Since we’re down to about a month – give or take – until school starts, were you aware that there is more to preparing your student for the year than buying school supplies? Parents, it’s your job to teach your children the following. They’re going to need it for the rest of their lives.
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER
It’s the parents’ job to request a Social Security number. This is done by checking a box on the birth registration form provided by the hospital after a child is born. The hospital forwards the birth registration form to the state’s vital records office, which then sends the information to the Social Security Administration. If parents do not apply at the hospital, they must apply through their local Social Security office or online at www.ssa.gov/number-card.
BIRTHDAY
Kids need to know the month, day, and year that they were born. Knowing how old you are is basic self-knowledge.
ADDRESS – Mailing and Physical
Many times these are the same; however, not always. Why? What if they were abducted and managed to get away from their abductors? The police are going to need to know so they can return your child to you. The mailing address is the location where you get your mail. The physical address is the location of your house.
PHONE NUMBERS
Yes, teach your kids to memorize actual 10-digit numbers. Help them memorize their own numbers as well as their parents’ numbers and any other emergency contacts. Again, what if they’re abducted and somehow find a phone? If they don’t have numbers memorized, how can they let you know where they are, especially if they only have a few seconds?
E-MAIL ADDRESS
Teach your child how to create a respectable, professional email account and address. They need to memorize the address and the password to their account.
ABILITY TO APPROACH AN ADULT AND ASK QUESTIONS – RESPECTFULLY
Teach your child to communicate face-to-face. Teach them how to advocate for themselves. You, as a parent, need to practice backing off and letting your child deal with problems. Most problems at school are minor, and your child can and should deal with any issues themselves before getting their parents involved. Sometimes, parents do need to step in, but not every time. By letting your child handle the problem, they are learning to problem solve, which is a real-world life skill.
HOW TO GREET SOMEONE WITH A HANDSHAKE.
The handshake should be firm, and both people should make eye contact.
When you teach your child these skills and facts, YOU, the parent, are building the foundation for your child’s success. YOU are preparing them to be productive members of society. STOP doing everything for your child. Let them grow and develop.
