15 Life Skills Your Child’s Teacher Won’t Be Teaching Your Kids This Year

I know lot’s of people who think Homework is their only “Educational” duty as a parent. Personally I detest homework it just doesn’t seem to work for us. It involves, shouting, bribing, negotiating and eventually crying and that’s just me. Instead we “learn” in other ways.

I don’t know why it was never intentional but we have always included our kids in everyday adult life. I was one of those parents who let their toddler use a pair or scissors and no not the safety ones either. I am also that parent who lets my kids use a real knife to help prepare dinner. But I am also that parent that cringes when they climb a tree or imagine their neck snapping as they try for the 100th time to do a cartwheel. The only thing going up is my heart rate as I imagine the unthinkable. But somewhere in all the boundaries and lines and parenting styles we do need to teach our kids to survive the world. 15 life skills they don’t teach our kids in school.

Last month I shared a collection of beach crafts that used items from the beach like seashells and sand. This month’s collection is all about beach animals and things you might see at the beach that don’t require beachy materials to make. In fact you’ve probably got what you need to make most of these beach crafts in your house already.

How about paper plates? With a paper plate you can make this cute watercolor seashell from The Educator’s Spin on It, or an adorable seagull like this one from Glued to My Crafts.

Add some white beans and you can make paper plate sand dollars like Crafts by Amanda. Or use a paper plate as a frame for a sweet beach scene like this crab and turtle one from Artsy Craftsy Mom, which includes a downloadable template and instructions to make it super easy.

Or grab a paper plate and some bubble wrap to make a jellyfish like this one from Happy Toddler Playtime. If you have paper bowls instead of plates, you can also make a jellyfish from one of those, like Natural Beach Living did.

Use your stash of craft sticks and googly eyes to make crabs, fish, sharks and more with this craft idea from The Keeper of the Cheerios.

I love this little crab made with a cardboard tube from Hunny I’m Home. With this same idea I’ll bet you could make lots of different creatures.

Grab some construction paper to make the loopy tentacles on this watercolor jellyfish from Craftsy Hacks. Or make a stained glass jellyfish like this one from Life Anchored.

Make easy puffy paint to make these fun fluffy starfish from I Heart Crafty Things, or use cupcake liners to make cute little crabs (also from I Heart Crafty Things).

Turn an old pool noodle into some super cute fish with this tutorial from Happy Toddler Playtime.

And if you’ve got some leftover yarn lying around, make pompoms and turn them into turtles like these from Craftsy Hacks. (And check out my post on different ways to make pompoms if you need a refresher!)

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