Homekeeping Tuesday
I would love to get my hands on one of those big homekeeping books from the old days, but I haven't come across one yet. What I did buy is that big, fat, you better lift weights if you want to read this book, "Homekeeping Handbook" by Martha Stewart. I like the book, the idea of it at least. I asked for it for Christmas and received it, I've looked at it a few times, mostly it just sits on my desk and makes me happy. :)
I kind of wish I had more than one daughter so that I could use this first one as a guinea pig as I make a homekeeping curriculum and then refine it with the next daughter! :) Maybe I should be making a curriculum for young men instead?! Anyway, I should still do something with the daughter I have, afterall, I only have one shot at this right? :) I am hoping to use Tuesdays as a day to work on this, starting at chapter one in the Martha Stewart book and working through the topics as I go. It sounds like a long project and my mom just laughs and says it totally sounds like something she would have done. That's how I know it's a good idea. :)
The first chapter talks about cleaners. I'll work on a cleaners thing this week and post my findings next Tuesday. I think the direction I'm going to go with it is safety in cleaners and also explore some home recipes that are safer. That seems like it would be useful to a 6 year old doesn't it? :) We'll see what I am getting myself into as time goes on I guess!
-Julee
Related: Home Economics Resources
Comments
Yeah–if you figure out how to teach homekeeping, maybe you should pass it along to all of us who haven’t gotten it after 15 years. . . .
I hope you will post a Read to Me summary by Friday so that I can see how it worked out for you.
I never used a textbook for homemaking! We just start teaching the kids to help around the house as soon as they are able to do so. As long as they are still learning the chore, it’s “school”. Once they’ve mastered it, then it’s a responsibility.
It did help me to make a list of the skills I wanted them to master. Both my grown kiddos left home knowing the basics of cooking (my son LOVES to cook, my married daughter is into “instant”), how to dust, vacuum, sweep, clean bathrooms and kitchens, how to mow/trim the lawn, how to change the oil in their cars, how to change a flat, how to pay bills and balance a checkbook (my daughter excells here, my son has forgotten everything!), how to care for young children, sewing and crafting skills, how to patch and paint walls, etc.
I never used a set curriculum for any of it. Just set the goals and teach the skills.
I like the idea of making our own cleaners and such. Much healthier for us and for our environment. Plus, there are all sorts of homeschool lessons we can work in there. I’ll be interested to read how you do with it.
http://howtohomeschool.wordpress.com
I didn’t know that Martha Stewart had a book like that out. I definitely need to get my daughter more involved in the housework.
Here from the Carnival of Family Life