I have 5 boys (14-6) the things I have them do for handi-crafts are sometimes ‘projects’, other might call them chores, and still other times its being a ‘man’ when dad isn’t around.
What does that look like – chores (easiest) they each get a day in the kitchen and all but my 6yr old are expected to make all the meals/snacks and be able to read directions. Yes they are expected to make muffins, deserts, main meals all by themselves. Cookies, pancakes, etc. We eat less then 5% from a box so if we are going to eat they are going to have to be able to make it. We also have pets they need to be responsibly for, a dog, and more than 60 chicken/ducks right now from newly hatched to older collect the eggs type birds. This alone brings responsibilities like the owl problem we are having they have had 3 days of going out to find a bird with it’s head missing which means digging a hole and putting it in there and refilling and it needs to be down far enough we wont get another animal drawn in to dig it back up (coyotes, wolves, other dogs etc). dishes, laundry, washing bathroom toliets, and floors, cleaning cabinets in the spring we do it together. This is the life of chores in a nut shell.
Being a ‘man’ – this is all the stuff that dad would do but he’s not home. Lightbulbs going out, GFI trippings (what’s causing it, how to fix it), toliets plundged (don’t ask what we find in the toilets with 7 kids), toys that get broke or anything around here for that matter. They need to khow how to fix these things adn although it isn’t always the quickest way or the way I would have done it they alwasy seem to get it done. Build things when need be also for the animals. At this point my 14 yr old son – although still doens’t always think things through enough and might jump to conclusions – he could easily live by himself and be ok if given all the tools (or if we were to be gone for a week). hunting, fishing, etc to know how to live and eat Yes that also includes my little bit of training on sewing a button back on.
projects – these are things they do on their own in their own time. Whittling is a BIG one around here being we have 10acres of trees. The 14 yr old to the 9 yr old all have their own whittling starter sets from menards. They are right now makign replicas of guns and as the years go one the quality of the workmanship improves. Building a deck with dad will come this summer God willing (falls under ‘man’ also). Drawing, sketching, painting and doing ‘crafty’ things depending on the year also is fun.
For us if you look at all the things I mentioned everything is really how to live on your own, do things on your own. You have to teach a boy (IMHO) as much as you can at home and then from others if you can’t how to do it on your own. We don’t want our boy sto leave home and have to call us, hire out, or never tackle anything because they don’t know how, are afraid to start or just don’t have the go to get going. Nothing should be done for nothing. Obviously sometimes they do things like color a picture for no reason but then we try and bring them to the assisted living where my grandma is and hang them up around the other peoples doors to bring a little joy in there day.
I don’t know how to knitt or sew (other than the button) so I can’t show them, but if they want to try they are more than able to figure it out. Also, my kids have been called on this year to fix a screen on a neighbors door (who has a 13 yr old son but no one will take the time to show him how, they are to busy), pull weeds on a horse pasture, help rangle in calves for a farmer, and now build planks for my parents dock. Everyone knows my kids love these ‘projects’ and will work hard and don’t expect anything. (they may be giving something but they don’t expect it) It is all to better them in the end.
Hope this helps you see the handicrafts for our family are everything and anything you want them to be. Just keep them busy with life skills, things they will NEEd and use for the rest of their lives.
