What to teach kids?

liuhut

Hiya everyone

Just want to pick your brains please!

I want my girls (8 & 4) to learn skills that will help them later in life, I'm trying to include them more in cooking and have found someone that does knitting lessons - although DD1 has already had knitting at school, she still struggles with it.

I just wondered, what would you have found useful to be taught as a kid to help you be oldstyle when you were an adult?

thanks
Laura

esmf73

Simple things - cooking, cleaning, ironing (start them with tea towels), perhaps growing vegetables as well as flowers in the garden.

Swimming - definately could save your life! Cycling, walking on the right side of the road (so towards oncoming traffic- green cross code).

Thats what I'm trying to do with my boys - but haven't started on the ironing yet!

BritRael

Good points above.

I'd also add reading, numeracy skills, and playing a musical instrument. They'll thank you for it later in life (if not any time soon! ). Education at any age is better than sitting in front of the TV or playing computer games.

ubamother

I'd go with gardening as important and great to do with kids - you can do it in small chunks of time so they don't get bored with hugely long sessions, you get a mixture of quick results and slow results, they can play at planning (don't tell them they're learning!) and to a degree they can have some choices and some control over a projects.

rosalie-lavender

I agree with all the things that have been already said so won't repeat them. One thing my mum taught me that has stood me in good stead is how to budget my money. We learnt to save for things rather than buy now pay later and she taught me how to work out a budget and set aside money for bills etc. Luckily at least one of my children has learnt from grannie's example, my eldest son has recently started university and budgets for everything. He said he is the only one in his corridor that has a budget for specific areas of life e.g entertainment, food, bills etc. It pays off for him, by Christmas he had saved enough to buy a laser printer because of careful budgeting and as he put it "not wasting money on the small things."

I will also add sewing as no-one seems to have mentioned that. I save a fortune by making my own clothes and would never dream of getting rid of something just because it needs a button sewn on or a new zip.

conradmum

I think meal planning, writing shopping lists and mental arithmetic while shopping would be useful. Also to only buy what's on your list!

Hardup_Hester

When mine were older I paid for them all to have driving lessons, that was in the olden days, when I had money. I still believe it was useful as 2 of them got jobs over other applicants as they could drive.

ubamother

Hardup Hester's right - I learnt to drive in my mid-twenties and doubled my income within 12 months of passing my test. I know your kids are 8 and 4 liuhut - but with the price of lessons now (my daughter is learning) I suggest you start saving now!!!

Elliesmum

I would like to add sewing. Even if you never make your own clothes, the ability to mend, adapt etc is very money saving. We are in a tight spot at the moment and I managed to repair some jeans for OH and some of his T shirts. I appreciate you can get very good value jeans from various places but he will not wear these :cool: so I repaired his £80 (:eek:) jeans which were split at the crotch and the knee. Result - he's wearing them and very happy :T

EM xx

PS To echo rosalie-lavender making your own clothes is very satisfying though...

angeltreats

I second (or third?) the recommendation to teach them to sew. Knowing basic mending can save you a fortune, and knowing how to make clothes from patterns can save you even more and you'll always have one of a kind clothing.

They might be a bit young yet, but if you or your other half or a relative knows anything about cars, it would be good to get them interested in what goes on under a bonnet. Running a car is absolutely extortionate, and if they were able to do some of them work themselves when they're older, they could save an awful lot of money. Might have a job getting them interested though, not all girls are willing to learn!

Trinny

Hi there

I was never taught household management as a child, i couldnt cook and had no idea how to live independently even when i married at 24 i was ( much to the mockery and amusement of my ex husband) frequently burning food and throwing it away. I remember spending a fortune on ingredients for a dinner party and quite literally having to throw it all away and order a chinese because it was inedible.

I was taught to read from a young age and i guess thats OS

In no particular order - i could have done with

1. knowing how to cook and bake
2. knowing how to budget
3. knowing how to keep a house
4. knowing how to grow stuff
5. knowing how to repair stuff

the one skill i had - meant that i am largely self and others taught. There was a post here a week ago from a child who wanted to learn to cook in two weeks so that they could feed themselves food and not junk.

Its never too young to learn, and stuff like this lasts for life

Trin