Home Economics.
If you’re near my age (60s!), you know about this required class we all had to experience.
We were taught stuff that couldn’t be learned from textbooks, and many times, nor from our own parents (I didn’t know the importance of an oil change until my car blew up when I was 19 years old, yikes).
With that said, the conversation of Home Economics has turned toward supporting our kids by bringing back the class with updated basic life skills that are not from when we were kids but have now expanded to include real life skills.
Skills that also cross gender expectations (like a “boy” can learn how to cook and a “girl” can learn how to change the oil in her car).
And maybe parents and grandparents might consider investing their time in teaching some of these skills.
These skills include:
-Changing a tire, oil, car maintenance
-Balancing a checkbook
-Cooking food
-Creating a menu for food for the week
-Managing household tasks
-Successful job interviewing skills
-Communication skills that foster family connection
-Taxes
-Child care tasks
-Parenting skills
-Community engagement
-Health and hygiene
The statistics show that our “kids” struggle. For example, one study found that one in three young adults lacks the knowledge to perform basic household tasks (like sewing a button, reading laundry tags appropriately, and even how to perform a job search!).
One thing that is perfectly clear: Needed life skills today are significantly different than when we were younger.
These skills help the younger generation not only to learn how to manage their homes effectively, they also help solidify their future roles in society.
One last bonus? To promote critical thinking and reflective thinking. It’s about having access to make more informed life decisions, while also considering those around you.
When families can make the extra effort to teach some of these home economic lessons AT HOME, well, that’s pure genius investment in their future.
Now, as a grandma, I constantly look for opportunities to actually teach my grandkids life lessons that develop their abilities to have an exquisite life, one of which is handwritten thank you notes.
I’m so grateful I can help prepare these little ones, in little ways.
What are you doing that’s teaching life skills to the children around you?
If inspired, please share.
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