ACCORDING TO RECENT research, childhood ends at the age of twelve these days.  Beyond that point, the once malleable minds of your young suddenly become resistant to instruction and they decide it’s time they were in charge.

If that’s the case, we can’t help but think that there are certain things every adult should know, and thus certain things every parent should teach their child before they reach said age.

Here are fourteen lessons to teach your children before they’re twelve.

Teach them that when things go wrong you have to pick yourself up and keep going

YouTube/xFiGGiE

Teach them that fairytales are not real life

YouTube/Paint

Teach them to be careful walking up steps

YouTube/Jackswaggertna

Teach them not to mess with street performers

YouTube/oathyRICH

Teach them to join in fun activities

YouTube/tolak84

Teach them that their bodies are useful in all kinds of ways

YouTube/sqwakdotcom

Teach them that not all smiles are nice smiles

YouTube/MrAlbell

Teach them to be nice to animals because they have bad days too

YouTube/Remi Fontaine

Teach them that seagulls can not be trusted

YouTube/NosySnoop

Teach them that no matter how good you are, there will almost always be someone younger than you who’s better at it

Khaliyl can’t talk yet, but he can rap.  Also, he’s probably cuter than you too.

YouTube/ukroyalpriesthood

Teach them that although people say you should never give up, sometimes it’s for the best

YouTube/Sam Napper

Teach them to like all kinds of music

YouTube/estebanreyes83

Teach them to say no to drugs, getting in strange cars, and talking to strangers

YouTube/RhettandLink

And finally, teach them that no matter how hard things get, there is always someone else having a harder time

YouTube/WillBraden

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