Being extra cautious with can be harmful for your growth and development. The world is moving at a fast pace and it is important to not remain cocooned in a world in which you believe everything is hunky-dory.
The recent instance of a Gujarati diamond merchant asking his only son to earn a living or the US presidentBarrack Obama's 15-year-old daughter working at a seafood restaurant are proof enough that life skills, besides education, are important to help children face life's challenges.
Here are a few ways in which you can prepare yourself to be confident and independent.
Introduce Yourself To Public Transport
Sunday evening, Sneha Naik, whose son was celebrating his second birthday, took a BEST bus along with her husband. She says, "Whenever we step out, Aarush (her son) keeps looking at the bus until we move away from it. We thought it was time we took him in one and what better day than his birthday? When he grows older, we will make sure that he makes use of public transport."
Though you may want to limit yourself to the comfort of your car, it is equally important to acquaint yourself with modes of public transport. "It becomes all the more important in a city like Mumbai, where commuting gets difficult," adds Sneha. You can plan short trips and vacations and use public transport for that, too. Ensure that they are looking around, observing their surroundings. Also learn about basic traffic rules and street etiquette.
Learn to say no
It may sound simple, but refusal skills are hard to learn. The world wants us to work according to them and in such a scenario, saying no requires a lot of gumption. For starters, anyone acting inappropriately, irrespective of their power and position, needs to be ignored. Saying no to something that you don't wish to do or wish to be boosts your self-confidence and ensures that no one takes you for granted. Being assertive goes a long way — be it bullying, succumbing to peer pressure, lying or falling in someone's trap.
Explore and experience
Be it reading comics, watching movies and cartoons (suited for your age), or step outdoors for treks and camps, don't say no to something that could help you grow. Learn to choose your own books or friends. Don't be influenced by what your parents want you to become or do.
Amit Gajbhiye, father of a 14-year-old, says, "Ever since my son was seven, I asked him to get print-outs from the shop below our building and even encouraged him to participate in the overnight educational trips that his school organised. Not only is he more independent than most kids his age but he's also become more street-smart and good with communication skills."
Find solutions for 'What If' situations
At different stages in life, it is necessary to make yourself accident-proof by practising 'what if' situations.
Preeti Mishra, mother of two kids, aged eight and six, respectively, says, "Since my husband and I both work, and our kids are at the creche, I've made sure that they know the emergency numbers as well as remember numbers of our relatives who stay close by with the help of tunes of popular songs, so they may remember it better. Many a times, it so happens that whenever the song plays, they start reciting the numbers."
Similarly, warning them about strangers, informing them about unsafe spots around important landmarks near their house are of importance, too. While they need to follow the protocol, under careful supervision, you could also test them to keep a check on them.
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