The parent who takes the lion's share in raising the children needs to fill many roles, not only are you (mostly women so I will refer to the main child raising parent as "she" or "mom") a cook, cleaner, washer, general manager and taxi driver but you are also the ultimate teacher - the one rocking the cradle. Apart from teaching kids basic living skills moms can also give their kids general knowledge, a broader outlook on life and shape their moral and ethical character. In fact mothers shape their children into the adults they will become.

As the main child rearing parent use every opportunity to broaden your kid's horizons and educate them in ways a school never can. You have many opportunities throughout the day to introduce your kids to new data, a concept of ethics and ideas. Here are a few examples of when and how you can give your kids an education without them even noticing.

Educating your kids in the car

Firstly moms are usually the family taxi drivers so you have an entrapped audience for the duration of the journey. Put on music that they would normally not listen to, and tell them about the singers or the genre of music. It is amazing how far you can go with the tales revolving around famous singers. For example from playing Bob Marley you get to chat about Reggae music, dreadlocks, Jamaica, the Caribbean and even cancer as telling the kids that Bob died all because of his big toe is a real hook to get the kids attention.

Apart from the music in the car any interesting thing that you pass in the street can be a spring board to an interesting subject. "Hay look at all those electric wires, why don't they put them under ground"; "beautiful flowers in that garden do you know what they're called?"

And there are always the brain training games like I Spy, and the car game where you have to think of an animal, plant, girl and boy's name and object all starting with a particular letter of the alphabet.

Some moms even take education in the car a step further and play language CDs to their kids on long journeys, teaching them another language.

Extra Mural Activities, Clubs and Sports

Introduce your kids to as many after school activities as you can afford, both financially and time wise and don't worry if it doesn't become his passion, even participating in one or two lessons gives kids some new knowledge of the subject. Once your kids are interested in a sport or club activity don't stop there, discuss the subject, show him books and films with the same activity and tell him tales of the sport of activity's history. For example from simple Kong Fu lessons you can get to learning a few words in Mandarin and tell your kid all about China and a little of China's history. There is also no end of martial arts films to introduce him to. The same goes for ballet classes, from discussing famous dancers you can get to Nureyev, Russia and the cold war!

Teach your kids at bedtime

Sometimes before going to bed when you are too tired to read your child a book, tell them a tale instead. It can be about something they have recently learnt about at school or something from your day's experiences or from your past. Give your kids a family history by telling them stories about where your family came from, Ireland, Africa or where ever. The little facts you can pass on about your family's country of origin are another addition to their general knowledge.

Teach your kids through films, books and entertainment

Many times the mom picks the films to bring back from Blockbuster so show them something that will educate them like a film set in a historical setting or revolving around a historical event. There is no shortage of films that can entertain as well as educate: Pearl Harbor, Mao's Last Dancer, Gone with the Wind, war films and period films. Watch the film with them, don't just put it in the machine and leave them on their own, sit with them and explain little details about the surroundings.

Teach your kids by taking them places

Even taking them to mini-golf can be educating, "do you know what the best golf player's name is? He has the name of an animal….Tiger Woods" Then as you continue to play mini-golf, you call out "you go Tiger", the kids won't forget that name. Take your kids to the library often, as well as museums, plays and concerts. If you are in the park point out sculptures, plants and environmental art, don't let them pass a thing without noticing it and learning something. Your kids will become more aware of the world around them.

Teach your kids by asking what they think

When there is an opportunity to discuss a moral dilemma don't pass up the challenge. If there is something on the news that everyone is discussing, ask your kids "what do you think?" or better yet "what would you do?" Even the school yard offers a chance to exercise their moral skills, "if you know another kid did something wrong, but you promised not to tell, do you?" These kinds of discussions are also useful in teaching tolerance and empathy, let them see things from another's point of view, "if you had no food for your family would you steal?" "If you were discriminated against would you fight back, and how?" You can help prevent racism and prejudice by what you say and what you do in front of your kids. The hand that rocks the cradle...

Teach your kids as you shop

The supermarket is an education in itself, the size, color and shape of groceries as well as the prices. Take your kids along when you shop, it may take longer but they will leave a little wiser. You can also teach kids the value of money, keeping to a budget and measurements all in a supermarket. If your kids are a little older you can explain some of the product labels and discuss preservatives and additives. Once home in the kichen the education continues, as you cook with kids. 

Mothers/care givers have to be intelligent and educated, even if you have to educated yourself through reading and the Internet, if the mothers don't know then the kids won't know either. The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world, and this is how. Be enthusiastic about life and the many wonders of the world, teach your kids to be curious and interested in what goes on around them. Teach your kids well, it is a thankless job but moms are privileged to have it.