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Ask HN: Question for Parents of HN

What qualities and knowledge should you strive to instill in your child? What areas of development should you pay attention to?

I am making a list, this is what I have so far (randomly added). Please add yours.

* physical development / health

* decision-making

* risk assessment

* problem-solving

* logical reasoning

* understanding of economics and personal finance

* self-regulation

* Critical thinking

* creativity

* Numeracy

* Computational thinking

* focus

* independence

* (self) mastery

* concentration

* responsibility

These are just random ideas, some things overlap or are not precise etc. I was just wondering what others are thinking.

( 20 comments | 15 points | on HN )
Re:Ask HN: Question for Parents of HN by nvahalik on Friday November 11, 2016 @10:22PM (#12936427)
Some of our ideas overlap but the words might be different:

* Faith and worldview * compassion * kindness * obedience * discipline * perseverance * desire for truth * problem solving / improvisation

Faith / World view is huge for us because it drives everything else really.

I've learned also that sometimes trying to foist certain nonessentials on kids can be counter productive. E.g. Bike riding. I tried to make him do it and he hated it. We just left it out and now he loves it. We do make him obviously do school and also martial arts.

Re:Ask HN: Question for Parents of HN by stephenr on Friday November 11, 2016 @10:45PM (#12936491)
I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "Faith / World view" ?
Re:Ask HN: Question for Parents of HN by nvahalik on Tuesday November 22, 2016 @08:25AM (#13013909)
I guess notifications don't work for this... but yes. Faith / World view is not just "religion" but how that religion impacts how and why I do particular things.

Ultimately I also believe that _everyone_ has a worldview even if they don't claim a particular religion they still have something that impacts what they do and how they think.

Re:Ask HN: Question for Parents of HN by thomasrognon on Friday November 11, 2016 @11:54PM (#12936673)
I would guess that means their religion.
Re:Ask HN: Question for Parents of HN by stephenr on Saturday November 12, 2016 @12:05AM (#12936688)
I don't get how "World view" relates to religious beliefs, hence my query.
Re:Ask HN: Question for Parents of HN by Casseres on Saturday November 12, 2016 @12:43AM (#12936781)
Religion is a powerful driving force in many cultures. Comprehending that other people believe in a different religion as strongly as you believe in yours helps one's understanding of the world.
Re:Ask HN: Question for Parents of HN by nvahalik on Tuesday November 22, 2016 @08:26AM (#13013924)
In all cultures. In some cases the religion is secular humanism or socialism. If you don't want to call it religion then call it a world view but it is essentially the same thing.
Re:Ask HN: Question for Parents of HN by danielvf on Friday November 11, 2016 @08:56PM (#12936120)
Some less popular ones that aren't on the list:

- Humility - Honesty - Life is not fair

More popular:

- How to choose friends - How to be a friend

Obscure but save a lot of pain

- Don't spend too much on a house or car. - How to recognize and run away from psychopaths.

Re:Ask HN: Question for Parents of HN by romanhn on Friday November 11, 2016 @11:25PM (#12936593)
I'm curious, what do you plan to do with this list? The ones listed in this thread are valuable, sure, but the opportunities for imparting these lessons come up with daily interactions. I personally wouldn't stress out about trying to cover all the bases. Be a good person and a role model yourself and your kids will take on a lot of those qualities on their own.
Re:Ask HN: Question for Parents of HN by artpepper on Saturday November 12, 2016 @12:48AM (#12936792)
> Be a good person and a role model

This. More and more, I've realized that I want my kid to have empathy, curiosity about the world, and a strong sense of self, and I trust that the rest will fall into place.

The specifics of what she learns or what her interests are, matter less. (Obviously I want her to learn all the academic basics, reading and math, etc.)

[slight edits]

Re:Ask HN: Question for Parents of HN by cyberferret on Friday November 11, 2016 @08:45PM (#12936080)
I think you have covered all bases. The only things I would add is to forge a sense of strong self-discipline, and understand what it means to be a 'person of honour'.
Re:Ask HN: Question for Parents of HN by fillskills on Friday November 11, 2016 @10:03PM (#12936363)
I thought about this before my kid was born and made this list:

Why are we learning <this> before teaching <this>?

Grit - Passion and Perseverance

Basics of food and the food chain

Psychology

Planning forward

Taking criticism

Finance as a way to understand the workings of the world

Stand up for yourself

Biology

Staying positive, not giving up easily

Darwin Evolution

Animals

Meditation

History

Re:Ask HN: Question for Parents of HN by kawera on Friday November 11, 2016 @08:53PM (#12936105)
* Empathy

* Humbleness.

Re:Ask HN: Question for Parents of HN by kohanz on Friday November 11, 2016 @09:25PM (#12936233)
Was about to post empathy myself. It's of very high importance on my list and it's incredible how early it can start to develop (see it in my toddler son already). Although I think in a normal loving household, empathy will probably develop naturally. I would imagine a child without empathy lived a troubled childhood.
Re:Ask HN: Question for Parents of HN by dvdhnt on Friday November 11, 2016 @10:16PM (#12936410)
> Empathy

I came here to add this one, too.

It's usefulness and affect on social development, deep relationships, and happiness can't be understated.

Re:Ask HN: Question for Parents of HN by GomezSandra on Friday November 11, 2016 @08:52PM (#12936100)
Great list! Probably include sales
Re:Ask HN: Question for Parents of HN by xiaoma on Friday November 11, 2016 @09:52PM (#12936329)
Ethics
Re:Ask HN: Question for Parents of HN by artpepper on Saturday November 12, 2016 @12:42AM (#12936778)
- Empathy

- Imagination

- Self-actualization / strong sense of self

- Names of dinosaurs

Re:Ask HN: Question for Parents of HN by mturmon on Saturday November 12, 2016 @12:41AM (#12936776)
Sense of humor

Word play

Irony in all its senses

Re:Ask HN: Question for Parents of HN by wslh on Friday November 11, 2016 @09:29PM (#12936255)
I think some of the most important skills are team work, communication, helping others, and recognizing the resources they have beyond themselves. You list is much focused on the individual rather than the team or a society.