greeting neighbors with a smile. They’re ready to lend a hand when they can. It’s those moments of kindness that show my kids how the smallest actions can brighten someone’s day—respect & courtesy take you quite far.
Honesty Is the Best Policy
I always tell my kids to tell the truth and especially when it’s hard. If they break something or forget to do a chore, they understand that owning up is the right thing to do as opposed to hiding mistakes. Being honest means they don’t have to keep track of lies. People know they can count on them which is something they’ll never get from a textbook.
Finish What You Start
I encourage my kids to stick with the things they begin and if they join a sports team, I expect them to stay committed for the whole season. We always talk about the importance of following through whenever they feel like quitting. Finishing what they start helps them feel accomplished. As such, they stay ready to take on new goals!
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Doing is more important than just talking. For example, they might say they’ll help out—but actually pitching in means a lot more, even though it’s a lot harder. I teach my kids to stick to their promises no matter how much they might regret it in the moment. Why is this important? Because it helps them make a difference in people’s lives.
Treat Others as You Want to Be Treated
I always tell my kids to treat people the way they’d like to be treated. If they don’t like being teased, they shouldn’t tease others and being kind to others helps them as much as it helps you. Best of all, being considerate helps to build better friendships. It also makes the world a bit nicer & that’s great for everyone!
Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover
Likewise, I tell my kids not to judge people just by how they look or act at first. When my daughter thought the new girl at school seemed unfriendly, I encouraged her to say hello anyway—it turns out that the girl was just shy. Now they’re great friends! Essentially, I help them understand that keeping an open mind leads to unexpected & wonderful experiences.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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