Learning skills from children

It has struck me a few times how much parents must learn to do certain things, which usually would be regarded as professional skills, but are just the minimum required to engage a child. How much can these skills then be transferred back over to work or to other contexts?

The kind of skills I am talking about include:

- Creativity: Playing with a child does not require a lot of toys, it may just require jumping about, using music, a pencil, a bottle or a ball. But there is always a need to play and entertain using whatever is readily available. And kids love the variety of different things - they often love the simplest games too!

- Communication skills: Talking slowly and clearly is a no-brainer, but also so is the art of expressing oneself in simple words, using actions and also visual aids.

- Listening skills: Particularly when a child is not yet able to talk properly, it's necessary to be totally attuned with what the child is thinking or trying to say through pointing or other actions, maybe with just one word coming out here or there. And you can't interrupt a child either, so you learn to listen actively (not just pretending to listen, that never fools kids, and when they are young they don't get the concept that you could be listening whilst in another room, or doing two things at once etc).

- Conflict resolution, sales and negotiation: There are always going to be arguments between adults and kids, or a need to persuade the child to do something (or not do something). It can vary from discussing what to eat or what to wear to who is brushing teeth etc. And then of course, the art of distraction which seem to be a solution to so many problems!

- Providing feedback: Always using positive reinforcements to congratulate children for trying or succeeding with something new, and really making the effort to show you care when the child does something.

And the list could go on. So I wonder if these skills are being transferred to other situations. Are new parents suddenly better performers at work? Or more successful in life having improved their life skills? I'm not sure, but I think it is worth reflecting on!