Life Skills

I recently viewed a video by Derek Hersh that gave some startling facts: 30% of college students cannot boil an egg, 52% of teens cannot change a tire, 70% of young people cannot sew on a button. We are losing our life skills. This video stated Home Ec classes are the answer. While I agree that life skill classes are valuable in our school systems, many life skills can and should be taught at home. 

In reference to my post, I had several parents state that there just isn't time to teach life skills. Full time jobs, children in daycare, and busy schedules are preventing parents from providing these lessons. I agree, life is very busy. However, life skills do not require special training or even large amounts of time to teach. The FlyLady helped to change my perspective. Flylady.net offers an online system for organizing and maintaining your home. The site suggested setting a timer for 15 minutes for sorting, organizing, and cleaning. After all, most people can find 15 minutes in their day to get something done. I was amazed at how much can get done in 15 minutes - a dishwasher can be unloaded, reloaded, started, and the kitchen counters and sink wiped down in under 15 minutes. Two loads of laundry can be folded and put away in less than 15 minutes. A bathroom can be completely wiped down and swept in under 15 minutes. I suddenly realized how much time I actually had.  

After my time epiphany, teaching life skills didn't seem so hard, especially when they are worked into every day life. You don't set aside time to teach your child to cook, you have them assist you when you cook. The same goes for laundry, dishes, ironing, etc. When a button needs to be replaced, have you children watch you do it. If you are completing a chore, have your children help where age appropriate. Two and three year olds can pick up after themselves and help dust with socks on their hands. Four and five year olds can help set the table, feed the pets, make their bed, help with meal prep, and carry groceries. Six through eight can sweep, vacuum, take out the trash,and fold and put away laundry. Preteens can help wash the car, prepare simple meals, clean the bathroom, and operate the washer and dryer. Teens can mow the lawn, learn to maintain vehicles, and handle checkbooks and budgeting. If you start them out young with a sense that family helps each other, chores become an every day part of life. By modeling how to do something, and then allowing your children to work along side you - life skills are taught seamlessly. 

But what about their childhood? I want my children to experience the wonder and ease of life. There is enough time for responsibility and chores later. I want family time to be fun. I hear this a lot. Who said chores can't be fun? Who said family time only counts when it is entertainment based? Being gathered around the kitchen talking about your day, spending time accomplishing a task with your family can be fun. I have wonderful memories of doing the dishes with my siblings. We each had a job: washing, rinsing & drying, putting away. We talked, joked, planned, and spent time together getting the job done. We had races to see who could get the trash dumped before the other got the carpet vacuumed. We had water fights while washing the car. We shimmed to music while pulling weeds, listened to audiobooks while cleaning the playroom. We learned that many hands means light work and getting the chores done meant a peaceful, relaxing, organized space in which to play and live. 

Plus, we were prepared to be adults. There was no learning curve for us. We left the house with jobs, check books, and the ability to take care of ourselves. Isn't that what all parents want for their children - to be able to transition successfully into adulthood with confidence?