Teaching Skills to Kids - Empowering Their Independence

Our children are our heritage, and what they learn from us will be for their fortune or for their frustration.

Therefore, a healthy home will involve a parent intentionally teaching their child. Parents can read with their young children; teach them social and community knowledge and wisdom; and teach a child new skills.

Reading with a child is fairly intuitive. Social behaviour and knowledge usually come by observation and osmosis. But skills need more planning, preparation and thought!

In the case of our children, it is really worth the extra effort. When we teach our children a skill we are teaching them empowerment and independence. And once they experience 'doing things for themselves', they will be more eager to learn more!

I recently brought my boys over to a friend's house who has a wood workshop in his basement. Although I don't have many complex wood working skills, my friend does. And he has the tools to match. By getting the boys comfortable around the tools, vocabulary and rules, they are more able to fix, build and design things they need in their life in the future.

_{Miter Saw cuts}

_{Dados for the bottom 'floor'}

_{Clamped for drying.}

In this project we are building a shadow display box to show off some of our coins, fossils and collectibles. This first box is a bit of an experiment. I plan to do three more and then let each boy build one for himself.

What skills will you be teaching your children this year?
Cooking?
Sewing?
Wood working?
Gardening?
The possibilities are endless!!!

Please share your projects and thoughts in the comments below!

Healthy-Home wishes you all a productive and empowering 2018!!
Peace!