The 7 Skills Your Child Must Have to Succeed in the 21st Century.

From educational leaders to policy makers, much has been said about “21st century skills” that students need to have to succeed in school and beyond. However, what are these skills? Though organizations and websites abound (all touting their own versions of critical 21st century skills), several commonalities emerge. The terminology may differ, but the following seven skills encompass many of the themes from these various sources:

1.Awareness of global issues. The world is at our fingertips like never before, and with our ability to communicate and gather knowledge in mere seconds, it is imperative for our children to think “bigger” than their immediate surroundings. With geography no longer a barrier, individuals can run a company with employees all over the world – and though this is nothing new, it’s the speed at which we can Skype, call, email or text that takes the ability to function with those far away to an entirely new level. Those who are sensitive to and aware of issues on a global scale can think with a “big picture” mentality that allows them to leverage a tremendous amount of power in terms of opportunity and options (for employment, business opportunities, living and travel, etc.).

2.Interpersonal Skills. With the aforementioned ability to communicate so easily, it’s equally important for our children to be able to communicate effectively. This includes not only oral communication (face-to-face, over the phone, Skype, etc.) but also in written form: with texting, social media, blogs, emails, and more, written communication is a common way to interact with individuals and groups quickly and easily. And with the ability to communicate so easily comes responsibility. Think of all the celebrities who live to regret some of their pictures and comments posted on the news (or in social media). Being aware of the immediate and “uneditable” nature of our communication is imperative for tomorrow’s leaders to understand in order to foster healthy, positive relationships with others.

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