Traditional Skills: Beyond the Scope of Math and Reading

Though traditional forms of education may be considered an essential aspect of a child’s potential success, we should not forget the importance of traditional skills that seem to be diminishing. There are many opportunities for children to learn outside of the classroom, while gaining practical skills that have far reaching benefits.

What are these skills?

Think back when it was the norm for schools to include Wood Shop and Home Economics to their curriculum. Students learned a range of tasks like cleaning, budgeting, baking, and sewing in Home Economics. In Wood Shop class students were taught how to use and manipulate wood in order to make creative and useful products to be used in and outside of the home. Some courses even taught students how to work with metals and car parts. These classes were a staple of American culture.

However, for the most part, these classes have been removed from the typical middle school and high school education. While they may have been replaced with more academically challenging courses, one cannot dismiss the multiple areas of effectiveness that traditional skills offer. Here are just a few:

1. Learning Traditional Skills Increase Your Cognitive Abilities

Learning traditional skills like sewing, baking, changing the oil of a car, working with metals etc. refines particular cognitive skills that may not be consistently engaged. For example, studies show that learning new skills, especially those that are difficult, increase memory.

2. Learning Traditional Skills May Make You Self-Sufficient

Depending on what skills a student learns, he or she will definitely gain self-sufficiency. Knowing how to fix cars, tailor a pair of pants, or build a small bird house will free that person from hiring outside sources to do it for them. Though any of these skills lends itself to a profession, many people (especially age-appropriate children) can use these as helpful hobbies. How many times have you had a leaky faucet or loose floor board and wish you knew how to fix it yourself?

3. Learning New Skills Puts You In a Position to Serve Others

Traditional skills will always be in demand no matter how far technology advances. People will always be in need of the traditional skills historically taught in Home Economics and Wood Shop whether it be to learn the skill for themselves, or to hire an expert to provide a service. With a constantly changing economy, it’s always smart to be multifaceted. A hobby can soon turn into side income, or even a lucrative business. At the very least one could use their skill to help a family member or friend.

Are you or your child interested in learning a new skill? Are there skills your grandparents or great-grandparents had that you wish were passed down to you and your child? Comment below!