I agree. Something to aim for! Often you learn as you need to, and you may not bump into these things until later. I still don’t know how to properly coil an extension cord so am going to figure that one out! Haha.
I must admit I'm sniggering a little in Eastern European. 😅 But to be honest, kids grow up in the culture and timeline they belong to. I could make a fishing rod, catch a fish and gut it before I was 10, because that was a children's game for us. My 15 year old can't do that, but he can code and do other things I can't. Also, I think it's unhelpful to mix up character traits with skills. There will always be people who are uncomfortable in social situations. I'm 42 and I struggle to make phone calls and respond to invitations and things like that. I don't think I can "learn" to be good at that. The thing is, a list like this is good to make a mental check sometimes, but cultivating a mindset of self-reliance is way more important. Having that, people will adapt and develop skills according to the actual need not because the skill is good on its own somehow.
Great point, Alma. Thanks for sharing. I agree that not everyone is suitable to every thing on this list, but it's a good place to kick off an important conversation about building independence in young people.
An incapable human is a weak human. If we had to be good at everything we do none of us could make it through our lives. Experience begets wisdom, and too many people in these comments are discounting experiences they don't personally care about, or thinking that what we desire has any bearing on what is necessary. For a list that cannot be comprehensive by nature, the breadth you achieved was helpful, thank you.
"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.” —Robert A. Heinlein, Time Enough For Love
Lovely list! Another may be to set a formal dinner table to properly arrange the place settings. I have my kids set the table for holidays and have an etiquette book we pull out so they can look at a picture to place all the items!
Great end game list, but it is important to help people understand this starts when children are toddlers and helping them from early on develop capacity and independence. Yes a toddler can safely cut with a butter knife if shown how, initially practicing with a banana. This leads to much more and the confidence to try.
This was timely. I’m putting together a checklist of life skills for my kids to learn and there’s a few here I’ll need to add to it. Thank you for sharing this.
These are great. We do many of these in the life skills class I teach for special ed in high school - how to read a paystub, how to fill out a medical form, how to send a professional email…
I also taught my kids how to find resources—humans, books, technology. Adulthood isn’t about knowing it all, but about having the confidence to know you can find a way, build a team to help accomplish it, etc.
I'm so thankful that my parents taught me almost all of these things when I was growing up -- it's made a huge difference in life. It teaches independence, self-sufficiency, stoicism, and conservation of resources and time. I'm going to save this link and list for consideration as I continue to develop one of my longer-term education projects. I'm also going to share it on here with my tiny group of subscribers (today is only day 13 on here for me) and my 200 close friends over on Facebook. Awesome job! Steven
Agree in theory. In practice, most people won’t acquire these skills until they’re 30.
Then consider it aspirational!
I agree. Something to aim for! Often you learn as you need to, and you may not bump into these things until later. I still don’t know how to properly coil an extension cord so am going to figure that one out! Haha.
Lots never do…….
I must admit I'm sniggering a little in Eastern European. 😅 But to be honest, kids grow up in the culture and timeline they belong to. I could make a fishing rod, catch a fish and gut it before I was 10, because that was a children's game for us. My 15 year old can't do that, but he can code and do other things I can't. Also, I think it's unhelpful to mix up character traits with skills. There will always be people who are uncomfortable in social situations. I'm 42 and I struggle to make phone calls and respond to invitations and things like that. I don't think I can "learn" to be good at that. The thing is, a list like this is good to make a mental check sometimes, but cultivating a mindset of self-reliance is way more important. Having that, people will adapt and develop skills according to the actual need not because the skill is good on its own somehow.
Great point, Alma. Thanks for sharing. I agree that not everyone is suitable to every thing on this list, but it's a good place to kick off an important conversation about building independence in young people.
Having said that there is value in trying things and learning that you may not be good at it. Knowing your limits is useful too.
An incapable human is a weak human. If we had to be good at everything we do none of us could make it through our lives. Experience begets wisdom, and too many people in these comments are discounting experiences they don't personally care about, or thinking that what we desire has any bearing on what is necessary. For a list that cannot be comprehensive by nature, the breadth you achieved was helpful, thank you.
"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.” —Robert A. Heinlein, Time Enough For Love
Call me Elizabeth Bennet, because, uh, I don’t know any ladies who are this accomplished. 😅
Ha! But it doesn't hurt to have something to aspire to :)
Are you serious? The only one I thought about was 'what goes in a dishwasher ' - everything else ticked.... maybe I'm not a lady 😄
This made me laugh so hard 😂
Use a meat thermometer!
Change furnace air filter. And vehicle air filters.
Lovely list! Another may be to set a formal dinner table to properly arrange the place settings. I have my kids set the table for holidays and have an etiquette book we pull out so they can look at a picture to place all the items!
I’d add understanding dress codes to that. I called them “costumes” and expected my kids to dress up/down, etc for various occasions.
Good suggestion!
Great end game list, but it is important to help people understand this starts when children are toddlers and helping them from early on develop capacity and independence. Yes a toddler can safely cut with a butter knife if shown how, initially practicing with a banana. This leads to much more and the confidence to try.
Agreed! Training is cumulative, and must begin at a young age.
Take romantic rejection gracefully.
I was doing okay until "fold a fitted sheet" 😅
I didn't say "fold it well".... ;) Mine are an atrocious mess.
Exhausting! You forgot riding a horse and fighting a duel.
Ha! Point taken ;)
At 70 I can do this but remembering names to faces in the street….
This was timely. I’m putting together a checklist of life skills for my kids to learn and there’s a few here I’ll need to add to it. Thank you for sharing this.
These are great. We do many of these in the life skills class I teach for special ed in high school - how to read a paystub, how to fill out a medical form, how to send a professional email…
Good list - but don't you think that learning to drive a boat is a bit niche?
Also driving manual “in case you have to rent a car in Europe” .
Like sir I am not James Bond and Europe actually has a very functional train transit system
42 and haven't got quite a lot of these down. I have baked a few cakes by now tho.
Good for you! My husband baked his first-ever cake for my birthday this year.
I also taught my kids how to find resources—humans, books, technology. Adulthood isn’t about knowing it all, but about having the confidence to know you can find a way, build a team to help accomplish it, etc.
I like that a lot!
Being an adult is all about, in short, taking responsibility for getting things done.
If that means asking (or paying) someone who is more capable, then fine. Just make sure that the thing is done.
I'm so thankful that my parents taught me almost all of these things when I was growing up -- it's made a huge difference in life. It teaches independence, self-sufficiency, stoicism, and conservation of resources and time. I'm going to save this link and list for consideration as I continue to develop one of my longer-term education projects. I'm also going to share it on here with my tiny group of subscribers (today is only day 13 on here for me) and my 200 close friends over on Facebook. Awesome job! Steven