8 Home Economic Skills Your Kids Need to Know
It may be hard to imagine your kids all grown up and having to manage homes of their own, but that day will get here before you know it. Don’t be that parent that waits around for their children’s school to give them a crash course on the subject. Trust me, it’s brief, and it doesn’t cover everything about being an adult. Go ahead and check out these home economic skills your kids need to know. In case you missed this post, 30 Pioneer Skills We Cannot Lose
Home Economic Skills Your Kids Need to Know
It’s better to prepare and teach them now these important home economic skills so that one day they don’t have to rely on others. Not only will you be teaching them valuable lessons, but those special times when mom or dad took the time to show them something will never be forgotten. Check out these 8 home economic skills that your kids need to know.
1. Basic Cooking Skills
Could you imagine coming home after a long day of work and not having to lift another finger because your kids have got you covered? Hard to imagine, I know. Now I know you’re thinking, “You’ve got to be joking? My kid would burn down the house.”
Start off small if you have to, like tv dinners in the meantime. Better to start there while they’re young, instead of waiting until they’re out on their own and still using the microwave for every meal. Once they’ve mastered the microwave, it’s time to try cooking simple meals like spaghetti or tacos that only require a few steps. Here are some simple ways you can teach your children to cook.
2. Proper Nutrition
Obesity is a growing concern today amongst our children, with no thanks to Little Debbie. (Today she goes by the name of Big Debra because twinkies were her favorite too.) Make it a habit to present your children sweet alternatives like fruit, instead of so much junk food.
Along with teaching your children how to cook, it’s also important to show them how to follow proper nutrition. That mac n’ cheese dinner is not a balanced meal on it’s own, but adding a few vegetables, some diced chicken, and a scoop of berries, and now you’re cooking. Here’s some of the basics of nutrition that you can show your kids.
3. House Cleaning
It’s not fair that mom has to try and keep things clean by herself when there’s a number of other members in the household that are quite capable of providing a helping hand. It’s a good idea to teach your children the importance of keeping things reasonably clean and tidy. If you don’t, one day their spouse will know who’s to blame.
Teach them the correct cleaner to use on your kitchen sink and toilet, along with which spray to use on windows and surface spaces. Show them the correct way to remove clutter from their room, and how to follow up with vacuuming. Here are several chores that even a 5 year old could do (with parental guidance the first few times), and you’d be amazed how much time you’re left with at the end of the day because you’re not trying to do it all yourself.
4. Doing the Laundry
Wouldn’t it be grand if everyone in your household could do their own laundry? But don’t stop there, how about folding it and putting it away too? Talk about a dream come true. Show them how to sort their dirty clothes, the correct settings to run the washer based on the types of fabric and color, how to clean out the linen trap, and so forth. Here are a few simple steps to make teaching your children to do laundry even easier.
5. Sewing
Even if you’re no expert at sewing, I’m sure you could handle teaching the basics. It doesn’t matter if you have a house full of boys, do them the courtesy of teaching them how to sew back on a button, or repairing a small rip on a sleeve. That will keep them from throwing a nice pair of jeans away while they’re at college since they now have skills you taught them. Check out you can teach your kids to be a tailor, even without sewing, if need be.
6. Upkeep Around the House
Sometimes getting your children to pal around with their dad while he’s fixing minor issues around the house will provide life skills that your kids will never forget. That, and the memories they’ll have of their father. Have your hubby point out to them where the water line shutoff and electrical breaker box are located so they can turn them on or off if there’s an emergency.
Kids need to know how to do simple repairs on small appliances, plumbing, and how to fix their bikes. (Seems like bikes are always breaking down these days.)
7. Money Management
Don’t make the mistake of not teaching your children the importance of saving and managing their money. If you don’t teach some money management skills there’s a good chance they’ll never leave your basement. Teach them the important practice of how to balance a checkbook, even if this seems outdated to you. Show them how to keep track of their bank account with an online banking app. Here’s some additional direction when talking about money management with kids.
8. Relational Skills
It seems like more and more these days, everyone is getting offended. Not just with the people we converse with online or at work, but bitter feuds that are created within our own families. The same can even happen to the closest of friends over trivial matters.
Many times it’s because we allow technology to get in the way instead of communicating face to face. We also don’t spend the time and energy that’s required to make these relationships work. Here are several relationship skills tips that every kid (and adult) needs.
Final Word
No matter what age your child may be, it’s not a bad idea to start teaching them some of these basic home economic skills, and others, that they will need for life. This allows them to be able to spread their wings and fly out of your nest when they’re older, and it helps you immensely in the meantime. What home economic skills your kids need to know would you add to this list?, Thanks again for being prepared for the unexpected. May God bless this world, Linda
Copyright Images: Baking Deposit photos_108554772_s-2019
I agree 100% with this. I have said for years that each child should take a home economics class with the basics, and each child should take an auto mechanics class on how to change a tire, how to check fluids, put gas in a car and all the basics.
My step dad taught me how to change the oil in my car. And I learned how to change a tire, check the oil, and other fluids. I even changed the spark plugs in my car. Granted, it wasn’t a newer model. Oh, and I’m a 68 year old female.
Hi Deborah, you are so right about the home economic and auto mechanics classes! Yes, we learned a lot at home but sometimes someone other than your parents gave us all a boost in skills. In Utah, they have done away with these classes years ago. It’s really too bad because so many are on food stamps for years and they buy processed foods and never learn to cook from scratch. In Utah, we have a lot of low-income families where it’s a way of life for generations. It’s really sad in my opinion. Short term food stamps are great for the short term but not a lifetime. Linda
We have generation after generation of the same here. That is the only life some people know. It’s so sad. I could’ve been on food stamps and all that goes with it when I was a single Mom, but I guess I was just too proud. We did what we had to do.
These classes aren’t offered here anymore either. They could combine them and call it independent living. This is what the families need these days. Especially the teens and such. It also seems to me that children aren’t accountable for their actions any more. It’s a sad world we live in these days.
This is a great list! I try to have my kids (5, 3, and 1) “help” around the house and do everything they’re capable of. Sometimes it causes me to do more work, but it will be well worth it when they’re older (and in a couple weeks when baby #4 gets here)!
Relationship skills and money management are areas I don’t often remember to teach, so thank you for the great reminder! Such important skills to have.
Hi Carrie, thank you for your comment. Congratulations on baby #4. Life is so fun with little ones around. I love hearing you are teaching them skills. It’s critical for them to grow into adulthood. Good job mama! Linda
Funny story – when I was raising my daughter, she complained all the time about the “chores” I made her do: laundry, dishes, sweeping/vacuuming, cleaning and cooking. She thought I was working her to death!! Now she has 4 kiddos herself (9, 7 1/2, 6 and 19 months). Her kids know how to do the laundry already, sweep and vacuum, clean and the 9 and 7 1/2 year olds are in charge of weekly breakfasts (oatmeal, toast and fruit) and lunches (pbj sandwiches, veggie sticks and fruit). She has the 3 older ones on a rotation of laundry, cleaning which includes the bathroom, sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, and dusting, kitchen duty which includes making breakfast and lunch (2 older ones) and dishes.
The kids do not earn an allowance from doing the above. But, they do have other chores that are listed that do earn them some hard cash! Things like working in the gardens, taking care of the chickens (feed, water, gather eggs, clean out the hen house). Each week they are given 5 chores that earn money and they are paid each Friday based on what they do. The money management skills they are being taught are: 1/10 tithe to their church or other giving, and the balance divided in half – one half for saving and one half for spending.
The kids are always working on some project with their dad – yard, car, building something.
Hi Leanne, oh my gosh I love love love hearing your comment about your daughter, son-in-law and their kiddos. What a blessing they are teaching their kids. I remember my kids complaining about their “jobs” growing up as well. NOW, they thank us all the time for teaching them to work. Life is good if you learn to work for it. Great comment, Linda
My late husband taught all 3 of our kids how to do many things. My daughter is 45 now and she’s an awesome cook and baker,can do basic plumbing and some electrical along with knowing how to measure ,cut and lay tile. She installed the phone lines when we had to replace them due to a lightening strike. My oldest son,now 40, is an awesome mechanic and knows electrical,plumbing and carpentry.He also hunts. My youngest son ,now 38,was more into computers and electronics is now an attorney.(he’s my go to guy for anything to do with electronics or computer issues). They all know how to cook , clean and anything else that needs doing around the house. So now I’m teaching my grandkids how to cook ,can and dehydrate.
Hi Judy, oh how I love hearing this comment! What we teach our young will pay off when they are older. Life is so good! Linda
We are not sure the schools will re-open here in the fall, if they do, it will be a reduced schedule. I’ve decided that the family should all pitch in and teach the 5 children in the family something they are good at. One is going to teach knitting, I’ll teach cooking, another will teach computer tech. I see this as an opportunity to have the time to teach our children in the large family things they need to know. Without so many sports and activities, let’s teach them skills that will stay with them all of their life.
Hi Gayle, I totally agree with you. This COVID has changed a lot of lives. Some for the better and some not so good. Loss of income is a tragic situation for so many. A blessing would be we can teach them skills now that will stay with them for all of their life like you said. Linda