Common sense is not so common….its is more uncommon. Common sense is more environmental than it is instinctual.
I have been a long-time avid read of any book by Dr. Kathy Koch. Yes, she is a child psychologist that does not have any kids, but God has gifted her in amazing ways of understanding what kids think, do, and need. She has books that focus on the core needs that your child has, and I find these books very helpful even as an adult to understand myself. One of her books that I found especially fascinating is 8 Great Smarts: Discover and Nurture Your Child’s Intelligences. I then proceeded to analyze myself, my husband, my children, and people around me for months! The eight great smarts she details in the book are word, logic, picture, music, body, nature, people, and self. Here is a link for any overview as well as more details on each.
I mention this book to give some perspective that not all of us are “programmed” the same way. We all have things that we are naturally good at compared to someone else, and things we struggle with as well. We have physical or spiritual gifts that come easily and we also have ones that take practice and diligence.
People really like to throw around the term “common sense” as if it is something “everyone should know”. But is it? The term was originally coined by Aristotle. It is often defined or perceived as something so basic that it should not have to explained. It also then can be perceived as something that does not need to be taught, but is just automatic.
The more I started thinking about how much common sense does not seem very common, it made me do a little more digging. I found this with a quick Google search. “Common sense, in its most basic definition, is the ability to make sound, practical judgments based on experience and a general understanding of the world. While often attributed to innate wisdom, common sense is largely acquired through life experiences and cultural learning, rather than being solely a product of innate intelligence or formal education.”
As a mom with 3 young adults and 1 teenager, I have had a front-row seat to how much some things come naturally to some kids and how much they have to be figured out more with others. But the “common sense” aspects that our children are good at now, those often required intention on our part. Knowing how to clean a bathroom is not hard, but it is not instinctual. It doesn’t take more than a 5th grade education to understand a budget, and yet there are irresponsible adults running around swiping credit cards not understanding the consequences. Folding a fitted sheet might be a graduate-level common sense skill! Problem-solving might be easier for some, but can be available to all! The ability to learn from mistakes is another application of common sense that is so valuable in life!
Do some people based on the 8 great smarts listed above, sometimes grasp a concept easier and have a more natural “street smart” than other people? Absolutely, but the things required for “common sense” can be learned by anyone at any time with some focus and desire.
What are some common sense behaviors or practices that you believe are vital to the next generation?