What essential skills do children need to thrive, and when do they need them? As a parent of two teenagers, one of whom is in college, this is something I think about a lot these days. When my children were younger, they’d often ask me to get something for them, a glass of milk, a pair of socks, and I’d annoy them by suggesting they get it themselves. “Life skills!” I’d chirp. On some deep (maybe weird?) level, I needed to know that if something were to happen to me and their dad, they’d be able to fend for themselves. Getting their own glass of milk wasn’t going to cut it, obviously, but it seemed like a good place to start.
