If we’re being totally honest, being a parent is rarely easy. No matter what stage of life they’re at, raising a child can come with a whole host of challenges that you have to face. But if there’s one thing that a lot of parents are less prepared for than just about anything else, it’s the moment when their child heads out into the world for themselves. This doesn’t necessarily mean when they’re an adult, but when your child is old enough to start experiencing the world independently, are you sure that it’s something they’re ready for? With that in mind, here are some things that you can do to prepare your kids for the wider world.

Teach Them Life Skills

We all have those things that we wish we could have been taught sooner in life. School is incredibly important and valuable but there are many life skills that it simply doesn’t teach. From being able to cook a decent meal to feed themselves to being able to understand how to be responsible with money, there are certain things that are absolutely essential for later life that schools just don’t teach. This means that it falls to you as their parent to make sure that they have been able to develop these skills for when they need them.

Foster Empathy

If there’s one thing that’s more important to teach your kids than just about anything else, it’s empathy. If your child learns to empathise with those around them, they’re going to be well equipped for almost anything the world can throw at them. From making friends at preschool for the first time to growing up and navigating complex adult social spaces, having an understanding of other people’s wants and needs is something that really cannot put a price on. Helping your child understand the people around them and navigate the world with kindness is one of the greatest gifts you can give to them.

Be Honest With Them

Many of us try to shield our kids from the world, and much of the time that’s a parent’s job. But the truth is that there are certain situations where it’s actually far better to be honest with them. Being honest with your kids can be incredibly positive for their developments. Sure, there are always going to be things that aren’t’ appropriate for kids to be learning about and that they won’t understand, but children are far more emotionally mature than a lot of people give them credit for, and many of them can tell when someone’s not telling them the truth about something important.

One of the hardest things for any parent to do is to find the balance between helping their child understand the world and their place within it, while still keeping them as kids. Being a child is a precious and innocent time and you don’t want to take that away from them, but at the same time, you can’t hide the world from them. All you can do is make sure that they’re ready for it.