What do you wish you'd learned when you were young?

teach them a love of reading and books. don't make it into a school chore - i die a little inside every time someone says 'but you can't teach them to read, what about getting bored at school?' :rolleyes: - it's a whole other world.

HUNK

A musical instrument (one that they genuinely like)
A second language (French, German, etc)
Reading and Creative Writing
Critical Thinking (This is invaluable to ALL aspects of life)

later12

I wish I'd learned to spell Connacht properly.

Just saw the rugby updates and saw that I've been spelling it Connaught all these years like a Brit; googled it and turns out Connacht is the correct version.

What a fool I've been; a FOOL I say!!!!!!!!!!!!

Davidius

I wish I'd known how to solve 2nd order linear PDEs when I was 5.

kowloon

Abi wrote: »

She can still get pregnant 'on the rag'.

Should have learnt that.

Kold

You're all ignoring the point.


What the f*ck is up with your apostrophe OP?

reera82

To think before they speak. Children on the playground can have long memories.

John Doe1

How to tie my own shoelaces

oppenheimer1

Wear sunscreen

Babybuff

how to value myself

Babybuff

make it 8 and throw in a burger

paddyandy

If i knew then what i know now i thought i did you know somehow if i could have the time again i'd take the sunshine leave the rain....

jiltloop

Would love to have learned music theory or piano and also would like to have a learned karate or some other form of beating people up skilfully.

anhedonia

How to beat-mix 3 vinyl decks.

The organc chemistry surrounding substituted methylenedioxyphenethylamines (MDxx).

stovelid

theg81der wrote: »

I know I want to teach my child alot before they go to school - reading, maths, language, musical instrument.....

lol

You'll be doing well just to keep the house clean.

Feeona

OP, there's so much work involved in rearing a child that it would be virtually impossible to ensure you get to do everything you intend to do with your child. From working in primary schools, I think a good grasp of the English language is essential. There is a worrying amount of (Irish) children who find it difficult to put a sentence together.

Talk to your child constantly from day one. This'll give him/her a great headstart. Read to your child, give them an interest in books. If they see you reading, they'll do the same. Use blocks/lego for their mathematical ability. Eastern European children have fantastic mathematical abilities, and from speaking to some Polish parents, blocks/building is the way to go to help them in this area.

*********Above all******, spend time with him/her. I've noticed that if I give my nephews and nieces presents, it's all well and good and they say thanks. What they want even more is for me to play with them. So no need to buy expensive gifts, all they want is your time. Your child will benefit enormously from any time you spend with him/her. It's great for building self esteem.

Best of luck to ya!

EDIT : Oops forgot to say what I would've liked to learn when I was younger. I wish I'd learned to stand up for myself at an early age.

ICANN

I wish I'd learn gymnastics.



Just because.

Dunny

Nothing.

Im still young. :pac:

paddyandy

There are 2 kinds of Information in the World : Useful & Useless and the latter is extremely popular more so than the Former .

Josephine O Beirnes

Dont trust politicians my grandmother would say, god bless er she was right....:)

phoenix833

How to play the guitar, I'm starting now though.

That your parents were only doing what they think is best, only realise it when you're older.

sheesh

design and skiing

bb1234567

Always wanted to learn sign language.

Explosions in the Sky

I always wanted to learn saxophone, must of have been an obsession with the Simpsons I guess but I never did

Lia_lia

More languages. I moved to France when I was 3 and was fluent after a couple of months. Kids pick up languages so easily! It was easier for me because I had to no choice but to speak it, I guess.

I kinda wish my parents were a lot more pushy with me in regards to schoolwork. I was never told to do homework or study. And I was never expected to do well in exams. They wouldn't have cared if I went to college or not. Neither of them went to college. It was weird seeing all of my friends being really pushed into getting good leaving certs and going to college. I think I'm the only person my age that I know that would have preferred to have strict parents. I guess it was good in a way, but still!

Oh and swimming! I can't believe how many people in their 20's can't swim. My Mother basically dropped me in a pool when I was a baby and I learned to swim. Okay, maybe not as simple as that. But I never needed to get swimming lessons or anything! And I'm a trained lifeguard. Once you start babies swimming from a very young age (under 3 months) they will be able to do it pretty much instinctively.

af_thefragile

I'ld liked to have become a better swimmer or atleast get good at some sport...

mattjack

theg81der wrote: »

I`m going to become a parent in 6 months and its something I`m going to take very seriously. Started reading books and trying to educate myself now. I know I want to teach my child alot before they go to school - reading, maths, language, musical instrument.....


What else do you consider valuable to learn young, what do you wish you were taught?

Congratulations on becoming a soon to be parent.Print off this thread for your baby....he/she will know how you felt 'bout them six months before their birth...also your child will know what sort of spacers you associate with..:).

also good luck,

saa

I wish I put more effort into French, I would be fluent now and could go over and work there no problem, but no my efforts were spread too thinly over so many subjects I just couldnt excell in anything therefore

I wish I learned how I learn not trying to conform to the 3 R's memory tests in school and focusing on learning in class rather than hours of writing notes for nothing I would have went a lot further

Johnny Foreigner

Gaelic.

paddyandy

To Listen and read the signposts and ignore popular notions .

Nothingbetter2d

theg81der wrote: »

Yea been talking about this. I am religious to an extent but wouldn`t say I`m catholic and would like to raise my child non denomonational (sp?) but my husband wants to raise the "normal" which I think is hypocritical and frankly a waste of their time. I know if my child is in a normal school I couldn`t really not let them wear a communion dress etc they would hate me??

you can argue this to your husband.... Would you put your child in a porno movie?... If he is not a sick pervert his answer will be NO.... now ask him would you leave your child with a Priest you know next to nothing about?

Keep you kid safe and out of the church. RCC will be a dead religion soon anyways as less n less people are signing up for Priest college.

later12

Nothingbetter2d wrote: »

you can argue this to your husband.... Would you put your child in a porno movie?... If he is not a sick pervert his answer will be NO.... now ask him would you leave your child with a Priest you know next to nothing about?

You do know that a child is more likely to be abused by someone who is well known to their parents than not?

I'm all for keeping religion out of education, but crass generalisations like you've just made do that argument no justice.

DB21

Nothingbetter2d wrote: »

you can argue this to your husband.... Would you put your child in a porno movie?... If he is not a sick pervert his answer will be NO.... now ask him would you leave your child with a Priest you know next to nothing about?

Totally relatable situations.

Fucking hell.

Snowie

Quazzie wrote: »

To stay away from Religion

didn't you watch monty python the life of brian when you were 7

I Heart Internet

That problems don't usually just go away, they have to get solved.

Especially work related ones. Ignoring those unwelcome emails is a **** idea and leads to more problems and stess in the long-run. Still do it though - stupid.

Quazzie

Snowie wrote: »

didn't you watch monty python the life of brian when you were 7

:eek:how did you know that?

Fear Uladh

Definitely wish I learned guitar.

Kim_Il_Jong

Not Russian or Chinese, stick with French Spanish or German.
They'll most likely be coming into contact with fellow west Europeans earlier and English is part composed of French and German words, so easier, and close connections in Spanish too.

I've listened to some Russian learning language tapes ..... :eek: wtf.

Also have a word with them about bringing themselves up rather than putting others down, I spent a lot of time as a part of the school environment where many of the boys were busy calling each other this and that and getting petty one overs on their friends and rivals, the smart ones learned to let it fly rather than join in, and join a different circle.

neemish

theg81der wrote: »

Yea been talking about this. I am religious to an extent but wouldn`t say I`m catholic and would like to raise my child non denomonational (sp?) but my husband wants to raise the "normal" which I think is hypocritical and frankly a waste of their time. I know if my child is in a normal school I couldn`t really not let them wear a communion dress etc they would hate me??

As someone who works with First Communion families, schools would have more respect for you if you decide to make a decision based on whats best for your child. Just because your child is in the class, does NOT mean they have to make the Sacrament

neemish

on topic, I'd teach my child to have belief in themselves, to have faith in their own abilities.

With that I hope they;d pick their own dreams and passions and follow them

languagenerd

Pretty much the same as everyone else: music and languages.

I started learning French and Spanish when I was 11 - they turned out to be my best subjects, and I found them insanely easy in school - I can only imagine how well I'd be able to speak them if I'd started earlier!

I started playing guitar at 14, love it but I'm a fairly average player (and a little lazy, I admit: if it's too hard, I'll probably give up and try a different song). My brother started when he was about 8, and he's the best guitarist I know!

But at the end of the day, kids will be kids and I dunno how easy it is to convince them to do extra study (esp languages) when they're young, you don't wanna be the pushy parent either

Napper Hawkins

deirdremf wrote: »

Glad to hear it, but you sure hide it well.

I've nothing against the Irish language. Why would I? I think it's a beautiful language and admire anyone who can speak it.

What I do resent are the years and years spent forcing it upon me when all of that time could've been spent learning a language that's spoken outside of the Gaeltacht.

If it had been optional and taught properly then it would maybe have been a different story. But it wasn't.

I speak English, my family speaks English. I was raised in a city that spoke English as well as the vast majority of the rest of the country. We're speaking English right now.

When I lived abroad, none of the thoughts that crossed my mind included the phrase: "Hmmm, if only I could speak Irish. That would really help me in this situation............here....in France...".

Thanks for reading. x

bobster453

bobbytables wrote: »

However somebody else mentioned martial arts & I definitely agree. A lot to be gained incl. discipline & self confidence. Self defence is secondary.

Hi Bobbytables
Never to late to learn a martial art, I am 48 and have been learning Kung Fu for the past 8 years and find it absolutely brilliant, the Forms, the Weapons,overall training and conditioning.At this stage I get irritable if I miss my 4 weekly training sessions, even do it on Hols.
However, to me, self defence is Primary, not secondary, better to know it and not need it, than need it and not know it.

Standman

I wish I had learned how the world really is and not how adults wished it to be.

lefthooker

That no matter how hard you are, or think you are, GRRRR
YOU ARE GOING TO MEET SOMEONE WHO IS HARDER.... & REGRET IT

dr gonzo

tl;dr

I went to a boys school until I was 18 so, quite simply, I wish I had learned to interact with women at much younger age to prevent my later social retardation. :cool:

previous user

Having a career and a house by the age of 25 wasn't the be all and end all.

bobster453

lefthooker wrote: »

That no matter how hard you are, or think you are, GRRRR
YOU ARE GOING TO MEET SOMEONE WHO IS HARDER.... & REGRET IT

Aint that the Truth!!!:D

Mr Keek

Definitely swimming, trying to organise a Relay Tri Athlon at work and I was shocked at the number of people that cannot swim, we were talking like 15 out of 100, and of the 15, only 6/8 of them can swim well. A basic basic skill that every human should know how to do...., a skill that could save your life.

Teach them that it is never OK to look down on someone unless they are helping that person up and back onto their feet.

Teach them the difference between a 'Need' and a 'Want' and the importance of saving money.

Think someone else mentioned to explore foods, nothing worse than a picky eater. My Mam thought me how to cook at a very young age, and this has served me well, especially when I was at college.

...and a couple DIY skills is always a good thing when they get older. Again, I'm shocked at my mates who can't wire a plug, struggle to understand how their heating works and use it effectively, install a Television Aerial or Satalite Dish etc.

PandyAndy

I wish I had learned how to swim. I'm now 24... fucking annoying.

Loved to have learned another language in school but for some reason I chose Business Studies for the JC so there was no hope in learning one for the LC. Not too sure why I picked Business Studies...

Would have liked to have learned how to cook.

As for stuff for your own child in no order of importance;

Teach your child to ask for things when they want it and not to expect the world to hand them everything.

Involve them in a martial art from a young age.

Don't bring your child up to be religious. They aren't going to 'miss out' by not going to communion and confirmation. If you want to do this but your spouse is reluctant you will really need to stand your ground.

Don't force them to take up hobbies but do sign them up for activities i.e just give them a gentle push, and if they genuinely don't like it then leave them make their own decisions about it.

When they're in school always ask them how their day was, ask them about their friends, ask them about their teachers, ask them about anyone they don't like. Make sure they're not being bullied or feeling left out. Also talk to their teachers as much as possible, don't wait for the parent/teacher meetings.

Teach them to not take undeserved shit from anyone.

When you take them on walks talk to them about everything. Animals you see, colours of cars, trees, rocks, absolutely everything.

Teach as much science as you can.

Involve your child with everything you do. Tell them about your work etc.

At least have one or two their friends call over to play with them once or twice during the week.

Brushing teeth. And regular dentist visits when they've lost their baby teeth. If they need braces but don't want them, well tough they're getting them.

Who cares if their clothes get dirty when they're outside. They can be washed.

Don't talk to them sarcastically even if it's an attempt at humour as they won't get it.

Do not be their friend. Just be a good, open-minded parent. I'm sure there's a lot more. I wrote this from the top of my head. I didn't expect this to be this long

Also check out the Rosetta Stone software for learning a language for yourself. I'm currently learning Mandarin.