Discover DIY Projects for Creative Learning and Family Bonding

 

Discover DIY Home Improvement Projects for Creative Learning and Family Bonding

Guest Post by: Douglas Summers

In the hustle of daily life, carving out family time becomes a precious goal. Home improvement projects present a unique opportunity for families, especially those who homeschool, to come together in a meaningful way. These activities shared by Kristy Crandall not only beautify your living space but also foster stronger family connections through shared experiences and creativity. Dive into these engaging DIY projects that promise fun, learning, and memorable family bonding.

Creating a Chalkboard Corner

Imagine turning a dull wall or door into an interactive chalkboard! By using chalkboard paint, you create a space where everyone can showcase their artistic flair. This is more than just an art project; it becomes a dynamic family message board for reminders, inspirational quotes, or daily drawings. The versatility of a chalkboard wall offers endless possibilities for expression and communication within your family.

Memory Lane Gallery

Envision a wall in your home dedicated to your family’s journey. By creating a memory lane mural, you bring to life a tapestry of photographs and cherished memories. This project is not just about decorating; it’s a heartfelt reflection of your shared moments. It’s a living, evolving display that celebrates your family's unique story and serves as a daily reminder of the love and experiences that bind you together.

Collaborative Bookshelf Construction

Building a bookshelf as a family is more than a carpentry task; it's a journey in teamwork and creativity. You collaborate on the design, choose the materials, and construct a piece that reflects your family’s style and needs. This project teaches practical skills and offers a sense of accomplishment. The bookshelf becomes a testament to your combined effort, housing not just books, but shared memories of its creation.

Organized Digital Receipts

In the midst of these creative endeavors, organization is key. Rather than hold onto every receipt, use a mobile scanning app to quickly and easily capture any document or image from your device's camera and convert it into a PDF. This method not only declutters your space but also teaches your family about digital organization. Use this to scan a document and keep your project records tidy and accessible.

Cultivating an Indoor Herbal Oasis

Setting up an indoor herb garden introduces a blend of gardening and culinary arts to your family's routine. Choose a sunny spot in your kitchen or another area, and together, plant and nurture a variety of herbs. This activity is not just about growing plants; it’s about responsibility, learning about nature, and enjoying the fresh flavors in your cooking. It's a delightful way to bring the outdoors inside and add a green touch to your home.

Homemade Candle Creation

Crafting candles at home is an enchanting experience. As a family, delve into the art of candle making, experimenting with different scents and colors. This activity is not just about producing candles; it's a sensory journey. It teaches patience, precision, and the joy of seeing your creations come to life. These handmade candles become symbols of your family's creativity and togetherness.

Upcycling Furniture

Choose a piece of furniture and transform it together. This upcycling project is not only environmentally friendly but also a great way to spark creativity and problem-solving. It teaches valuable skills like painting, sanding, and designing. This rejuvenated piece of furniture will not just be a functional item in your home but a representation of your family’s collective creativity and effort.

 

These home improvement projects offer a unique blend of fun, learning, and family bonding. They’re not just about enhancing your home; they’re about creating shared experiences and lasting memories. Whether it's crafting a chalkboard wall, building a bookshelf, or growing an herb garden, each project brings your family together in meaningful and enjoyable ways. So, gather your tools, your creativity, and your family, and embark on these delightful DIY adventures for a home filled with love and learning.

Visit Kristy Crandall to explore insightful resources that will empower you to confidently teach your children at home.

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Cultivating Tomorrow's Leaders: Tips for Empowering Your Child's Potential

Guest post by: Douglas Summers

As a parent, you have the unique chance to mold future leaders by fostering leadership qualities in your children early on. Your guiding influence lays the groundwork for their future success. Embark on this empowering journey to shape the leaders of tomorrow with these tips from Kristy Crandall.

Harnessing Education for Leadership Development

Your journey as a parent and a leader intertwines when you lead by example. Consider enhancing your own education, like pursuing an online master's degree in nursing. This move not only advances your career in nurse education, informatics, nurse administration, or advanced practice nursing but also serves as a practical demonstration of leadership for your children. Balancing parenting and online learning showcases resilience and dedication, essential traits of a leader. Find out how to get the most out of this experience by integrating your academic pursuits with daily family life, thereby setting a powerful example for your children to emulate.

The Blueprint of Young Leaders

You can encourage your children to embrace the practice of setting achievable goals. This simple yet profound strategy teaches them to strategize, prioritize, and monitor their progress. Introducing them to goal-setting nurtures a sense of purpose and direction, essential elements in the makeup of a leader. Teach them to break down large goals into smaller, manageable tasks to promote a sense of achievement. Encourage them to reflect on their accomplishments and learn from setbacks. This process of goal setting and achievement builds resilience and self-confidence.

Cultivating Collaborative Spirits

Teach your children the value of cooperation by involving them in group activities or team sports. These experiences emphasize the importance of working harmoniously with others, a critical trait for effective leadership. Learning to navigate the dynamics of teamwork at a young age prepares them for collaborative environments in their future endeavors. Encourage them to understand different viewpoints and value diverse contributions. Help them develop conflict resolution skills, an essential part of teamwork.

Cornerstones of Leadership

Guide your children in understanding and accepting responsibility for their actions. Demonstrate how integrity and trustworthiness are non-negotiable qualities of a good leader. Holding them accountable for their commitments and decisions instills a strong sense of ethical conduct and reliability. Teach them to make apologies and amends when necessary, showing that everyone makes mistakes, but what matters is how one addresses them. Discuss the consequences of actions, both good and bad, to deepen their understanding of responsibility. Praise them when they show responsibility, reinforcing positive behavior.

Leadership Confidence

Encourage your children to explore and make decisions independently. Such autonomy fosters personal growth, self-reliance, and the confidence to face challenges. This independence is crucial in developing the resilience and adaptability required in a leader. Provide them with opportunities to choose their own activities or solve problems on their own. Support their choices and guide them without taking over. Celebrate their successes and discuss the learning points in their failures.

Decision-Making Skills

Help your children hone their critical thinking and decision-making skills. Encourage them to analyze situations, consider the pros and cons, and make informed choices. Nurturing independent thinking is vital in shaping effective leaders who can navigate complex situations with ease. Teach them to ask questions and seek information before making decisions. Introduce them to basic problem-solving techniques. Discuss real-world scenarios with them, asking for their opinions and reasoning. Encourage them to understand that not all decisions are straightforward and that some require careful thought and patience.

As a parent, you play a pivotal role in fostering leadership qualities in your children. By setting the right examples, encouraging goal-setting, teaching the value of teamwork, instilling a sense of responsibility, promoting independence, and nurturing decision-making skills, you are effectively laying the groundwork for your children to become the leaders of tomorrow. Your efforts today are an investment in their future and the future of our world.

 

 

Tips for Making Your Self-Care Plan Budget-Friendly

Author and blogger Kristy Crandall provides encouragement on the bad days, sources of

inspiration on the good days, and a reminder that you are not alone in your

homeschooling journey. Connect with Kristy today to learn more!

Guest post by: Douglas Summers

With the current economic climate, it can be difficult to find ways to practice self-care

when you’re on a budget. However, there are several simple and affordable ways that

you can take care of yourself without breaking the bank. For better self-care that won’t

break the bank, explore these terrific tips, courtesy of author and blogger Kristy

Crandall.

Discover Ways to Cut Costs

One of the best ways to practice self-care when you’re on a budget is to reduce your

spending. Try setting a budget for yourself or even refinancing your home so that you

have more money available for other things. This will help ensure that you don’t

overspend and will also free up some additional funds for other activities that promote

self-care such as going out with friends or taking time off from work.

If you are currently renting, look for a new place that is a better value to help reduce

costs. Even if the apartment itself is the same cost, consider factors like a free on-site

gym that could allow you to cancel an expensive gym membership, or proximity to work

to lessen gas and other commuting costs. Or perhaps you would have a laundry unit so

you won’t have to pay for a laundromat every week. All of these factors can help you to

reduce unnecessary costs.

Disconnect from Social Media and the News

It is important to stay informed, but as Lancaster General Health notes, too much

exposure to news and social media can be overwhelming. As part of practicing self-care,

consider taking a break from these outlets at least once per week (or more if needed).

This will give you time away from all the noise while allowing you to focus on yourself

and what truly matters.

The Benefits of Mindfulness Meditation

Mindfulness meditation is a great way to relax and take care of yourself without having

to spend any money. It helps clear away stress and anxiety while promoting an overall

feeling of well-being. You can find many free guided meditations online as well as

helpful videos on how to meditate properly, so it doesn’t cost anything but your time.

Pursue Professional Health Services

Medical professionals can help with a variety of things that could help you to feel

happier and healthier. Plus, most medical services are covered under insurance, so they

are budget friendly. If you don’t have insurance due to the expense, look into your

state’s subsidized programs. Once you have a policy in hand, look into services like

nutritional counseling, physical therapy, and psychological services.

Interact with Your Loved Ones

Social Self explains that socializing with friends and family is a great way to practice

self-care while also living on a budget. Texting, calling, video chatting, or even meeting

up in person are all free ways to connect, where meaningful conversations, laughter,

and stories can be shared. Taking the time to engage in these activities is an important

form of self-care that doesn't require spending any money.

Explore Free Activities Near You

There are usually lots of free activities in every area such as concerts, art shows,

festivals, etc. Taking advantage of these events is another great way to practice self-care

while living on a budget. Take some time off work or school, dress up nicely, and attend

one of these events with friends or family (if possible) so that everyone can have fun in

an affordable way.

Another free activity that can take place virtually anywhere is walking. Regular walking

can help maintain a healthy weight, improve cardiovascular health by reducing the risk

of heart disease and stroke, and enhance lung function. It also strengthens muscles,

improves balance and coordination, and supports joint health. Find an area with a high

Walk Score of 70 and above and make walking one of your healthy habits.

Take Up Dance

Dancing can be a key element in your self-care plan. It’s a full-body exercise involving

rhythm and mindfulness. Combining all the best elements of both exercise and

meditation, it’s something you can do affordably and whenever it fits into your schedule.

Take some classes to find new moves, but apply them whenever you want – just put on

your favorite upbeat playlist and get moving!

Start Gardening

If you're looking for something calming yet productive, then consider taking up

gardening. Gardening has been found to reduce stress levels while providing

therapeutic benefits such as improved mental health due to increased exposure to

nature and green space. Start small by purchasing seeds from any local garden center or

nursery, then you can let online tips from plant-focused sites point you in the right

direction regarding soil types, fertilizer, and natural alternatives to pesticides.

If you’re brand new to gardening, you’ll learn that some plants benefit from companion

planting. Companion plants are grown together to benefit one another, which could lead

to lower water consumption and lower expenses in the long run.

Care for Yourself and Your Budget

Living on a budget doesn't have to mean sacrificing quality self-care practices. There are

plenty of affordable options available if you're willing to look for them. Taking cost-

cutting measures (like refinancing) as needed, attending free activities in your area,

picking up dancing, and taking up gardening are all simple ways to stay healthy while

spending less. All of these tips can help anyone looking for cost-effective ways to remain

calm during difficult economic times.

Finding a System that Works for Your Family

Not all schedules are created equal

        I have always found schedules to be a bit of a challenge. On one hand, structure and routine is helpful for setting expectations and creating a natural rhythm during the day. On the other hand, life is unpredictable (especially with children), so there needs to be a certain amount of flexibility or a schedule can add to the frustration and stress instead of taking it away. So, while creating a schedule for your own family, it is important to account for the patterns that already occur naturally within your home, as well as the things that motivate the people affected by the schedule. By taking these details into account, it can make implementation much easier, and can set you up for a better chance of long term success.

Prioritize Practical Motivators

        In our home, we are intentional about trying to keep expectations in the home as true to life as possible. Our children are expected to contribute in age-appropriate ways to the upkeep of our home. We do not give allowance for chores, but emphasize the importance of working together as a family to keep our space clean, so no one is required to do everything on their own. (We do occasionally surprise them with small payment or other reward if they go above and beyond or take initiative to do extra on their own.) 

        Even our youngest children "help" with chores, which usually takes longer in the short run, but as their ability and confidence increase they are able to do the jobs more and more independently. Yesterday, I was feeling exceptionally tired, so after returning from taking them to their various activities I said, "I am going to take a nap. Work on these four tasks together, and when they're done you can play games or watch a movie until I wake up." My 11, 7, 6, and 4 year-old sprang into action and finished their chores together in 30 minutes, and were quietly doing their various activities when I got up. Time doing activities that they want to do has proved to be a powerful and effective motivator for them, and it helps to teach them the importance of time management.

Flexible Structure

        This is the schedule I created for my oldest son a couple of months ago, and it has worked well for him. He is very motivated by time to do the things he wants to do. I told him that the 9-12 timeframe is for only school-related activities. If he gets his assigned work done early then he is allowed to choose his own assignments for the rest of the time period. He reads faster than me, so this happens quite often and he watches a documentary, practices Free CAD, watches youtube videos on C++, or chooses some other "assignment" for himself that he has to get approved before starting. He loves being able to choose what he learns about, and if he has that to look forward to he doesn't usually need much nagging to get his work done. The 3-5 time slot is for outside play (if the weather is nice) or for finishing school that he didn't get done earlier. So, if he was dragging his feet in the morning, he loses some of his time outside in the afternoon (which he hates). Its a simple formula, but one that emphasizes time management and the natural consequences of procrastination.

Children love to have some control over their education

        It is also a good, practical way to teach responsible decision-making. Children can make choices within parameters set for them, and are often happy to do so. They are really just small humans who want to feel like they have some control over their own destiny (though they would probably not identify it as such). Each child is different, so the parameters that are set must take the individual child into account, but even simple things like allowing them to choose the order they do their subjects in can motivate them to do more focused work. 

        As part of a space camp my son was a part of this past week, he got to participate in a simulation of a Mars mission with a "real" shuttle and workstation. He played the weather officer, and had to closely monitor changes on the surface of Mars so they could "land" safely. It was a completely immersive experience, and the first time he had been in a high stress situation of that kind. He said he identified an asteroid that would be hitting the planet near where they were supposed to land, and they had only a few minutes to decide what course of action was needed to avoid a crash. When I asked him how he felt about being in a high-stress situation like that he said, "I liked the feeling that people were depending on me to help make the mission a success."

I encourage you to give your children opportunities to show you what they're capable of.

 

Everyday Learning

            Human beings, and especially children, learn every day. We know this, and yet it is easy to forget that most of the learning that is done does not involve textbooks. As human beings, we learn who we can depend on, who is a reliable source of information, who can dependably get a job done quickly, how a person will react to unexpected information, and what a person’s priorities are. We learn who we can trust and who we can’t. Children are the same way.

            In the life of a child, the people they are biologically wired to look to for value are their parents. It can be exhausting trying to field the endless barrage of questions, requests, and demands. Sometimes, we just need a break, and that’s ok. But, it is also important to be mindful of the message that we are giving to our children every time we lose patience or tell them too busy for them.

Every interaction we have with our children leaves an impression. Every time they interrupt a project we are working on they are asking, “Am I more important than the thing you are doing right now?” When work routinely takes precedent over the felt needs of the child, they learn that they are not as important as their parents’ career, money, status, or whatever else they hear their parents talk about.

Obviously, work is important and essential for the wellbeing of the family, but often times it can be overdone, or children can feel like it is the higher priority because their parents are distracted while at home. In situations where there simply isn’t time to give a child the attention they crave, whether because of disability, financial hardship, a single parent household, etc., communication is an important tool to help overcome any feelings of insignificance. Without putting all the weight of the burdens of life on the child, simply being acknowledged and included in some kind of discourse about the family situation can help their sense of worth tremendously.

Something like, “I know I haven’t had a lot of time to spend with you lately, and I’m really sorry. It isn’t that I don’t want to, but there are some things going on right now that mean I have to work these extra hours, so we can continue to do _____. I hope that the situation will change soon so we can spend more time together. And, I hope you know that I love you, and I always want to be here for you if you need me.”

When parents are not around- when a child is in school- they take cues about their worth from the people they interact with most- from teachers, peers, and faculty. Some of these interactions can be positive, and many of them are often negative. All of the thoughts and emotions are placed into a scale, and it balances out based on the child’s personality and the amount of “weight” they assign to each interaction.

Over time, children begin to associate emotions with the various people in their lives. They will be less likely to go to people who are emotionally unavailable or overly critical to help them with their emotional needs. People who take an active interest in the child and are emotionally available are more likely to have lasting and vibrant relationships with the child as they grow up.

Let this be an encouragement to you to slow down in your day-to-day life. Children like to be involved in “real life” things, too, so slow down and let them learn alongside you. Memories don’t have to be made with expensive excursions to exotic places. Some of the best memories are made doing ordinary life together.

Childhood Learning Environments and Their Impact on Emotional Intelligence (and why it matters)

 

               A young boy rides home from school, alone on the school bus. His face and clothes are dirty from being pushed down on the playground at recess; he spent lunch with his teacher, because a classmate falsely accused him of stealing a pudding cup. Today in class, he learned about all of the injustice in the world, and that his classmates don’t like it when he does well on tests. He learned to keep to himself to avoid trouble. Tired and embarrassed, he declines to answer questions about his day over dinner, and instead eats quietly and then excuses himself to go finish his homework and crawl into bed- resigned to repeat the same, humiliating routine tomorrow.

              Stories like this are not uncommon in public schools. Children self-segregate into groups based on the labels given to them by themselves or others, and strong children from troubled homes pick on classmates who stand out for one reason or another. Children from all backgrounds are thrown together into a big melting pot, of sorts, and parents hope that they will make it through unscathed. Most of them don’t. According to the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, twenty-one percent of eighth graders have tried an illicit drug at least once, and almost fifty percent will have tried drugs by twelfth grade. Sixty-two percent of teens 12-17 years old have abused alcohol by twelfth grade. Eleven percent of overdose deaths are in youth 15-24 years old.

              Sandstone Care, a recovery center for adolescents struggling with substance abuse, lists five different reasons why students start using drugs and alcohol: peer pressure, self-medication and escape, performance improvement, Experimentation, and to feel grown up. In a nutshell, many teens begin abusing drugs, at least in part, because of a lack of emotional Intelligence. Students feel unable to handle the social and academic stressors of the classroom setting.

According to Psychology Today, “Emotional intelligence refers to the ability to identify and manage one’s own emotions, as well as the emotions of others.” It enables individuals to navigate social scenarios based on one’s own feelings and the perceived feelings of others, allowing positive experiences and relationships to flourish. Emotional intelligence enables an individual to make others feel heard and cared for, while also exercising restraint when insults occur. It creates a sort of “buffer zone” between individuals, so they can interact and work together peacefully, without a lot of friction.

Emotional Intelligence consists of five main components: self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. It requires an awareness of one’s own triggers and motivators, and also the ability to anticipate the emotional responses of those they interact with. Higher emotional intelligence not only increases confidence, but also enables more positive interactions between people.

High emotional intelligence has implications far beyond high school. According to Forbes, emotional intelligence is the strongest predictor of performance, explaining a full 58% of success in all types of jobs. They also concluded that each point increase in emotional intelligence equates to $1,300 increase in annual income, regardless of location, demographic, or industry.

Emotional intelligence can have life-changing ramifications. And, it is learned. Unlike IQ and personality, which have an impact on success but cannot be altered much, emotional intelligence is something that develops with a person.

Much of this kind of learning is done during the early years in whatever environment one grows up in. For many, this looks like the inside of a classroom- the same setting every day, with the same people every day, experiencing the same pressures and embarrassments every day, sitting through hours of lectures that do not seem relevant to anything tangible. Children learn from the people around them, so when they are surrounded only by their peers, day in and day out, there is very little emotional maturing that can happen.

Conversely, some children learn in the safety of their homes. They are allowed to have some control over their learning experience, get more sleep, and grow up in an environment where learning is encouraged and celebrated instead of ridiculed. The homeschool experience is often more varied, and includes more real-world experiences as the family runs errands, attends get-togethers, classes, and field trips. Homeschool children are able to adapt to a wide variety of social situations.

As a result, peer-reviewed studies on social, emotional, and psychological development show homeschool students perform significantly better than those in conventional schools. They also feel better prepared for college and life after school, and are being sought after, more and more, by colleges because of the level of positive engagement they bring to the campus.

Emotional intelligence is an important facet of the individual’s personal portfolio. It can be learned at any age, but like most things, is best learned in childhood. What’s more, the relationships that are formed in childhood, good and bad, have an impact on the child for the rest of their lives.

 

Real-World, Experiential Learning

 

“The history of education shows that up to 50 years ago, education was principally geared towards getting a job. That’s no longer the case, it seems. If we could agree the purpose of education…, then we can agree the curriculum to fulfill that purpose. Everything else follows. And there may be more than one purpose and there may be more than one curriculum. One size doesn’t fit all. (Schoolsmith, 2019)”

Children should know more than how to fill in bubble answers when they leave school. They should be confident in their abilities to think and reason, and be able to adapt to whatever environment they’re put into. They should be able to speak with respect and a deeply held belief that they have something valuable to say. Children should be able to step into the real world and say, “I’ve seen this before, and I know what to do; this time, I’m just doing it on my own.”

That is a hard goal to attain when children spend forty or more hours a week sitting in a classroom, surrounded by the same people and the same predictable environment. In a survey of 165,000 high school students, “An overwhelming number of students, 87 percent, want to eventually earn a college degree and land a career. But many believe that their schools aren’t helping them develop the skills they’ll need to succeed after graduation.”

In the grand scheme of things, “school age” represents a very small part of peoples’ lives. It is also the period in which their brains are developing and growing to survive in the world they are living in. It does not make sense for them to spend a significant amount of time in a classroom setting for thirteen to twenty years, in a stagnant and predictable environment, only to be thrown out into the chaos of a world that demands improvisation and a plethora of skills that are never taught in school. Is it any wonder that they feel lost when they are suddenly expected to integrate into the world as good and productive citizens? Students who are forced to drop out to help take care of their families understand, better than most, that there is a disconnect between what most schools offer and what they need to succeed, or even just to survive, in their real-life situations.

Academic learning is important, but it needs to have evident real-life applications. Children- especially young children- thrive when they are able to learn things that are “real” and relevant. They love to help out with what they see adults doing, because that’s how they learn to become a part of the same world.

“Learning is the holistic process of adaptation. Learning is not just the result of cognition but involves the integrated functioning of the total person- thinking, feeling, perceiving, and behaving. It encompasses other specialized models of adaptation from the scientific method to problem solving, decision making, and creativity.”.

Teaching children is much like planting a garden. If you are planting a garden, most people know that it is not enough to simply scatter seeds and water them incessantly. Plants need much more than just water. They grow best if they are planted at the proper time of year, they need room to grow, proper soil that is well-drained, nutrient rich, and the proper pH; plants need the proper amount of sunlight, good air flow, protection from extreme elements, and they need time.

However, planting a garden is more complicated than that. Because, different plants have different individual needs; some plants grow well next to each other, and others inhibit each other’s growth. So, it’s beneficial to strategically plant to allow for optimal growth.

Even if all of these considerations are accounted for with complete precision, plants will grow at different rates. Even multiple plants of the same variety will not grow exactly the same. But, eventually, if their needs are met, all plants should grow strong and hearty- the best version of themselves they can be.

By contrast, if seeds are scattered without much forethought or prep work, they will not grow as well. If the new seedlings are watered incessantly to get them to grow, some will grow, but many will drown. It is easy for the plants to become waterlogged, and many will rot or become diseased. Without good sunlight, plants will become “leggy”- tall and weak; without good airflow they will develop mildew or other fungus; without balanced nutrients, leaves will yellow or growth will be stunted- some will do well, but most will struggle to grow, and almost none will reach their full potential. Water is essential for growth, but too much water, or not enough of other essentials, makes it almost impossible for plants to grow well.

In the same way, academics are important. But, focusing exclusively on academics for the first thirteen, or more, years of life means that children’s development becomes very lopsided, and they are ill-equipped to “withstand the elements” when they arise. It used to be, that academics were secondary to the needs of the family and learning the family trade. For many years, school was a luxury that only the wealthiest families were able to provide for their children. It is a huge blessing that virtually every child now is able to be educated; however, we seem to have reached the other end of the pendulum, where children are well-versed in the things they are taught in school, but they don’t have experience or knowledge of much else. Instead of having a family trade to fall back on, children now are stuck living at home, because they go through school and then feel ill-equipped to do anything once their school tenure is done.

School was never intended to replace home learning, but was meant to be an addition to it, to enhance individuals’ abilities to thrive and provide for their families. Reading, writing, and math make it possible for people to gain knowledge independently, communicate ideas, and engage in fair business transactions. These skills are essential. They are important skills for success in business and in life. But, on their own they leave much to be desired, because there is no context in which to use them.

Until there is practical application for even these basic skills, they are just abstract ideas that possesses very little real-world significance. Perhaps that it what is missing most from the modern approach to education- people used to understand the need for these basic skills so there was a desire to learn them. Today, many people seem to have lost sight of the context and practical application for these skills, so there is very little perceived value in knowing how to do them. Children who are more involved in real-world activities better understand the importance of these skills and have a greater appreciation for school.