What Do You Really Need to Teach Your Kids?

Learning these key skills by ages 5, 10 and 15 are essential for safe, functioning children as they grow into adulthood

- LUCY NOTARANTONIO

TRICKY CONVERSATIONS with kids are par for the course when you become a parent. But while many know they have to introduce the idea of stranger danger or eventually explain the birds and the bees, plenty of other topics also need to be understood by children by certain age milestones.

Children learn something new every day, and parents work hard to get them ready for adulthood.

Sixty-three percent of parents who participated in the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health in 2019 said they are doing enough to prepare their teenagers for adulthood. While raising children is all about pointing them in the right direction, 52 percent of the 2,032 parents surveyed said that it's critical for teenagers to have the opportunity to make mistakes.

Newsweek spoke to three parenting experts on the key things your children need to know at three milestone ages to ensure they are safe and able to succeed in life.

What Your Child Should Know by Age 5

Even elementary school-age kids should know not only their (and your) full name but also their home address and a phone number in case of an emergency, said Caitlin Slavens, a child psychologist who specializes in parenting.

The co-founder of Mama Psychologists, a community for mothers, Slavens said you can start to discuss what an emergency is and how to call 911 at around the age of 3 or 4. This may involve role-playing scenarios to help children practice and understand what they need to do if someone is hurt or in danger. Parents should regularly revisit the topic to help children remember.

Slavens also advises parents to expand on what stranger danger is by age 5. Teach kids that people they know can sometimes be "tricky" or even deceitful. This includes acquaintances, neighbors or even extended family members.