Kids' Life Skills--How Grandparents Can Help

Skills kids need for life!

I'm sure you've read the articles and even seen the print-out on Facebook. The one called "40 Old-Fashioned Skills that Kids Need to Know Today." Here's the link:
​cdn.frugalfun4boys.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Old-Fashioned-Skills-for-Today.pdf

Or even read the articles about local high schools having "adulting" classes for teens, especially seniors going off to college or career. The schools might spend a day or even a week on such classes, and kids can sign up for those they are interested in and feel they might need. During this time, there might be classes on how to change a tire, how to keep a checkbook, how to cook, and even how to apply for a job. 

I see your posts on Facebook about how such things are needed by today's generation and even lamenting that young adults today don't have these basic life skills. But we, as grandparents, can help. In this hectic, modern world, parents can't do it all. That's where grandparents can come in. And even if you don't live in the same town, when they come to visit is another time wherein you can carve out a bit of time for instruction of such skills. 

You can start when the grands are small~

I started with some of the items on the list when my grands were small, and I'm sure you did too. Things like GARDENING:

Youngest grandson picked green tomatoes for that wonderful southern dish, fried green tomatoes.

The girls picked green beans from the garden.

Teaching grandson how to check for readiness of a crop for harvesting.

And gardening is not just for the little guys. Teenagers can help too!

Cooking or even following a basic recipe is on everyone's list for a life skill~

He helped me get out the ingredients and measure, but I know this business of following a recipe will have to be continued again and again, and that's okay--it's how we learn.

Cooking a Valentine's meal for their parents. Learning to follow a recipe and learning cooking techniques from grandmother.

One skill on the list was very specific--how to scramble eggs. Grandson learned this in Scouts and on our camping trips.

​Here's a fun one I'm sure every grandparent has participated in teaching: How to attend a concert or performance and use proper theater etiquette~

I realize that one such rule for attending such performances is to NOT use your cell phone and to NOT take pictures. At this particular outdoor performance, they made an announcement that for this performance only, it was okay to snap pictures.

Besides proper audience behavior, the grands learned how to meet and greet actors backstage after the performance.

How to wash dishes~

Honestly, this is one we shouldn't neglect. Sometimes the electricity goes out. Sometimes that first apartment doesn't have a dishwasher, or at least a functioning one. And those times when there are not enough dishes for a load. You know the drill. Grandkids need to know this simple skill.

Camping with the grandkids is another place where this skill can be learned.

How to weigh pro's and con's of a decision~

I pulled this one off the list linked above, and I think it's a good one. I've bought my grandkids journals and even wrote with them, so they'd have some ideas on how to journal. Their journal is a perfect spot for weighing pro's and con's of a decision. Just divide that page in half with a "plus" on one side and a "minus" on the other and start listing...this way you can see which list is longer.

Journaling to help with decision making.

Making her list of the pro's and con's.

Check out this link for yourself and find out which ones you can help with when you're with your grandkids. It's a good list. And you'll probably be surprised which ones you've already done:

​​cdn.frugalfun4boys.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Old-Fashioned-Skills-for-Today.pdf

A final word from this blogger:

I've been gone a couple of months. I've missed doing this blog, and I've missed hearing from my readers. I love to share grandparenting ideas, and I REALLY like hearing YOUR ideas and thoughts. It's good to be back. Hope to hear from you soon. And if you've got teenage grandchildren, ask them about "adulting" classes at their school. More and more schools and communities are doing this--even local libraries! Check it out! Remember that African proverb, "It takes a village." And to my way of thinking, we grandparents are the most important members of that village!

Happy July and Happy Grandparenting!