101 skills to teach your kids π§΅
When I first started writing about fatherhood online, one of the most common concerns I got from other dads/parents was this:
"I just don't know what to do with my kids"
It was always surprising to hear, but it was common enough I started compiling this list and have been adding to it here and there.
Hopefully it's useful, and hopefully you never run out of ways to spend time with your kids π
"I just don't know what to do with my kids"
It was always surprising to hear, but it was common enough I started compiling this list and have been adding to it here and there.
Hopefully it's useful, and hopefully you never run out of ways to spend time with your kids π
1. Camping: plan a weekend camping trip to explore the outdoors; teach them how to pitch a tent, build a campfire, tell stories, and enjoy the family time
2. Fishing: teach your kids the art of fishing (how to clean a fish etc), teach them patience at the same time
3. Woodworking: pick a DIY project to do together (birdhouse, toy car, whatever)
4. Sports: get outside and play a game of catch, basic rules of different sports
5. Car maintenance: teach the basics (change a tire, replace oil, keep it clean)
6. Grilling: teach proper heat, marinades and rubs, how to clean a grill
2. Fishing: teach your kids the art of fishing (how to clean a fish etc), teach them patience at the same time
3. Woodworking: pick a DIY project to do together (birdhouse, toy car, whatever)
4. Sports: get outside and play a game of catch, basic rules of different sports
5. Car maintenance: teach the basics (change a tire, replace oil, keep it clean)
6. Grilling: teach proper heat, marinades and rubs, how to clean a grill
7. Martial arts: join a boxing or jiu jitsu gym together, or just punch a heavy bag
8. How to throw a punch: proper foot and shoulder position, how to guard your face
9. Gardening: plant a small garden together, learn how to care for & nurture plants, bonus points for learning about how plants grow
10. Astronomy: get outside and look at the stars, talk about the constellations
11. Biking: bonus points for teaching navigation (see below)
12. Home improvement: change lightbulbs, fix toilets together, etc
8. How to throw a punch: proper foot and shoulder position, how to guard your face
9. Gardening: plant a small garden together, learn how to care for & nurture plants, bonus points for learning about how plants grow
10. Astronomy: get outside and look at the stars, talk about the constellations
11. Biking: bonus points for teaching navigation (see below)
12. Home improvement: change lightbulbs, fix toilets together, etc
13. Chess: one of my favorites, teach strategy, thinking several moves ahead
14. Model building: build model cars/airplanes/trains, emphasize attention to detail
15. Growth in faith: practice your faith together, itβs a lifelong journey
16. Archery: kids love this, teach technique and safety
17. Rock climbing: builds strength, coordination, and trust (go to a gym if there are no rocks near you)
18. Metal detecting: more treasure hunting (bonus points for hiding treasure ahead of time)
19. Photography: teach composition, basics of different lenses
14. Model building: build model cars/airplanes/trains, emphasize attention to detail
15. Growth in faith: practice your faith together, itβs a lifelong journey
16. Archery: kids love this, teach technique and safety
17. Rock climbing: builds strength, coordination, and trust (go to a gym if there are no rocks near you)
18. Metal detecting: more treasure hunting (bonus points for hiding treasure ahead of time)
19. Photography: teach composition, basics of different lenses
20. Emotional intelligence: how to understand and manage emotions, empathize with others
21. First aid basics: CPR, bandaging wounds, Heimlich meaneuver
22. Cooking essentials: teach basic healthy meals, kitchen safety, basic nutrition
23. Goal setting: create achievable goals, strategies to hit them
24. Public speaking: practice confidently & effectively speaking in front of the family
25. Manners: teach proper social behavior in your region
26. Networking: how to win friends and influence people
21. First aid basics: CPR, bandaging wounds, Heimlich meaneuver
22. Cooking essentials: teach basic healthy meals, kitchen safety, basic nutrition
23. Goal setting: create achievable goals, strategies to hit them
24. Public speaking: practice confidently & effectively speaking in front of the family
25. Manners: teach proper social behavior in your region
26. Networking: how to win friends and influence people
27. Basic sewing: how to patch clothes, sew a button
28. Decision-making: how to make a decision based on facts & assumptions
29. Digital literacy: online safety, basic excel skills
30. Negotiation: learn leverage, create win-wins
31. Laundry & clothing care: washing/folding/stain removal/color preservation
32. Home security: secure your living space together
33. Environmental stewardship: leave spaces cleaner than you found them
28. Decision-making: how to make a decision based on facts & assumptions
29. Digital literacy: online safety, basic excel skills
30. Negotiation: learn leverage, create win-wins
31. Laundry & clothing care: washing/folding/stain removal/color preservation
32. Home security: secure your living space together
33. Environmental stewardship: leave spaces cleaner than you found them
34. Travel: basic planning, how to create itineraries, how to pack
35. Map reading: kids love maps, teach how to interpret them for navigation
36. Electrical skills: safety and handling minor issues (circuit breaker etc)
37. Reading comprehension: analyze and critically evaluate written material. sherwoodkids.com has thousands of books/audiobooks to start with
35. Map reading: kids love maps, teach how to interpret them for navigation
36. Electrical skills: safety and handling minor issues (circuit breaker etc)
37. Reading comprehension: analyze and critically evaluate written material. sherwoodkids.com has thousands of books/audiobooks to start with
38. Time management: prioritize tasks, set deadlines, avoid procrastination
39. Job interview skills: do mock interviews together, give feedback
40. Resume writing: write mock resumes together
41. Self-reflection: learn personal strengths and weaknesses
42. Work ethic: teach dedication, punctuality, dependability, thoroughness
43. Bike maintenance: how to fix a tire, adjust brakes, etc
44. Volunteering: pick a cause they care about, do it together
45. Art appreciation: visit a museum and talk about the pieces
46. Resourcefulness: thinking outside the box
47. Personal safety: how to avoid dangerous situations
39. Job interview skills: do mock interviews together, give feedback
40. Resume writing: write mock resumes together
41. Self-reflection: learn personal strengths and weaknesses
42. Work ethic: teach dedication, punctuality, dependability, thoroughness
43. Bike maintenance: how to fix a tire, adjust brakes, etc
44. Volunteering: pick a cause they care about, do it together
45. Art appreciation: visit a museum and talk about the pieces
46. Resourcefulness: thinking outside the box
47. Personal safety: how to avoid dangerous situations
48. Conflict de-escalation: techniques to defuse tense situations
49. Posture: stand up straight, shoulders back, eyes forward
50. Study habits: learn how to learn
51. Organization: how to maintain a clean, organized living space
52. Public transportation: how to read schedules and maps
53. Swimming: non-negotiable, the sooner the better
54. Musical instruments: pick one he likes, learn together
55. Memory techniques: read "Moonwalking with Einstein" together
56. Sportsmanship: how to act when you win and when you lose
49. Posture: stand up straight, shoulders back, eyes forward
50. Study habits: learn how to learn
51. Organization: how to maintain a clean, organized living space
52. Public transportation: how to read schedules and maps
53. Swimming: non-negotiable, the sooner the better
54. Musical instruments: pick one he likes, learn together
55. Memory techniques: read "Moonwalking with Einstein" together
56. Sportsmanship: how to act when you win and when you lose
57. Basic plumbing: how to unclog a sink/toilet
58. Writing: practice together
59. Typing: do family speed contests online
60. Firearm use and safety: safe handling and maintenance
61. Fire safety: teach how to prevent fires, and how to respond in case of a fire
62. Assertiveness: closed mouths don't get fed
63. Budgeting: create and manage a personal budget
64. Pet care: feeding/walking/etc
65. Weather: learn how weather works, prepare for severe weather together
66. Personal branding: teach the importance of maintaining a positive personal image
58. Writing: practice together
59. Typing: do family speed contests online
60. Firearm use and safety: safe handling and maintenance
61. Fire safety: teach how to prevent fires, and how to respond in case of a fire
62. Assertiveness: closed mouths don't get fed
63. Budgeting: create and manage a personal budget
64. Pet care: feeding/walking/etc
65. Weather: learn how weather works, prepare for severe weather together
66. Personal branding: teach the importance of maintaining a positive personal image
67. Sleep hygiene: develop healthy habits early
68. Mentorship: teach the value of guidance from people w/experience
69. Body language: how to interpret non-verbal cues
70. Basic nutrition: macro nutrients, calories, metabolism
71. Patience: practice real examples of delayed gratification
72. Gratitude: verbalize gratitude together daily
73. Presentation skills: assign a topic and present
74. Storytelling: how to be captivating, how to keep attention
68. Mentorship: teach the value of guidance from people w/experience
69. Body language: how to interpret non-verbal cues
70. Basic nutrition: macro nutrients, calories, metabolism
71. Patience: practice real examples of delayed gratification
72. Gratitude: verbalize gratitude together daily
73. Presentation skills: assign a topic and present
74. Storytelling: how to be captivating, how to keep attention
75. Ice-skating: because why not
76. Giving feedback: learn how others are individually receptive to feedback
77. Receiving feedback: accept critiques gratefully, while considering the source
78. Computer maintenance: troubleshoot common computer issues together
79. Poker: reading other people, probabilities, avoiding tells
80. How to set boundaries: assertively and empathetically
81. Theater: go to plays together
82. Time alone: learn to be content by yourself
76. Giving feedback: learn how others are individually receptive to feedback
77. Receiving feedback: accept critiques gratefully, while considering the source
78. Computer maintenance: troubleshoot common computer issues together
79. Poker: reading other people, probabilities, avoiding tells
80. How to set boundaries: assertively and empathetically
81. Theater: go to plays together
82. Time alone: learn to be content by yourself
83. Drawing: practice together
84. History analysis: remember, it's always written by the winners
85. Human nature: people are predictable, human nature never changes
86. Active listening: how to be attentive and show you're listening
87. Sartorialism: how to dress for different outcomes and situations
88. Morning routine: develop one and practice it together
89. How to host: the art of hospitality
84. History analysis: remember, it's always written by the winners
85. Human nature: people are predictable, human nature never changes
86. Active listening: how to be attentive and show you're listening
87. Sartorialism: how to dress for different outcomes and situations
88. Morning routine: develop one and practice it together
89. How to host: the art of hospitality
90. How to be a guest: the art of graciousness
91. Build a library: let kids pick books and add to family library (we have thousands of books to start with on our streaming platform sherwoodkids.com)
92. Foreign language: learn one together
91. Build a library: let kids pick books and add to family library (we have thousands of books to start with on our streaming platform sherwoodkids.com)
92. Foreign language: learn one together
93. Chivalry and respect: treat others with timeless kindness
94. Calligraphy: practice various styles and techniques together
95. Speed reading: read Breakthrough Rapid Reading by Peter Kump
96. Writing thank you notes: what to include, when to send
97. Basic weightlifting: start with pullups/pushups
98. Hill sprints: race each other, one day your kids will win
99. Bushcraft: build shelter and survive using the nature around you
100. Family tree: map yours together
101. How to tip servers: amount, when to do it
94. Calligraphy: practice various styles and techniques together
95. Speed reading: read Breakthrough Rapid Reading by Peter Kump
96. Writing thank you notes: what to include, when to send
97. Basic weightlifting: start with pullups/pushups
98. Hill sprints: race each other, one day your kids will win
99. Bushcraft: build shelter and survive using the nature around you
100. Family tree: map yours together
101. How to tip servers: amount, when to do it
The most important part of this list:
It ensures you spend TIME together
It's too easy for parents to just plop kids in front of YouTube and outsource their teaching to big tech/big media
It ensures you spend TIME together
It's too easy for parents to just plop kids in front of YouTube and outsource their teaching to big tech/big media
One of my favorite ways to spend time with my kids is on sherwoodkids.com
Sherwood has thousands of books, audio stories, videos, shows, & podcasts...
With none of the adult themes & agendas that infect kids' media everywhere else.
Try it free TODAY by clicking here:
Sherwood has thousands of books, audio stories, videos, shows, & podcasts...
With none of the adult themes & agendas that infect kids' media everywhere else.
Try it free TODAY by clicking here:
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