10 old fashioned life skills for kids

10 old fashioned life skills for kids

As we wish the Queen a very happy 96th birthday (for yesterday), it’s crazy to consider how the world functioned back in the 1920’s and the changes to society over the decades.

Sometimes it takes a little reflection on the past to help inform the future, and while I battle with technology dominating my children’s lives, I make a point of interrupting this with ‘life skills’.

Now any mention of my practical life skills is generally greeted with eye rolls and a groan. They do however tolerate my wittering on that they will “thank me in the future” (I’ll follow up with them in years to come to see if that’s true).

So, here are a few old-fashioned practical life skills that the Queen, may or may not have learned in her lifetime but will probably be handy for our kids at some point in their future.

 How to…

  1. Read a map – a good old fashioned one for when tech just won’t do or work
  2. Make a phone call – this sounds so straight forward, but even adults take the easy route and text or what’s app rather than picking up the phone
  3. Write a letter or thank you card – addressing the envelope and posting it too
  4. Sew on a button – self explanatory
  5. Set the table – soup spoons and dessert forks/spoons at the ready
  6. Wash dishes – glasses first!
  7. Follow a recipe – weighing the ingredients is great for maths
  8. Change a light bulb – don’t forget to unplug it first
  9. Use the oven – oven gloves at the ready
  10. Tie shoelaces – with so many velcro close shoes these days, the opportunity to learn this skill isn’t quite as it used to be.

There are so many more, but what others would you add to the list?

 

 

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