Home Ec
Cooking: If you're not a big cook, or if you just want to include more theory and background to cooking lessons, Alton Brown has lots of great videos. He approaches cooking from a much more theoretical, chemistry- and science-based direction than most chefs, which kids often find really interesting. Kitchen safety is important, so Chef Ann Butler has a great video teaching kids to use knives safely and properly in the kitchen. Gordon Ramsay has a series of (often hilarious) videos teaching his daughter Matilda to cook. If you only know Chef Ramsay from Kitchen Nightmares and Hell's Kitchen, you really need to watch him cook with his kids. It is - and they are - completely adorable. I even have a blog entry or two of my own with some good recipes to cook with very little ones. Here's a good tip for parents of picky eaters: they'll often try a food they cook (or help cook) themselves that they'd never try otherwise.
Sewing: You don't have to be a tailor or even own (or know how to use) a sewing machine to learn to do basic hand sewing, like replacing a button, shortening or lengthening a hem, or mending a tear. Sewing.com has a great summary of different types of hand stitches for when you're ready to get a little fancy, or at least learn a few different techniques. Videos may be helpful, but I like their photographic illustrations, so you can really look closely at what they're doing and not try to keep up with a video.
If you do have a sewing machine and want your kids to learn to use it (or learn to use it yourself) or to use it better, there are plenty of online tutorials ranging from really basic beginners to quite advanced. Once again, Sewing.com has a great page with links to "essential sewing techniques" ranging from threading the machine to putting in zippers to adding gussets to sewing without a pattern. Whatever level you and your kids are at, there's something you can learn and use at this site.
Home Repair
Maintenance: Teach your kids some simple home maintenance tasks like changing a lightbulb (and what to do if it breaks), changing a fuse or flipping a breaker (this is a good time to label your breaker box together if you've never bothered!), cleaning your clothes dryer vent (you know you don't do it as often as you should!!), spackling a hole in the wall, changing the filter in your furnace or air conditioning system or refrigerator water dispenser (check the manufacturer's website for the best information), and changing the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
Repairs: Replace the washer in a dripping sink, regrout a floor, fix a loose bannister, repair a loose tile. Whatever little jobs need doing around the house, get your kids to help you with it.
Cleaning
Laundry: Basic laundry tasks, including sorting (and why some clothes are washed in hot water and some in cold), stain removal, hand-washing delicates, are always good to know. Tide, not surprisingly, has a good basic laundry primer that explains much of the above. And the Old Farmer's Almanac has a comprehensive guide to removing different types of stains, including blood, grease, lipstick, grass, mildew, and more. Don't forget to teach them how to fold and hang the clothes when they're done! Getting them to put them neatly away in their drawers is another story altogether...
Cleaning a Bathroom: Which products to use, which tools to use, what needs to be done weekly (scrubbing the toilet and tub, emptying the trash, wiping out the sink, cleaning the mirror) and what can be done periodically (like scrubbing grout and washing the shower curtain). If they have their own bathroom (or one they use more than the rest of the family), put them in charge of keeping it clean on a regular basis. Win-win!
Loading the Dishwasher: You probably have your own preferred system of what fits best where; teach your kids how to do it - and be sure they understand that unloading and putting away is part of the deal! Don't forget to teach them which items need to be hand-washed, and how to do that safely, too.
Auto Maintenance and Repair
Changing a Tire: Once again, go to a manufacturer like Bridgestone for the best information and videos. One of the first things my dad did when I got my learner's permit was to teach me to change a tire - and to show me how to use a pipe to extend the jack handle so I could get the lug nuts off! I still carry a pipe in my trunk for this reason. Teach them to periodically check their spare and be sure it's in good working order, too. Nothing worse than getting a flat in the middle of nowhere and then discovering your spare is also flat.
Changing the Oil: This one is a little more complicated, as not everyone has a nice flat driveway or garage to change their oil in, or ramps and a dolly to aid in getting under the car. But if you do change your own oil, teach your kids to do it, too.
Changing the Fuses: Right after I graduated from college, I was working in Boston, and on my way home from work the guy in front of me wasn't paying attention when the light changed, so after a few seconds I gave him a friendly little beep of the horn. Except that my horn jammed on and I had to pull over. All I could think to do was to disconnect the battery. Fortunately, a friendly passer-by told me I could pull the fuse so I could drive to a mechanic and get it fixed. Consult either your car's user manual or the manufacturer's online site for specifics on your car. Also, be sure to point out what items share a fuse. In my car, the horn and the brake lights were on the same fuse, so it was very important for me to know I had no brake lights while driving in Boston traffic!!
Jumping the Battery: Meineke has a good video and written explanation of how to jump-start a car with a dead battery. Be sure your kids know where the jumper cables are, and the portable charger, if you have one. If you have a car with manual transmission, teach them how to roll it and pop the clutch, too.
Financial Planning
Budgeting: Dave Ramsay has lots of fabulous tools for teaching kids how to handle money wisely. If you have a family budget, talk your kids through it. I still remember when my parents sat us down with the clear plastic pill bottles that my dad kept cash in in his dresser and showed us exactly where our money went each month. We started with Dad's monthly paycheck, then set aside money for set monthly expenses: mortgage, utilities, gas, insurance, church tithe, groceries, the kids' allowances. Then we looked at what was left and thought about what we could spend it on: how much on clothes and shoes, how much for going out to eat or to the movies, how much for projects around the house. And how much of it should go into savings for long-term goals and periodic expenses like vacations, college funds, car repair, buying a new car at some point, larger home repair projects. It was a good, tangible picture of where our money went and why my parents didn't just go out and buy us the expensive stuff we wanted.
Filling Out Tax Forms: At some point your kids will get a job and need to fill out a tax form. Walk them through it with sample numbers and explain what kind of information is required. Take a look at your state form as well. Go over what types of things - charitable donations, capital gains and losses, investments, interest, etc. - can affect how much tax you pay, and talk about how your W-4 can affect how much of your paycheck is withheld, which in turn affects the size of your tax refund or bill.
Savings and Investing: Depending on your kids' ages, talking about saving money could be anything from giving them a piggy bank or coin jar and an allowance to helping them to set up an IRA or 529 plan. Talk about the advantages of each. If you have a financial planner, he or she may have resources that explain different investing strategies and methods.
General Life Skills
Writing a Resume: Show your kids your own resume and explain what each section tells an employer about you and your experience and background. This site walks kids through writing their own resume. Even as a teen applying for their first job, your kids will be ahead of the curve if they walk in the door with a nicely-written resume in hand.
Going to a Job Interview: Here's a good video geared specifically for kids going to their first job interview. Hold a mock interview with your kids and critique it together afterwards. And let your kids interview you, too - be a good example of professional behavior.
Getting an Apartment: This is a good followup to your budgeting discussion. Give your kids an imaginary income and have them figure out how much they can afford to spend on rent each month. Then look online to see what kind of housing is available in your area for that price. Think through the factors you should consider when choosing an apartment. Is it in a safe neighborhood? Do you really need a 2-bedroom apartment? Is there sufficient parking if you plan to have a car, or is there good access to public transportation if you don't? Are utilities included or do you need to budget for those as well? This article covers a lot of good questions to think about, including how to understand a lease before you sign it. And don't forget to talk about the importance of renter's insurance!
What to Do After a Car Accident: At some point in time, nearly all of us will be involved in a car accident, and statistically, it's most likely to happen while we're young, inexperienced drivers. I had my first accident during a driving lesson before I even got my license! For the record: it was not my fault - I was rear-ended at a stop sign by an incredibly embarrassed and apologetic woman. But it was the best thing that could have happened, because there were no injuries or damage other than a few paint smudges, and my instructor patiently walked me through what to do. Make sure your kids know where the car registration is kept and to always keep their licenses with them.
What other skills did you learn the hard way as an adult that you wished you'd picked up earlier in life? Teach your kids those!
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