Life Skills for Boys

From Life Take 1

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I have been looking everywhere for a list of things every man should know when he leaves his parents home. I have found nothing. I have found plenty on things little girls should know but nothing about boys. So.... with the help of my husband, some homeschool friends, and with my own boys as guinea pigs ... I am determined to make my own list. This is a work in progress obviously and I will need all of your help. PLEASE ... if you think of anything to add, email me. I will be trying to divide the list first into catergories and then by age and/or grade ranges. Maybe even through in a few ideas on how to implement all of this ... who knows we will see how it will develop. Maybe it will even turn into a book someday. Whatever God has in store ... will be perfect for me! And so not to exclude anyone ... these ideas could also be used for little girls as well.


General Resources
There are quite a few books available written about boys but nothing has what I am looking for exactly as I stated before. However, there are a few resources that are great at teaching life skills aimed at both genders. I have listed these below. These books cover multiple areas. For books on a particular subject ... please look under the appropriate heading.

For Use With The Kids:
Life Skills for Kids: Equipping Your Child For The Real World by Christine Field
Plants Grow Up
Contenders of Faith
Man in Demand
Christian Manhood
Preparing For Every Man's Battle


For The Parents:
Raising A Modern Day Knight
Books For Boys
Bringing Up Boys
Future Men
Boyhood and Beyond
Preparing Sons o Provide for a Single-Income Family by Steven Maxwell


C hores

18 months - PK:
Help with picking up
Imitate cleaning in play
Can put things in trash when asked
Can bring things to you when asked
Cooperates with directions given
Helps make the bed by placing pillow and stuffed animals on bed after it is made
Helps put dirty laundry in the laundry basket


PK-K:
Pick up toys and belongs; put in proper places
Put Away Laundry Piles
Sort Laundry
Help younger siblings
Help mom or dad upon request
Put plate and cup on counter near sink
Set the table
Turns off lights when leaving a room


1st-3rd grade:
Carry laundry and have it remain folded correct to the rooms it goes in
Fold laundry
Unload the dishwasher
Make Bed independently
Feeds pets
Empty small trash can
Help bring in groceries
Vaccuum
Dust
Knows address, phone number, and full name
Know full names of parents and siblings
Street Safety
Knows to look both ways before crossing street (Stop, Look, and Listen rule)
Knows to always cross in the crosswalk or at a corner
Knows what the meaning of stop lights are (and each color)
Knows what a stop sign is


4th-6th grade:
Load the dish washer/wash dishes
Start a load of laundry and complete it ... to where everything is put away neatly
Clear table and put away left overs, etc.
Empty trash cans
Put away grocerries without help
Wash Windows
Clean bathroom counters and sink
Clean Microwave
Sweep Tile (or vacuum it like I do)
Answering Door


7th grade - adult:
Clean entire bathroom
Mop floors
Clean oven
Clean Refrigerator
Defrost Freezer
Handling Solictors
Important Papers
what are they
how to keep them safe (filing in a fire safe box)
Knows what to use to clean any surface in the home, where to purchase it, and how to clean that surface without any outside help from mom or dad
Able to see what needs to be done and does it on his own


Manners
18 months - PK:
Says Please
Says Thank you
Says Your Welcome
Sits or Stands quietly during a short family prayer time
Says Excuse me
Waits to start eating until after a prayer has been said
Resource: Boys First Book of Manners


PK-K:
Says yes/no ma'am/sir
Says God Bless you for sneezes and coughs
Open some doors for mom and sisters (depends on weight of door)
Child learns not to interrupt
Child answers phone with "------- residence. Please hold." and nothing else even if it is Dad or Grandma on the other line. You never know if he is mistaking a voice or not. How many times have you made that same mistake even as an adult?
Resource: Everyday Graces


1st-3rd grade:
Can answer phone and take messages when needed
Holds doors for elderly, woman, when someone needs help
Offers assistance when appropriate
Resource: Little Book of Manners for Boys
Treats others with Respect at all times


Self-Care
18 months - PK:
Washes hands with help
Tend to potty needs with help
Requires help dressing self
Requires help brushing teeth


PK-K:
Washes hands alone
Tends to potty needs alone
Brushes Teeth alone
Some assistance needed with bathing but beginning to do it on own
Brushes hair with minimal assistance
Sex Education
Resource: The Story of Me (God's Design For Sex Series)
Knows that he is a boy
Knows differences between boys and girls, moms and dads
Stranger Danger
Knows what a stranger is
Knows who to go to for helps
Knows what to do if seperated from parents


1st-3rd grade:
Sex Education
Resource: Before I was Born (God's Design For Sex Series)
What is an Emergency
Introduce the topic of drugs and alcohol
what is peer pressure
how to say no
smoking
Living a Healthy life style
proper nutrition
exercise
how to handle stress properly


4-6th grade:
How to tie a tie
Cleaning up vomit
deodrant and cologne
Sex Education
Resource: What's The Big Deal (God's Design For Sex Series)
CPR
Knows how to purchase own clothing and shoes
shopping on a budget
purchasing what you need first then what you want
finding out if you can afford your wants
knowing your sizes
how to tell if things fit properly


7th-adult:
How to shave
Sex Education
Resource: Facing the Facts (God's Design For Sex Series) -- to be done around 7th grade or so.
what is a menstrual cycle -- uncomfortable, why the blood, no deroggatory remarks
caring for an illness
Routine Medical Care
how to talk with medical professionals
explaining the problem
When to go the doctor
importance of yearly exams
family medical history
Refresher course on CPR for all age groups; get a card
how to trim hair
making sure side burns are even
how to get a haircut
comparing costs
describing what you want
where to go


Matters of Self-Control
Sexually and otherwise ... (I think you all know what I mean here and some of the resources at the top helps you prepare your little man for this as he grows. Now we are expecting him to do this on his own. All the time.)
Basics to work on through out:
Basic first aid
Administers medication to others
Visit the following websites for specific information
http://www.mayoclinic.com/findinformation/firstaidandselfcare/index.cfm
http://www.parasolemt.com.au/Manual/
http://www.healthy.net/clinic/firstaid/
Creating a First Aid Kit
Visit the following websites for list of supplies
http://www.tundraco.com/dlhkit.html
http://expage.com/page/firstaidkit
Disaster/Emergency Preparations
visit the following sites for specific information:
http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/
http://www.fema.gov/rrr/prep2.shtm
http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0%2C1082%2C0_601_%2C00.html
http://www.disasterrelief.org/Library/Prepare/
Take an Emergency Management Course at your local College

Cooking
PK-K:
How to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich
How to pour himself a drink
Assists with baking

Other:
baking bread
cooking a meal
proper nutrition
the food pyramid
using the microwave
using the oven
using the stove
using other kitchen appliances
chopping veggies
slicing fruit
grating cheese
how to follow a recipe
food safety during preparations
meat temperatures for safe cooking
Get a food handlers card
how to make coffee, tea, hot cocoa
How to handle knives
How to sharpen Knives
Hot Oil Safety
What to do if there is a....
grease fire
electrical fire
general fire
use of a fire estingquisher


Cars Repair and Maintenance
PK-K:
Resource: How Our Car Works by Larry Burkett
1st - 3rd grade:
Learning the names for various parts of the car


Other:
Changing the Oil
Fixing a Flat Tire
Changing the Wiper Blades
Filling Brake Fluid
Filling Transmission Fluid
Maintenance Checks
Putting on Snow Chains
De-Icing a Windshield
Wash a car
Wax a car
Detail a car
Change the spark plugs
Change the oil filter
Change the air filter
Putting air in the tires
Checking the tire pressure
Filling the window washer fluid
tightening belts
fixing the breaks
learning the parts to a car
changing a fuse
changing a light bulb
putting on the tags
vehicle registration
getting insurance
driver's education
defensive driving course
learning to drive a stick and an automatic
How to stabalize a car and use a jack
how to put gas in a car
How to get estimates for work that needs to be done
for your car
for your home
Purchasing car parts
comparing prices
where to go
What to do when your car breaks down
on a freeway
in the middle of the street
in the middle of no where
in an emergency
How to tell when something is wrong with the car
gauges indicating there is a problem
smoking
strange noises
What to do when your car overheats


Home Repair and Maintenance
PK-K:
Visit Home Improvement Store and become familiar with the various sections and types of things they carry
Plant a garden, learn to care for it with assistance
Pull weeds with assistance
Water with assistance
How to clean up spills
Resource: How Our House Works by Larry Burkett


1st - 3rd Grade:
raking leaves
Cleaning deck furniture
Shoveling Snow
Sweeping sidewalks
Using phone functions (caller id, speeding dialing, ....)
How to Climb a Ladder Safely
bug killing
recognizes non-posions bugs
able to step on them or squish them with a paper towel and throw them in the trash
Hosing off sidewalks
Proper care of tools
Proper use of tools
hammer
pliers
screw drivers (phillips, flathead)
sockets
wrenches
hand saws
power tools
kinds
use
care
drills
mounts
bits
tape measure
safety equipment
dust mask or respirator
leather gloves
goggles
hard hat
steel-toed boots
learn about various trades and equipment used


4th -6th Grade:
Cleaning the bar-b-que
Grocery Shopping
how to pick fresh produce
checking for expiration dates
comparing prices (price per unit)
Furniture Care
oiling wood
oiling leather
flipping mattress
hiring companies to clean
drapes
couches
other items
Basic Sewing
how to sew on a button
repairing a simple tear
How to Iron
How to Change a light bulb
Painting
touch ups
filling holes
how to mask off
Proper lifting of heavy items
Moving Furniture and other items
Connecting electronics (ie tv, dvd, vcr, stereo)
Getting grease stains out of the garage
When to call a repair man
Proper way to clean up broken glass
Disposing of hazard materials
Building a bird house
Staining or Restaining Furniture


7th Grade - Adult:
pest control (using raid or other products)
Renting Your First Apartment
World's Easiest Pocket Guide to Renting Your First Apartment
mowing the yard
unclogging sinks
Fixing appliances
garbage disposal (reset button)
refrigerator (adjusting temp)
washer
dryer
freezer
fixing leaks
Wall Paper
Hanging Pictures
Cleaning a pool
How to use a weed wacker
How to trim a tree
How to trim a bush
Cleaning gutters
Tune up a lawn mower
How to replace door locks
Basic plumbing
Turning water off at appliance
Turning water off at the main (to the whole house)
Unclogging the toliet
Unclogging the drain
Cleaning the drain
Replacing a u-joint
Unclogging a garbage disposal
Fixing a running toliet
How to Replace a Washer
How to protect pipes from freezing
Fixing a leaking toliet
Basic tile installation
Basic electrical
Turning electricity off to appliance
Circuit Breakers
turning off the main
turning off to various parts of the home
proper labeling
How to repair a drive way
How to add a sidewalk with either brick or concrete
Relocating ~ out of state, in state
Shampoo the Carpet
How to cut firewood
Better Homes & Gardens ...... Making a Home: Housekeeping for Real Life (This book covers more than just cleaning. This is a how-to guide for every aspect of your home from purchasing items including furniture to etiquette and entertaining. From stain removal to organization. A must have for everyone of your children as they prepare to take on the world along. ISBN: 0-696-21203-x)
constructing simple shelves
Assemblying furniture and other items
How to turn the gas off to an appliance
How to turn the gas off to the house
Simple Drywall Repair
Basic Landscaping principles
protect plants from freezing


A Man's Tool Box:
We feel that it is important for every young man to leave home with a well stocked quality tool box. When our sons begin first grade, they each recieved a tool box with his initials clearly on it (so as not confuse with Dads or brothers) and a few tools. The first tools our sons recieved were a level, a tape measure, and safety goggles. Each year, as they learn more about the home and cars ... they will get new tools to add to their collection. Their tools represent things that they have learned to do. Whenever a project is to be done .... each little man gets out his own tools. All tool boxes are located in the garage, where they belong. When our oldest son got his, our little ones felt left out so we bought them aprons at the home improvement store. They were just as thrilled with this and their toy tools as big brother with the tool box. Just a note, Kris got his apron and first set of tools (plasic in a plastic tool box) when he was a year old. These have been a favorite ever since. They also have play hard hats.


Sports
Throwing a ball
Catching a ball
Kicking a ball
Basic Rules for
football
baseball
basketball
hockey
soccer
pool
golf
tennis
volleyball
Swimming
Diving
Rock Climbing
Hiking
Push Ups
Pull Ups
Sit Ups
Arm Wrestling
Olympic sports
Self defense course
Karate
Boxing/Wrestling
Skiing
Snowboarding
Ice Skating
Roller Skating
Lifting Weights
Aerobics
Stretching
Warming up and Cooling Down
Riding a Bike
Playing team sports
Sportsmanship
Being a great loser
Being a humble winner
Dancing
Slow dancing
on a date

Outdoor and Survival Skills
Camping
how to put up a tent
what to pack
where to go
rules for safety
collecting firewood
starting a fire
Bar-b-Que-ing
starting a fire
how to tell when its done
What to do when encountering a wild animal
What to do when lost
What to do during a flood
How to tie a know
Able to identify common plants and animals to the area where you live
Can use a compass
Boiling water for safe drinking
How to plan a trip
budget
map reading
safety percautions
transportation issues
plane, train, car, boat, ....
Home preparations for natural disasters .. ie what to do during a
hurricane
tornado
earth quake
flood
Firearms
how to clean
registering
how to care for
how to use
where to store it
naming various parts
types


Finances
PK-K:
Resource: Lets Go To The Store by Larry Burkett
Resource: Lets Count by Larry Burkett


1st-3rd Grade:
Resource: All About Money by Larry Burkett
How to save money
Resource: Money Matters for Kids by Larry Burkett
Resource: World's Easiest Pocket Guide to Your First Savings Plan by Larry Burkett (This should be read aloud to your child. They can re-read it on there own later for a refresher course.
Open up a savings account in the child's name


4th - 6th Grade:
Resource: Money Matters for Kids Planner by Larry Burkett


7th grade - Adult:
Resource: Money Matters for Teens Workbook by Larry Burkett
How to purchase a home
Resource: World's Easiest Pocket Guide to Buying Your First Home by Larry Burkett
How to purchase a car
Resource: World's Easiest Pocket Guide to Buying Your First Car by Larry Burkett
How to purchase furniture
How to make investments
Resource: World's Easiest Pocket Guide to Planning Your First Investment by Larry Burkett
The Stock Market
How to balance a check book
How to open a bank account
Tithing
Donating to charities
How to write a check
no SSN number on the check
numbers as words
no empty spaces
your signature
making a budget (and sticking to it!)
Choosing a loan by comparing interest rates
Financial Planning
Resource: World's Easiest Pocket Guide to Creating Your First Financial Plan by Larry Burkett
Credit Cards
Resource: World's Easiest Pocket Guide to Getting Your First Credit Card by Larry Burkett
Preparing Tax Forms
Doing it yourself vs. hiring an accountant


Dating
How to buy flowers
How to make dinner reservations
Planning a night out (focusing on things you both like to do or she likes to do ... not just what you want.)
Getting a baby sitter (okay ... this could also be a fatherhood skill but I stuck it here.)
Buying appropriate gifts
Remembering important dates
Conflict Resolution
Abstinence and other options
Sex Education (see self care for specifics)
Personality Types
Basic Psychology
World's Easiest Pocket Guide to Family Relationships by Larry Burkett
Dating Rules


Characteristics of a spouse
How to buy jewelry
Preparing for Fatherhood
How to Change a Diaper
How to Make a bottle
How to pack a diaper bag
How to Give baby a bath
proper temp
what to use
those funny little hooded towels
The cost of little people
planning for their futures (wedding, college)
all those things they need
all those things they want
medical expensenses both before and after the are born
paying for an education (private school, home school, extra-curricular activities)


Job Skills and College
College Admission Applications
Getting Your First Job
World's Easiest Pocket Guide To Finding Your First Full Time Job by Larry Burkett
How to Write a Resume
Job Interviews
what to wear
what to expect
what to say
sending a thank you letter afterwards
Filling out a job application
Internships
Exploring various Careers
Online resume sites
Head Hunters
Time Management Skills
Setting Priorities
Organizational Skills
Computers
Basic Understanding of popular programs ... Microsoft
Word
Excel
Powerpoint
Access
Email Etiquette