Remember as a child, learning basic life skills, like making the bed, cooking spaghetti, and loading the laundry? Sounds pretty basic, right? Kids need to learn these life skills. As a child, it might have felt excessive, but compared to being unable to care for one’s self as an adult, it’s really just basic survival.

Somewhere between Gen X and Gen Z, society decided that kids should be overextended in full-time extracurricular activities, train for sports like they’re going to the Olympics, and make TikTok videos like it’s their jobs. Parents are scared to disappoint their children and chores seem to be a thing of the past. But its baffling how the same 7-year-old who can master social media can’t water the plants or load the dishwasher. We need a happy medium. The life skills below are ones that all kids should — and can — do by the time they’re 8.

Feed Pets

It sounds simple, but without proper guidance why would a child know how to feed a pet? Be sure to show a child how much food and water to give a pet, where to feed them, when to feed them, and how often.

Help With Basic Laundry Chores

Start by showing them how to bring dirty clothes to the laundry room and how to properly fold and put away clothing. Once that’s mastered, demonstrate how to sort laundry and how the washer and dryer work, including how much to load into the machine, how to measure detergent and softener, the importance of not leaving wet clothing in the washing machine, and checking and emptying the lint trap of the dryer between each load.

Dinner Prep & Clean-Up

Maybe they’re too young to make Grandma’s famous lasagna recipe, but they can definitely help out in the kitchen. Kids should be able to set and clear the table before and after dinner.

Wash the Dishes

An 8-year-old should know the basics of how to load and unload the dishwasher, including putting dishes away. They should understand how to wash and dry dishes by hand, too.

Use Basic Household Cleaners Safely

While teaching children basic household chores, including how to use and handle household cleaners safely. Sounds like common sense should prevail, but kids were eating Tide Pods recently, so really make sure to talk it over with children.

Basic Bathroom Clean-Up

Even small children can help straighten up the bathroom after using it, including bringing hampers to the laundry room, picking towels up, and replacing the toilet paper roll. If they’re a little older, teach them the basics of cleaning sinks, showers, and toilets. They can do it.

Simple Sewing Skills

Every kid needs to know how to repair small tears with a hand stich and how to reattach a button that has fallen off. Start with the basics, like how to thread a needle, tie a knot, and sew a basic stitch.

How to Use a Broom & Dustpan

Kids need to know the correct way to hold and sweep with a broom, as well how to use the dustpan and empty it in the trashcan. Without proper teaching, sweeping could make a bigger mess than it cleans.

Preparing an Easy Meal

Things adults take for granted, like knowing how to read a recipe, measure ingredients, crack an egg, use the microwave, mix, stir, and cut with a dull knife are all required to prep meals. Every kid needs to know how to prepare a simple meal and feed themselves without getting injured.

Grocery Shopping Process

When kids are young, parents can take them to the grocery store with them and get them familiar with the process from the store shopping route to how to pick produce, paying attention to expiration dates, and how to pay. Another important basic step to know is how to write a grocery list in preparation for the trip.

Wrapping a Gift

Not expecting professional gift wrapping skills, but even by age 8, a child should be able to put forth the effort to wrap a small gift or put it in a gift bag, complete with tissue and bow. It’s also a great time to teach them how thoughts count and how to pick out simple gifts, as well as participate in writing invitations and thank you cards for gifts received.

How to Use a Hammer

A hammer can be a weapon of destruction to body and property if a child doesn’t know how to handle it properly. Kids need to have an appropriately sized hammer and be taught how to hold and handle a hammer. Teach how to hammer a nail and remove a nail.

How to Clean a Bedroom

Kids need to know how to change their sheets every two weeks, make a bed, pick up toys and put them away, put laundry in a hamper, keep clutter under control, take dishes back to the kitchen, and empty the wastebasket. These are simple tasks that make a big difference.

Treating a Wound With Basic First Aid

An 8-year-old can’t be expected to know a lot of first aid, but they should know a few basics. They should know how to dial 911 and clean, disinfect, and bandage minor scrapes.

Know How to Use a Map

Living in a world where GPS is available readily on all smart phones, it would seem knowing how to read a map is obsolete, but that’s a misconception. GPS often fails when a signal drops. Children should be taught how to read a map in case they are lost or GPS isn’t working, so they won’t be stranded.