Jul222010
SurvivalMom’s Quote of the Day & a Survival Survey
When you teach your son, you teach your son’s son.
~ The Talmud
I love this quote. It reinforces my belief in and commitment to teaching my kids important, practical skills that have meaning. In time, they’ll be passed on to my grandchildren. (Good grief. Did I just say, “grandchildren”???)
image by longhorndave
Right now my kids are taking music lessons (guitar and piano), horseback riding, and are on swim teams. Music because it could possibly be a future career or a way to earn some extra money, plus it teaches counting, fractions, self-discipline and patience! Riding because there are few other skills that have stood the test of time when it comes to pure practicability, enjoyment, and yes, a way to earn a little money in the future. Swimming because it’s great physical exercise for the entire body, and yet another way my kids could earn some income. (Are you seeing at trend here?) Seriously. They could patrol the beaches as lifeguards on horseback while serenading swimmers with their guitar tunes and collecting tips! Can your kid top that???
What sports, hobbies, and skills are your kids or grand kids learning? What would you like for them to learn this coming school year and why?
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(13) Readers Comments
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Why Getting in Shape Should be Part of Your Apocalypse Preparations
I hope I didn't make it seem like I disagreed with your article. Quite
Survival Survey: What is your #1 stock-up item?
there is other stuff you can take for your stints 1 of my best friends
Survival Survey: What is your #1 stock-up item?
soap is no more dangerous to make than cooking dinner if you a careful
Why Getting in Shape Should be Part of Your Apocalypse Preparations
Maybe we should say "Beans, Bullets, Band Aids and Bowflex?"
aslansavz
Currently, both of my children are in Tae Kwon Do with a school that really focuses on the self-defense aspect of the sport, as opposed to the tournament/medal achievement aspect. We love that the focus is to really teach kids how to defend themselves in all sorts of ways with all sorts of weapons. Hopefully, they'll never need these skills in their lifetimes, but we hope it's something they'll keep up their whole life.
This year, we want to focus on learning a new language. We homeschool, so our second language focus has been sign language (which they can use to earn a living with later), but I want to add a third language.
Music is also my next focus. I want each to learn an instrument, not only for themselves, but also as a service to their community, whatever it is to be (missions, working with children or older adults, in a survival issue for community, etc)
Lastly, our oldest will be joining an archery group. While it focuses mainly on tournament, I want him to get the skills to handle a bow to be able to be more confident and eventually learn to hunt and defend.
And of course, they're both learning how to cook
It'll make their future wives happy if nothing else 
TheSurvivalMom
I would love for my kids to get into martial arts. That is definitely high on our list. Our kids were on an archery team last year and really enjoyed the experience.
Chris
When finding a martial arts school/class (if you haven't already) be sure to find one that focuses on self-defense and the teacher cares about your child's well being. My previous 3 instructors (I keep moving T_T) have all taken a personal interest in all their students (2 of them even had us showing them our report cards – back in middle/high school). Just because some of the class, or most if, compete in tournaments isn't a bad thing, but should not be the entire focus on the class. I love tournaments, I competed once before I messed up my leg and its an awesome way to meet other students your age and discuss different things about your styles and share some tips and tricks. But, you must be weary of the money-makers and 'time in belt' schools at my current instructor calls them, when they say 'oh you've been here 4 months time to test'. Do your homework on the school, ask around. Drop in and watch a class or two – most classes will let your child participate and try it out. From my experience, the best classes seem to be at community or recreation centers or in the student activity center of local colleges (don't have to be in enrolled in the college – its an extracurricular). Which reminds me that you home school. You may be able to count it as gym or other credit for your kids.
Mom23Wolves
There are a lot of GREAT reasons to learn a musical instrument, but hopes of a career isn't one of them. Unless you really really enjoy ramen noodles
We're focusing on swimming (just makes sense for safety if nothing else, I feel pretty relieved seeing my 4 year olds now able to paddle across the pool unaided), cub scouts (tons of great practical skills there), and we'll likely add music back in (dropped it for a while, but I'm a big advocate). Mostly, I try to include them in daily activities including routine problem solving (all topics, including financial choices, developing plan A, B, C, ….).
TheSurvivalMom
I didn't really have anything big in mind for earning money. More as, possibly, musicians for weddings, teaching music lessons, that sort of thing. My son is amazingly talented on the guitar, but at 8 yo, he doesn't appreciate his own talent. I'd like to get him, in particular, into Scouts. It's all a matter of priorities and trying to balance our life. I'm working on a book, and the more disruptions I have to my day (appointments, lessons, co-ops, etc.), the more difficult it is to focus on writing. Daily chores and activities, and even parents just talking out loud about decisions they're making provide good opportunities for learning.
Donna
Our daughters took swimming lessons when they were younger and have taken music lessons and tennis lessons for many years. They also have taken horseback riding lessons and now own their own horses which teaches a different level of responsibility. Not only did they have a true passion for all of these, but like you, it's a way of possibly earning money. They have already taught tennis lessons.
In addition to these, and maybe more importantly, they are scratch cooks and bakers (including making their own sourdough starter.) They have chickens, ducks and guineas which they've asked to be their responsibility. They've even helped butcher our broilers. They also sew and have taken knitting and crochet lessons to where they can now read any pattern on their own. They also like trying new things like making their own candles, soap and cheese. And they've been my garden helpers all these years. Our oldest most recently asked for and received Rosetta Stone for Chinese for her birthday so she can learn Mandarin.
When children have a curiosity, an eagerness to learn and are given the resources to explore their passions, they will hopefully be more ready for whatever God has planned for them. (We just need to make sure they become proficient at each along the way so they know these for life and don't just hop from one thing to the next. They also need to keep up each skill and continue to practice and use the skills so they aren't lost)
TheSurvivalMom
Don't you love watching your kids develop their talents and interests? My daughter learned to knit a couple of years ago, and I so enjoy watching her work on a project. She rarely finishes them, but at least she knows the basic stitches. She also wants to learn Latin. You make a very good point about kids hopping from one interest to another. For homeschoolers, since we have more flexibility with our time, it's easy to get overloaded with all the extra-curricular things and not focus on just one or two so kids become proficient.
peterpiper
aslansavz, archery is great. One of my cousins killed his first deer, at age 10, with a bow and arrow. Learning this skill is fun and can be useful as well.
Melinda
I just did a post on fun stuff we're learning. (http://preppershomejournal.blogspot.com/2010/07/survival-skills-for-kids.html) We homeschool too and work these things right into our curriculum to keep boredom at bay. Also, you don't always have to pay for lessons. My 18yo daughter is teaching herself guitar from youtube videos and is doing really well.
Hawaii Honey
Children and gardening go hand and hand. Outside or inside , it doesn't matter, the importance is that it is hands on and it produces a real product. Plant a garden with your children and give them the empowerment to grow their own food. Ask what veggies they like and then get seeds or seedlings for them to plant. Have a watering can handy. Make a schedule for the kids to water. For extension activities they can write a garden journal and take photos, measure the plant, draw the plant, describe the plant, chart its growth. Don't have a large space for a garden? No problem. Plant in pots on your patio or even a windowsill garden will instill in your child that his/her food doesn't only have to come from Mom buying it at the store. Cook with the harvest, save the scraps for compost, use the compost for fertilizing the garden. It's a great circle to show the children. Better yet, have a NEIGHBORHOOD garden.
rightwingmom
Hunting, fishing, gardening, canning, raising chickens, sports (teamwork)…now that I think about it, our boys are learning more skills than I realized!
The most important things we can teach them (besides loving their Savior) is a strong work ethic, good reading skills, and an insatiable curiosity to learn new things.
Frazer
Thats an excellent quote, I'm going to forward this to a friend who has a 1 year old son. Love your content Lisa!
Kandi
My girl takes piano lessons from a woman who has no college education but is an accomplished pianist. She has 80 students, and charges $60 a month per kid. After some fast math we are talking $4800 a month. Not bad for a 60 something housewife.