“A straight tree is not afraid of standing to die,” an old proverb still holds true, especially in today’s era, where children are often overly sheltered in their parents’ arms. So how can you help your child confidently face life’s challenges? The answer lies in equipping them with essential survival skills.
Why Teaching Children Survival Skills is Necessary
Learning to survive is not just about dealing with dangerous situations, but also about learning self-reliance, independence, and effective problem-solving. Survival skills help children develop confidence, courage, adaptability, and a sense of responsibility towards themselves and the community.
According to education expert Le Minh – author of the book “Nurturing Children’s Souls,” teaching children survival skills should begin early, from a young age. Children can learn through games, practical activities, and parental guidance.
Essential Survival Skills for Children
Survival skills encompass many different aspects, from basic skills like cooking and self-care to more complex skills like handling dangerous situations, problem-solving, and responding to natural disasters. Here are some essential survival skills for children:
1. Basic Skills:
- Simple Cooking: Knowing how to use a gas stove, microwave, heat up food, and cook some simple dishes like instant noodles, fried eggs, boiled vegetables…
- Self-Care: Knowing how to maintain personal hygiene, change clothes, do laundry, fold clothes…
- Using Tools: Knowing how to use knives, scissors, cleaning tools, flashlights, computers, mobile phones…
- Road Safety: Always obeying traffic laws, walking safely, cycling safely, riding a motorbike safely…
- First Aid: Knowing how to administer first aid for minor injuries, nosebleeds, heatstroke, heat exhaustion…
2. Handling Dangerous Situations:
- Recognizing Danger: Knowing how to recognize dangers from strangers, dangerous animals, fire, water, electricity, chemicals…
- Self-Defense: Knowing how to defend oneself when attacked, escape from strangers, call for help in danger…
- Knowing How to Escape: Knowing how to escape in case of fire, explosion, earthquake, flood…
- Using Escape Equipment: Knowing how to use generators, flashlights, radios… in emergencies.
3. Communication and Problem-Solving Skills:
- Effective Communication: Knowing how to communicate clearly and understandably, express opinions confidently, listen to others’ opinions…
- Problem-Solving: Knowing how to think independently, find solutions to problems, cope with difficult situations…
- Teamwork: Knowing how to cooperate with others, share tasks, solve common problems…
4. Responding to Natural Disasters:
- Recognizing Natural Disaster Risks: Knowing how to recognize signs of natural disasters such as storms, floods, earthquakes…
- Preparing for Natural Disasters: Knowing how to prepare food, drinking water, and necessary tools for the family…
- Safe Evacuation: Knowing how to evacuate safely when natural disasters occur, avoiding dangerous places…
- Rescue: Knowing how to help others in the event of natural disasters, searching for victims…
How to Teach Children Survival Skills Effectively
Teaching children survival skills is not a one-day task; it requires persistence, patience, and age-appropriateness. Here are some effective ways to teach children survival skills:
- Leading by Example: Parents are role models for their children, so demonstrate essential survival skills in everyday life.
- Creating Opportunities for Experience: Create opportunities for children to participate in outdoor activities, physical games, survival skills classes…
- Using Active Learning Methods: Create a fun learning environment, using games, stories, videos… to help children absorb knowledge more easily.
- Starting with Simple Things: Don’t set expectations too high for children; start with basic skills, then gradually increase complexity.
- Always Be Patient and Encourage Your Child: Be patient with your child, encourage and motivate them when they encounter difficulties.
A Story About Survival Skills
Once, I went on a trip to the highlands with my family. My daughter, who was only 8 years old at the time, was very excited about the trip. But in the middle of the road, the car broke down, and we had to stop in a deserted forest. At first, my daughter was very scared, but then I taught her how to use fire, build a tent, and find food and water from nature. My daughter was very confident and happy when experiencing new things.
From that story, I realized that teaching children survival skills not only helps them face difficulties in life but also helps them cultivate confidence, courage, and adaptability.
Conclusion
Teaching children survival skills is an invaluable asset for them in life. Equip your children with the necessary knowledge and skills so they can confidently face all challenges, become good children, and useful citizens for society.
Do you want to learn more about survival skills for children? Please contact us at phone number: 0372666666 or visit us at: 55 To Tien Thanh, Hanoi. We have a team of experts ready to assist you!