PLEASE NOTE: This post has been updated with new information and moved to here:
40 Things We Need to Teach Our Kids Before They’re too Cool to Hear Our Wisdom
Photo by: Kevin Keller
Practical Tips for Productive Living
PLEASE NOTE: This post has been updated with new information and moved to here:
Photo by: Kevin Keller
BRC says
I have a decorative chalk board at home that I write loving notes to my family on – guess what is going up on my board…every single one of these, one at a time! I am going to keep each one up for a couple days and let the words sink in.
victoria m. says
I love this. So glad I found your list… The best part about getting to teach and pass on this knowledge to your child is that you get to do it every day of your life when you lead by example 🙂
Amanda says
I like the comment on humility.
What we are teaching our three boys is that they are better than no one. Everyone has value and unique skills. And just because they are better at a skill, that does not make them a better person.
And in counter, we also teach them that no one is better than them. They have a uniqueness that is great in and of itself. They need to embrace their individuality and others’.
It’s a balance — humility and confidence — and we continually stress which ever seems to be taking a back seat at the moment.
Francesco Tanganelli says
Yes, as others have said, THANKS!
cassie says
this is an awesome post and will print it for my sons when they get bigger =)
kmahorizon says
Wonderful article. I would put at the top of the list that if they keep God first place in their life everything else will be taken care of.
Maria says
#31 is so important!!! I have learned the hard way that when you don’t listen to your intuition it will cause you a lot of unneeded heartache!!! And life is too short to cause yourself useless heartache.
MUHEREZA EMMANUEL says
I’m 17 years old and I have read this post myself and have learned a lot, although am already in the cool stage (sometimes), thanks a lot… I am sure this will help change many other teenagers lives. Stay blessed.
MiniKiwi says
I find myself, rather suddenly, living with an inherited teenager, who may think he is already too cool for this list, and perhaps I need to wait until the cool phase is over and he grows into the great man I know he can be… However I’ll take a chance, print these off and stick them to the fridge, you never know what might rub off! Thanks Marc
Tanya says
Lovely
1. Never plan too hard
2. Hold a boy’s hand first
3. Body confidence
4. No one likes a smarty pants
5. Respect others as you respect yourself.
6. Lying big no no
7. Trust your thoughts & feelings
8. Make people laugh
9. Laugh at yourself
10. Move onto people your struggling with & find a friend who wants to be with you.
11. Can’t buy love or friendship
12. World is small
13. Please don’t talk back to parents, where only here to guide you my darling.
14. I made up a lullaby help her sleep.
15. Ask what do you wanna be when you grow up, make it mummy’s or daddy’s mission to lead in the right direction.
My girl wants to be a perfumist.
We collect stuff, make pretend potions.
16. We come from a star
17. Child reads to you before bed, exhaust that last breath with imagine.
18. No pressure, but in 5 minutes where…… Works for me
19 daughter reminds me, “I can’t wait when we got no money & we fish for dinner. That was gold to me
20 boring people get bored
21 camping, adventures, become a kid yourself, they love it.
By golly had’nt realised how much work I’ve succeeded with my child.
At the moment she’s only 10 and the love we have is grand.
Abdel Russell says
This was an awesome read! And I read it with my 5 year old son, by my side. Thank you for sharing this, Marc. Some of the things that were written in this I expanded upon, in my book “9 Rules of a Serial Goal Digger”. Change is Inevitable, is one of the chapters from my 60 page book, that fits right in with your Change is necessary. Thanks again, Marc.
Joel says
Thank you.
stephen morrow says
Give Faith a Chance..I Hope You Dance…
“I Hope You Dance”
I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
GOD forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance….I hope you dance.
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin’ might mean takin’ chances but they’re worth takin’,
Lovin’ might be a mistake but it’s worth makin’,
Don’t let some hell bent heart leave you bitter,
When you come close to sellin’ out reconsider,
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance….I hope you dance.
I hope you dance….I hope you dance.
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along,
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone.)
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
Dance….I hope you dance.
I hope you dance….I hope you dance.
I hope you dance….I hope you dance..
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone)