Soft skills matter, probably more than you might think. Research conducted by Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation and Stanford Research Center found that 85% of job success comes from having well‐developed soft and people skills and only 15% from job skills (known as hard skills). Another report, conducted by the social enterprise Skills Builder Partnership in liaison with the CIPD, also found that people with higher levels of essential skills earn, on average, an extra £4,600 a year. With that in mind, here are the essential soft skills for your kids to learn and develop.
Related: Life skills for kids
The top soft skills for kids to learn & develop:
2. Critical thinking
10. Time Management
What are soft skills?
Teaching your kids the right skills as they grow builds confidence and resilience that affects everything they do. Like essential life skills, such as money skills and looking after themselves, soft skills are important. They are the interpersonal skills that help us thrive in the world. At their core soft skills are people skills. The ability to connect and communicate with anyone, anywhere, will set your child apart. To be curious, open, and collaborate with others is a true superpower.
Unlike hard skills, which refer to job-related and academic knowledge and abilities, soft skills are often neglected because they focus on skills many people think are innate, such as communication, collaboration, and empathy.
Why are soft skills important?
Soft skills are important because they are the interpersonal skills that help us get on effectively with others. They will help teens build rapport with others, communicate effectively, solve problems, and be more adaptable in situations.
Helen Bryant Leadership expert and Soft Skills Trainer, says: “Our children face a maze of challenges in the fast-paced game of life. Soft skills are the key to their success. These abilities are not only the secret weapon for making friends, but they also unlock the doors to success in school, work, and beyond.”
Why kids should develop soft skills in early childhood
All soft skills help kids interact effectively with others and solve problems, so it pays to start developing these skills early. Teaching preschoolers how to share, deal with strong emotions and communicate are building blocks to building strong relationships and working well with others. As kids get older, developing these skills further can help them cope with stress and adversity, stay calm under pressure, and bounce back from setbacks. As they move into their teens, adapting these soft skills further can help older children be assertive, set boundaries, and take care of themselves.
Top 10 Soft Skills to teach your kids
Helping your child to improve their soft skills can be challenging when they are so happy to spend their free time on tech and hidden in their bedroom. However, there are a range of things you can do that make a difference. Here’s what to teach them.
Communicating well includes being able to express yourself clearly and effectively, as well as listening to others attentively, a soft skill known as active listening. Kids learn by watching, so model this to help them develop good communication skills. Encourage them to speak up for themselves and chat with people they don’t know. Role model this yourself as there’s a big gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it.
2. Critical thinking
This includes being able to think logically and analytically. Give your kids opportunities to solve problems to help them develop their critical thinking skills. For example, you could give them a puzzle to solve or ask them to devise a solution to a problem.
Also known as emotional intelligence, this includes being able to understand and manage your own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. Help them develop this skill by showing empathy through listening to them, understanding their feelings, and responding in a caring way.
This includes being able to identify and solve problems logically and efficiently. Help kids by not always rushing to fix their problems for them; instead, allow them to work on possible solutions.
This includes being able to work effectively with others towards a common goal. Encourage them to think of your family as a team and think about all the different ways to help and motivate each other with things like chores.
Being organised in the way they do things and approach situations helps kids manage their stress and their time. So be sure to teach your kids organisational skills such as goal setting, and prioritisation techniques.
Creative thinking includes coming up with new ideas and solutions and thinking outside the box. Sometimes, the best way to develop new ideas is to take risks. Encourage kids to try new things and not be afraid to fail.
Being able to adjust to change and to be flexible in your thinking is a powerful soft skill. And the more experiences your child has, the more adaptable they will become. Take your child to new places, encourage them to try new foods, read new books and meet new people.
Bouncing back from setbacks and challenges is an important skill for dealing with stress, change, and adversity. Help your child develop a growth mindset to see that challenges are opportunities to learn and grow.
10. Time Management
Time management for kids is a crucial soft skill for all areas of life. Help your child learn to prioritise tasks and focus on the most important ones first. Then show them how to create a schedule. This will help them to stay on track and to avoid procrastination.
Tips to help your children develop these soft skills
As you help kids develop their soft skills, several tactics can help motivate and reinforce their learning. Here's what to try:
Reinforcement of self-esteem. Help your kids develop confidence in their abilities by encouraging them to talk about their strengths and accomplishments.
Model the behaviour you want to see. Kids learn by watching adults, so if you want your kids to have good soft skills, show them those behaviours yourself.
Provide opportunities for practice. There are many ways to help kids develop soft skills. For example, you can play games that require teamwork, help your kids solve problems, or give them opportunities to interact with other kids.
Be patient and supportive. It takes time and practice for kids to develop soft skills. So, be patient and supportive as they learn and grow.
Encourage your child to take risks. Taking risks can help your child to learn and grow.
Help your child to learn from their mistakes and to see them as an opportunity to grow.
Make it fun. Learning soft skills doesn't have to be boring. There are many ways to make it fun for children. For example, you could play games or use apps that help children learn soft skills.
Be consistent. The key to helping children develop soft skills is to be consistent. This means talking to them about soft skills regularly and giving them opportunities to practise.
How can GoHenry help?
GoHenry is a prepaid kids’ debit card that can help kids in several ways. Not only does it give kids the independence to use a debit card in the real world, but it also helps them learn about the value of money and how to make smart financial decisions. It teaches them about money management and the importance of tracking their spending, and also allows them to set savings goals.