As parents, one of the most valuable life skills we can impart to our children is a basic understanding of household maintenance and awareness. Teaching kids about house-related issues not only equips them with essential life skills but also fosters responsibility, self-sufficiency, and a sense of ownership. Just think about it: your little one is transitioning into adulthood, and they can’t even comprehend when to even hire a professional to clear a drain.
The same goes for even when they’re a teenager or just a small child. If they don’t grasp that something is wrong, they won’t know when something is wrong. These things aren’t always so easy to pick up. So, here’s what you need to know when it comes to teaching your kids about house-related issues.
Try and Turn Everyday Task into an Opportunity to Learn
At the end of the day, the whole part of being a parent is to set your child up for adulthood. Teaching them things that they’ll need to know when they have their own home: dorm, rented home, or a home they own, they’ll need to know basic stuff. Sure, it’s fine to hire a professional, but knowing that you do have a problem is where it’s really at.
You can get them involved in standard home maintenance stuff where professionals don’t need to get involved. The most simplistic one is a clogged toilet; just teach them what this is, what to do when it happens, and what not to do either. These small little lessons are going to greatly help them as they get older (and can help your home, too).
Going Simplistic is Fine
So, the goal isn’t to teach them how to fix these issues (but you can go that far if you want). The main goal is to get them aware of potential issues when they occur and to tell the difference between what is and what’s not normal. You’ll just want to break things down as simply as possible for them; for nearly everyone, seeing videos or pictures is the best way to understand what is and what’s not normal when it comes to home functions (like plumbing, electric, gas, etc.).
Always Get Hands-On
While kid’s brains soak up info like a sponge, you’ll need to keep in mind that there’s a difference between just remembering something versus actually understanding it (and learning it). So, when things come up in the home, try to get them involved through a hands-on approach. Simple stuff like changing a lightbulb, unclogging a toilet, or preventing busting pipes in the winter are very easy for just about any age to understand.
This also gives you the chance to teach them what not to do- like putting baby wipes in the toilet, or anything except toilet paper, or food down the drains, etc.
Create a Space for Questions
Take it as a really good thing when the kids want to ask questions. It’s important to foster this curiosity and the fact that your child wants to understand all of this. Basically, the more questions, the better it is. But why not pose questions to your child too, such as “What do you think causes the lights to go out?” This encourages critical thinking and active engagement. Allow this communication and make sure to engage with them too.
Kori
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I really like reading through a post that can make men and women think. Also, thank you for allowing me to comment!