Education is seen as one of the best ways to enable your children to be successful in their life and career. But education itself is no longer sufficient to guarantee success for your children.
They must develop skill sets that are not generally taught in school, such as leadership, teamwork, communication and empathy.
Most importantly, you want them to have strong principles and ethics; have the ability to adapt and work with others; be considerate and kind and have a healthy mindset.
There are many programmes outside of school that can help children develop these skill sets and characteristics.
1. Leadership and teamwork camps
Leadership and teamwork programmes encourage children to work together and solve problems in a fun environment.
Working together to solve a problem teaches them valuable lessons in teamwork and how to acknowledge and negotiate differences of opinion.
This is an important leadership skill, being able to combine the strengths and expertise of different people to solve a problem or create something new.
There are many programmes available for children of all ages. Some, such as Leaderonomics Youth Camp, also conduct digital camps online.
Or, why not organise a more cost-effective programme with other parents from school?
Children are spending increasing amounts of time on their devices and the internet, which are replacing interaction with parents.
Children who have less interaction with their peers, parents and teachers will struggle to lead and work with others when they grow older.
2. Nature getaway
There is just something about a nature hike that re-energises the mind and makes the body feel lighter.
It’s even better if you do it with your children because of the valuable time you will be spending together.
And teaching your children to love nature might make them the eco-warriors of the future.
A study by the University of Exeter found that spending at least two hours in nature is associated with good health and well-being.
Malaysia is blessed with forests, natural caves, lakes, mountains and many more places that are free or cheap to visit.
These include Broga Hills and Templer’s Park, Penang Hill and Cameron Highlands.
More remote nature attractions include Pulau Redang, Pulau Langkawi, the Mulu Caves and Taman Negara in Pahang.
3. Arts activities: Music, poetry, literature, philosophy
Exposure to the arts encourages self-expression and gives children a productive outlet for their energy and can help them understand the world better.
Music and singing, poetry and essay writing, acting in plays and lessons in philosophy are just a few of the activities available.
Malaysia’s education system focuses on getting students ready to pass exams and gaining as much technical knowledge as possible. There is a lack of emphasis on the ethics and arts side.
Many fresh graduates who come out of the education system are unprepared and unaware of what it means to have a career and family.
Involvement in the arts can help improve a child’s world view and they may even create their own artworks that inspire others.
4. Community and charity work
Community and charity work help connect children to society and the people around them and encourages them to think about issues bigger than themselves.
It encourages a sense of purpose. Doing good works together can also improve the family relationship. Here is a short list of community outreach programmes:
- Education and children: Yayasan Chow Kit
- Poverty: MyKasih
- Refugees: UNHCR
- Health and humanitarian aid: Mercy Malaysia
- Environment: Ecoknights
5. Emotional and social skills programmes
Children must learn emotional and social skills so they can express themselves and resolve conflicts.
It is important for them to learn how to react properly and give the correct emotional cues to prevent any arguments from going too far
Emotional intelligence courses for children, such as those run by Brainfit and EOKidz, are gaining in popularity as parents become more aware of the long-term benefits of emotional maturity.
There are also resources available for free online to help teach children emotional and social intelligence skills. They include CommonSense, MindTools, VisionWorks and Daniel Coleman’s Emotional Intelligence and Social Intelligence.
This article first appeared in MyPF. Follow MyPF to simplify and grow your personal finances on Facebook and Instagram.