Schools aren't teaching these 10 critical skills

But 86% of employers now require them...

Author

Hippo
October 24, 2025

Hey everyone!

This week we're diving into:

  • The skills your child needs by 2030 and beyond

  • Tools and resources worth checking

  • Spotlight section with awesome resources

Let's jump in!

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🔦 Community Spotlight

  1. Worried about socialisation? Research shows homeschoolers actually develop stronger confidence, leadership, and peer relationships than most kids...
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  2. After 17 years homeschooling, she ditched the "rules", skipped subjects, focused on character and faith instead, and her kids thrived anyway…(link)

  3. She's proof homeschooling works. Friendships, marriage, hobbies, success, all because engaged parents matter more than where you learn.(link)

  4. Your child reads late? That's normal. Homeschooling isn't a race, every kid learns in their own time, so trust the process.
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🛠️ Tools & Resources

History Odyssey
Give kids classical education through books they'll actually read. Complete grades 1-12 curriculum, now with new History Quest for elementary students.

Help Math
When regular math isn't working, try this. HELP MATH is proven intervention for struggling students, English learners, and special needs kids.

ASLdeafined
Teach your family ASL from home. Online video program tracks each person's progress—perfect for beginners learning sign language.

Hoffman Academy
Stop forcing piano practice. Hoffman Academy's play-by-ear method makes music make sense—kids learn to understand, not just memorize.

Daily Science 
Build science skills 10 minutes a day. Daily Science workbooks (grades 1-8) review key concepts and boost critical thinking, perfect quick supplement.

DEEP DIVE

Raising Future-Ready Kids

Last week, we discussed the World Economic Forum's projection that 92 million jobs will be displaced by 2030, alongside the creation of 170 million new roles. Those numbers represent real families, real careers, and real uncertainty about what our children will face.

This week, we're going deeper.

I've analyzed employment data, educational research, and workforce trends to give you a concrete action plan.

This isn't about vague advice to "embrace change." This is about specific skills, measurable outcomes, and resources you can implement starting today.

The Employment Reality

The World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs Report 2025 surveyed 1,000+ employers representing 14 million workers across 55 economies.

Their findings reveal which competencies will determine career success through 2030.

The numbers tell a precise story:

  • 22% of global jobs will experience significant disruption by 2030

  • Net gain of 78 million jobs globally (170 million created minus 92 million displaced)

  • 63% of the current workforce will require skills retraining within five years

  • 86% of employers rank AI and big data literacy as the most critical emerging skill

PwC's automation analysis breaks down risk by sector, revealing that automation vulnerability varies dramatically:

  • Transportation and storage: 52% of jobs at high automation risk

  • Manufacturing: 46% at high risk

  • Wholesale and retail: 44% at high risk

  • Education: 8% at high risk

  • Health and social work: 17% at high risk

The pattern is clear.

Jobs requiring human judgment, emotional intelligence, and adaptive problem-solving face minimal automation threat.

Routine cognitive and manual tasks face substantial risk.

PwC's economic modeling suggests AI could contribute up to $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030.

In the UK alone, GDP could increase by 10.3% through productivity gains.

This economic expansion creates demand for new roles we haven't yet defined.

The Ten Skills That Will Define Career Success

The WEF report identifies these competencies as experiencing the fastest growth in importance. I've added context for how each translates to your child's education:

1. AI and Big Data (86% of employers prioritize this)

This extends beyond coding.

Children need to understand how algorithms shape their daily experiences, from content recommendations to medical diagnoses.

They should grasp basic statistical thinking, recognize patterns in data, and question automated decisions.

2. Creative Thinking

AI excels at optimization within defined parameters.

Humans excel at reframing problems, generating novel solutions, and making unexpected connections.

Your child's ability to approach challenges from multiple angles will differentiate them from both AI systems and peers.

3. Resilience, Flexibility, and Agility

The average person will change careers 5-7 times in their lifetime, according to career development research.

Your child must develop comfort with uncertainty, rapid skill acquisition, and psychological adaptability to thrive through transitions.

4. Curiosity and Lifelong Learning

With 63% of workers requiring retraining by 2030, the ability to self-educate becomes foundational.

Children who view learning as intrinsically rewarding rather than externally motivated will continuously upgrade their capabilities.

5. Technological Literacy

Beyond specific programming languages, this means understanding cloud computing architecture, cybersecurity principles, network systems, and how digital tools integrate into workflows.

Technological fluency allows your child to leverage emerging tools rather than fear them.

6. Networks and Cybersecurity

As systems become increasingly interconnected, understanding digital security, data privacy, and safe online navigation becomes essential.

This includes recognizing phishing attempts, protecting personal information, and understanding digital footprints.

7. Analytical Thinking

The capacity to break complex problems into components, identify root causes, and construct logical arguments remains irreplaceable.

This skill applies across domains, from scientific research to business strategy.

8. Environmental Stewardship

Climate change and sustainability challenges will define your child's generation.

Understanding ecological systems, renewable energy, and sustainable practices positions them for emerging green economy roles.

9. Leadership and Social Influence

Collaborative work environments require individuals who can coordinate teams, resolve conflicts, and motivate diverse groups toward shared goals.

Emotional intelligence and communication skills underpin effective leadership.

10. Talent Management

Even outside formal management roles, the ability to identify strengths in others, delegate effectively, and develop collaborative relationships creates workplace value that AI cannot replicate.

Practical Implementation
Building These Competencies at Home

Establishing a Learning Culture

Model continuous learning visibly. 

When you encounter something you don't understand, demonstrate your research process aloud. Subscribe to educational content and discuss what you're learning.

Children absorb attitudes toward learning through observation more than instruction.

Create a question-friendly environment. 

Research from Harvard's Project Zero shows that children ask an average of 300 questions per day at age 4, dropping to virtually none by middle school.

Combat this decline by treating every question as valuable, even when inconvenient.

For homeschooling families: 

Structure your curriculum using project-based learning frameworks.

The Buck Institute for Education provides free PBL resources that integrate multiple skills through single extended projects.

For traditional school families: 

Extend classroom learning through real-world application.

If your child studies geometry, have them calculate the materials needed for a backyard project.

If they're learning about government, attend a local council meeting together.

Technology Education That Goes Beyond Surface Use

Start with computational thinking before coding. 

Computational thinking involves decomposition (breaking problems into parts), pattern recognition, abstraction, and algorithm design.

These concepts apply universally, not just to programming.

Age-appropriate progression:

Ages 5-7: Use Code.org's Pre-Reader Express for visual programming concepts. Introduce cause-and-effect through if-then statements in daily life.

Ages 8-10: Transition to Scratch for creating interactive stories and games. Explore Tynker's AI modules that explain machine learning through hands-on projects.

Ages 11-14: Introduce text-based programming with Python through Codecademy. Use Khan Academy's AI courses to understand neural networks and machine learning fundamentals.

Discuss AI ethics during everyday interactions. 

When your child uses a voice assistant, discuss: How does it decide what you're asking?

What data does it collect?

Who can access that information?

What happens when it misunderstands or makes mistakes?

Developing Creative Problem-Solving Abilities

Creativity research from Dr. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi identifies several conditions that nurture creative thinking:

Provide unstructured time. Overscheduled children lack the mental space for creative exploration. Boredom often precedes creative breakthroughs.

Encourage divergent thinking exercises. Ask questions with multiple valid answers: "How many uses can you think of for a paperclip?" or "What would happen if gravity suddenly worked sideways?"

Support productive failure. Research from Stanford's Carol Dweck shows that praising effort over innate ability builds resilience. When projects don't work as planned, guide your child through iteration rather than rescue.

Implement design thinking processes. Empathize (understand the problem), Define (clarify the challenge), Ideate (brainstorm solutions), Prototype (build quickly), Test (gather feedback). This framework, used by Stanford's d.school, applies to everything from science projects to resolving friend conflicts.

Cross-pollinate disciplines. Studies show breakthrough innovations often occur at the intersection of fields. Encourage your child to connect disparate interests. A child passionate about both music and mathematics might explore sound waves and frequency. One interested in art and biology might examine biomimicry in design.

Building Psychological Resilience and Emotional Intelligence

Teach emotional vocabulary. 

Children who can accurately identify and articulate emotions demonstrate better self-regulation.

Use emotion wheels to expand beyond "happy," "sad," and "angry."

Resources like Emotion Wheel posters provide visual references.

Practice perspective-taking. 

When conflicts arise, ask your child to explain the situation from the other person's viewpoint.

This develops the theory of mind essential for collaboration and leadership.

Expose children to manageable challenges. 

Psychologist Dr. Madeline Levine's research shows that children who face age-appropriate adversity develop stronger coping mechanisms than those whose parents remove all obstacles.

Implement mindfulness practices. 

Research from the University of Cambridge demonstrates that mindfulness training improves attention, reduces anxiety, and enhances emotional regulation.

Headspace for Kids and Smiling Mind offer age-appropriate guided practices.

For homeschoolers: 

Join co-ops, sports teams, or community theater groups.

Social skill development requires regular peer interaction across varied contexts.

For school families:

Facilitate team-based extracurricular activities.

Research shows that collaborative experiences (sports teams, debate clubs, group music) build interpersonal skills more effectively than individual pursuits.

Comprehensive Resource Library

Coding and Computer Science Platforms

Free Resources:

Paid Platforms (with free trials):

Science and Engineering

Free:

Subscription:

  • KiwiCo: $20-$40/month for hands-on STEM projects

  • Mel Science: $35/month for chemistry and physics kits with VR support

Community and Support Networks

Measuring Progress Without Obsessing Over Metrics

Track development through observation rather than testing:

Curiosity indicators: Does your child ask follow-up questions? Do they pursue interests independently? Do they connect new information to existing knowledge?

Problem-solving growth: When facing challenges, do they try multiple approaches? Do they seek resources before asking for help? Can they explain their thinking process?

Resilience markers: After setbacks, how quickly do they re-engage? Do they view mistakes as information or personal failures? Can they adjust strategies when initial attempts fail?

Social-emotional development: Can they articulate their emotions? Do they demonstrate empathy when others struggle? Can they collaborate on group projects?

Document these observations monthly. Over time, you'll see patterns that standardized tests cannot capture.

Final Thoughts

The data is clear.

The job market will transform substantially by the time your child enters the workforce.

But transformation is not catastrophe.

Every economic shift in history has created more opportunities than it eliminated.

Your role is not to predict which specific jobs will exist in 2035.

Your role is to ensure your child can learn quickly, think creatively, work collaboratively, and adapt confidently.

These meta-skills transcend any particular career path.

Start with what feels manageable.

One new resource this week. One conversation about AI this month. One project that lets them build something.

Progress compounds.

You're not preparing your child for a world you fully understand.

You're giving them the tools to navigate a world neither of you can predict.

That requires different thinking than previous generations needed.

But you're already doing the most important thing: You're engaged.

You're learning alongside them.

You're taking their future seriously enough to invest time in understanding what's coming.

That commitment matters more than any curriculum or resource list.

Your children are fortunate to have you.

Until next week,

Hippo

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Until Next Week,

Hippo

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