What should my child know how to do before he/she turns 18 (roughly)?
It was geared to concrete things: how to change a tire, throw a spiral, cook an egg, etc. I received some interesting responses, not all of which I agreed with but good input none the less. Well at the urging of my Father I am submitting the post again. I will set up some general categories first then outline things that I want my children to know (all of them).
I really want some comments on this so feel free to comment on the post, and I will probably keep re posting the list with updates periodically to keep it available. But first some guidelines: only specific concrete things; not vague conceptual ideas like know how to love someone, or care about them, or think critically, those are all good, but that is not what this list is about.
And to start things off I will quote the pat Robert Heinlein answer (which I don't agree with certain parts of BTW)
A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.
Household
1. Plan, prepare, cook, present, and clean up after a 4 course meal
2. Do laundry (sort, clean, dry, put away properly)
3. Clean the house (sweep, mop, vacuum, dust, organize)
4. Replace a light bulb
5. Fix a backed up toilet
6. Hang, mud and texture dry wall
7. Mow the yard
8. Prune a tree/bush
9. Paint indoors/outdoors
Athletics (I'm not saying do these well, just know how to do them)
1. Punt, pass & kick a football
2. Throw, catch and hit a baseball or softball
3. Shoot a basketball
4. Serve, set, spike a volleyball
5. dribble, kick, pass a soccer ball
6. Throw punch without breaking your own fingers
7. Fire a firearm accurately
8. ride a bike
9. Swim in any kind of water (swimming pool, lake, ocean)
10. Serve, volley a tennis ball
Outdoors (not my strongest area)
1. Build a fire
2. Pitch a tent
3. Pick a campsite
4. Pack a backpack
Technology (probably the most fluid area)
1. How to take a picture
2. Perform a web search
3. Install a computer program
The 3 R's (Reading, Writing, Arithmetic)
1. Be fully literate in your native tongue (read, write, speak)
2. Write a sentence, coherent paragraph, argumentative essay, descriptive letter
3. Be able to add, subtract, multiply and divide numbers
4. Give a speech, deliver a monologue
So Father better at least make one comment: there are zillions, but let me add two:
ReplyDeleteathletics:
serve, volley, and return a ping pong ball
(for Jim) "bait", cast, reel-in, detach hook, gut, cook, eat -in fishing (and this from a veggie!)
(new category) people:
social skills - see the 16 in
http://www.aisd.net/bryant/boys_town_social_skills.htm (these are very specific, e.g., how to accept "no"; there are many other lists and references); to which list I would add a 17th skill, admitting mistakes (and avoiding self-justification, a slippery slope - see "Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me!)")
Father also cannot resist a general comment (feel free to "strike as non-responsive"):
Number one skill is being able to take care of yourself (so no one else has to, while accepting interdependence and all that...)
Number two skill is being able to take care of others (so no one else...) BEFORE "getting" (and therefore accepting responsibility for) others, e.g., spouse/partner and/or children
Well, Mike, you got me started, so clearly it is your fault that I have another comment (or two).
ReplyDeleteFirst, under 3 Rs, I would add listening - it is a valuable (and rare) skill.
Second, a large part of practical life can be divided into food, shelter, transportation, health, and money. Your household category seems to include food and shelter. You have riding a bike under athletics, but riding public transportation and dealing with automobiles does not really fit there. And athletics will certainly help with health, but preventive and remedial matters from keeping track of your shots and doctor/dentist/opthomalogist/counselor appointments to planning lifelong diet and accompanying menus do not fit there. Finally, money is at the root of many problems. So making a budget, balancing a checkbook (or its computer equivalent), etc are really important.
Thanks for contributing this post to this week's edition of the Carnival of Family Life, hosted at Confessions of a Novice. The Carnival will be live on Monday, January 28, 2008, so be sure to stop by and check out all of this week's excellent submissions!
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting list. Your household list is the one that caught me most off guard. I would add something about budgeting. And I have to disagree with the firearm on moral grounds.
ReplyDelete