Cooperative Living January 2019 - 16

Kids'Korner | Story, photos and artwork by Anne M. Dellinger, Contributing Columnist
Becoming a Can-Do Kid
id you ever notice that there are some things in life
that everyone knows how to do, like tying one's
shoes? Obviously, people aren't born knowing how
to twist and pull the laces into a tidy bow ... you may
remember struggling with this challenge a few years back.
It is a skill best learned by watching
someone demonstrate the steps and then
practicing them over and over until you
can proudly shout, " I can do it myself! "
D
Learning to tie knots and bows is just one of the many
how-to-do things in life that you are discovering during
your childhood. Every time you watch, question and assist
someone completing a daily job or routine, you are
stockpiling a lot of basic knowledge.
Very soon you may have the know-how and confidence
to undertake some everyday jobs on your own. Imagine
how impressed your parents will be when you start
pitching in with your family's daily work of life ... just
maybe an allowance increase will be in your future!
If you're not sure which valuable life skills you have
already learned and what others you might want to
acquire, look over the following sample survey. It was
created from a variety of suggestions from parents and
teachers; it is by no means complete and serves only as a
beginning checklist for families.
No one is expected to have a perfect check-off score;
age, maturity and opportunity will determine the answers.
You'll discover that there are some things on the list that
you can do now and some things you may, or may not,
want to work on to do later ... becoming a can-do kid is
always a work in progress!
Domestic Science 101
If you have had a class in Family and Consumer Science,
then you have experienced Domestic Science, also called
Home Economics. It is a field of study for boys and girls
that focuses on a wide range of life skills related to cooking,
sewing, nutrition, budgeting, safety, family
living, etc. In other words, it teaches
you how to take care of yourself by
becoming more responsible.
Cooking
Suppose both your parents have the flu
and are unable to prepare food for
several days, can you do these jobs?
___scramble eggs for breakfast
___pack a lunch
___make hot chocolate
___peel potatoes, cook and mash
___make toasted cheese sandwich
___follow a recipe
___make a tossed salad
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Sewing
Can you do any of the following?
___sew on a button
___repair a torn seam
___follow a pattern
___hem a skirt or slacks
___design a fabric craft
___attach a patch
Family Cooperation
Do you know how to do your
share of these household chores?
___wash dishes
___put groceries away
___make your bed
___keep bathroom neat
___sort laundry/use washer
and dryer
___fold clothes
___separate trash for recycling
___take care of family
pet's needs
___clean the car
Helpful Miscellaneous
Skills
Can you do these tasks?
___read a roadmap
___sweep with a broom
___change batteries
___write a thank-you note
___use a hammer
KIDS! CLIP AND KEEP YOUR KIDS' KORNER COLUMNS IN A THREE-RING BINDER AND YOU'LL HAVE A NOTEBOOK CHOCK FULL OF FUN IDEAS AND ACTIVITIES FOR THE FUTURE!

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Cooperative Living January 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Cooperative Living January 2019