Let's Discuss: Which Life Skills Are Becoming Irrelevant?
Are we teaching our kids to tie shoelaces these days? Do we need to?
A friend of mine recently reached out to me and another friend about age-appropriate life skills. “My six-year-old is doing Camp Daddy this summer,” she said, referencing the fact that her husband, a teacher, is at home caring for their children until the new school year begins. “We’re working on learning how to call 911 in an emergency, make a sandwich, fold laundry, tie shoes, and take a shower independently. What would you add to the skill list?”
We joked about getting up and getting breakfast independently so mom can sleep in (ha), and I started thinking about the skills my own kids need to learn. We haven't mastered shoe-tying yet, because they don't wear shoes that need to be tied. Eventually I'm sure that will change, but there are so many Velcro and slip-on options that we haven't needed to worry about it. My kids don't know how to dial a number on a phone, or to rewind a tape in a VCR (okay, that one's genuinely obsolete).
What are some of the practical skills you learned as a child that aren't really applicable to your children's lives today?
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Learning to walk to school by myself at age 7- my mom escorted me the first week, then I was without an adult to walk 1 mile along suburban streets. I picked up 2 friends on the way, but the first quarter mile I was completely alone. Not sure this is commonly done today.
My kids can make sandwiches and cereal, but no one wears shoes with laces. This is an issue more with ice skates!