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Most schools (and homeschools) focus primarily on core subjects, but there are some lost skills that should be taught too! The most commonly taught subjects of study for kids today include English, Math, Science, and Geography. However, there is a growing list of subjects and concepts that are not seen as common core educational and continue to be overlooked in many types of schooling.
Once you look at this list, you will probably see just how important these are and how they are being used in everyday life – especially in adulthood. But don’t worry, I have a few ideas to help you incorporate these critical skills into your kids’ summer learning and beyond!
What are the lost skills?
Although most curricula and ways of teaching are established in a way to foster certain skills, many of them place emphasis on certain “core” subjects. For example, a child will learn to read and write through the concepts taught in English and Language Arts. They are taught all things numbers and computation through Mathematics. While there’s certainly nothing wrong with that, there is another aspect that may seem more ancient than anything.
Going back in time, learning looked very different. Depending on the era, you would see homeschooling as the primary mode of education as well as one-room school rooms. Even then, children typically learned all they needed to know through their family and community dynamic. If a child wanted to be a barber, they hung out with the town’s local barber. If a child wanted to be a cook or baker, they would link up with the town’s best chefs.
As public and private education begun to take over, natural skills became lost through systems and courses that would pave the way to what education has evolved to look like today. This does not have to be the case for your children. In fact, I highly recommend that you take some time through your kid’s adolescent years and teach them some (or all) of the lost skills mentioned below.
5 Lost Skills to Teach this Summer (or anytime!)
The majority of lost skills mentioned below will typically fall into one of two categories: self-reliance or survival. When you think about true history, these are some of the top skills our ancestors naturally gained throughout their lives. These were the very skills that helped keep them alive: like problem solving and logic skills. (Cricut Maze is a great 1 person logic game to practice logical reasoning and planning) They may seem long forgotten, but they can be brought back to life! Not to mention, they can also count as a formal education!
Gardening
This is one of the most common skills still alive today, but not everyone knows how to actually grow and maintain their own food. Start small with just a few vegetables until your child gets the hang of all that’s involved in starting and up-keeping a garden. This garden starter kit is a perfect novice set. Be sure to use the vegetables in recipes so they can experience reaping the fruits of their labor.
Fishing
Again, this may seem common, but until your child has actually gotten to experience it, it’ll be something they know others do. Check with your town’s fishing laws and add this to your to-do list. All your kids need are a fishing pole, some bait, and a place to fish. You could also take this a step further and give them lessons on how to filet a fish to fry or create a recipe of their choice. Combine this with what’s grown in the garden and they will have successfully provided a full meal by their own hands.
Navigation (without a GPS)
This can be accomplished by hitting a few nature trails or state park areas that provide lots of outdoor space to navigate. Use a local map to set up a few obstacle courses that your kids will have to navigate simply by using verbiage such as: right, left, up, down, north, south, east, and west. Although I recommend leaving out the GPS, you can still use a compass rose as an alternative.
Home Maintenance
Who usually changes the light bulbs when they go out or replaces a broken piece of an appliance? Before you head to fix it yourself – or call a technician – see if it’s something you and your kids can repair together. Public libraries typically have home maintenance books that can be checked out and used for weeks at a time.
Outdoor Survival
Included in this could be a range of skills such as starting a fire, building a shelter, and natural first aid. This could start in your very own backyard or be extended to a local park. Again, consider checking out books to learn how to do these things if you don’t already know how.
Conclusion
Whether or not you have your own skillset in these areas, it will provide unique opportunities for your entire family to learn together. Make a plan to tackle one lost skill every couple of weeks, or take as much time as needed. Also, look for local opportunities through 4-H, girl/boy scouts, or other organizations that specialize in these areas. If you’re homeschooling, don’t forget to write these down as formal education hours and credits!