Start of the Home Ec/Life Skills class

So here's what I've done so far. I've typed up this list from the book "401 Ways to Get Your Kids to Work at Home" by Bonnie Runyan McCullough and Susan Walker Monson. Obviously this is the complete list which includes basic skills that Christopher already has but I plan to use this list for all the boys so I left it as is and we'll just cross out what Christopher can already do. I also know that we will be making some changes to the list since it was originally drawn up in 1981 and there are some skills that are less necessary now (Chris doesn't ride a bike for example so bike maintenance is not relevant for him) and there are others that have become relevant. Any and all suggestions will be taken (tho not necessarily implemented) on what should be added or removed from the list if you so choose to make them.

Personal Care Skills
1. Put pjs away
2. Pick up toys
3. Undress self
4. Comb hair
5. Wash face, hands
6. Brush teeth
7. Dress self
8. Pick up books and arrange on shelf
9. Tidy up room and desk
10. Make own bed
11. Clean, trim nails
12. Leave bathroom neat after use
13. Arrange for own haircuts
14. Purchase own grooming supplies


Clothing Care Skills
1. Empty hamper, put dirty clothes in wash area
2. Put away clean clothes
3. Clean own drawers
4. Clean own closet
5. Fold, separate clean laundry
6. Hang clothes for sun drying
7. Fold clothes neatly, without wrinkles
8. Polish shoes
9. Wash clothes in machine
10. Operate electric clothes dryer
11. Clean lint trap and washer filter
12. Shop for clothing
13. Basic spot removal – blood, oil, coffee, tea, soda, etc
14. Waterproof shoes
15. Iron clothing
16. Hand wash woolens
17. Simple mending – buttons and holes
18. Sort clothes by color, dirt, fabric content
19. Take clothes for dry cleaning
20. Simple sewing


Household Skills
1. Clear off own place at table
2. Wipe up a spill
3. Dust furniture
4. Set table
5. Clear table
6. Pick up trash in yard
7. Shake area rugs
8. Spot clean walls
9. Wipe off door frames
10. Clean TV screen and mirrors
11. Feed pets
12. Clean toilet
13. Scour sink and tub
14. Empty wastebaskets
15. Sweep porches, patios, walks
16. Wipe off chairs
17. Know differences and uses of various household cleaners
18. Load and turn on dishwasher
19. Empty dishwasher and put dishes away
20. Wash and dry dishes by hand
21. Clean combs and brushes
22. Clean bathroom (total)
23. Scrub or mop floor
24. Use vacuum cleaner
25. Clean pet cages and bowls
26. Take written telephone messages
27. Use broom, dustpan
28. Vacuum upholstery and drapes
29. Water house plants
30. Water grass
31. Wash Car
32. Weed garden
33. Change bed linens
34. Replace light bulbs, understand wattage
35. Clean fireplace
36. Polish silverware
37. Replace fuse or know where breakers are
38. Oil Squeaky door
39. Change vacuum belt and bag
40. Trim trees, shrubs
41. Mow lawn
42. Polish wood furniture
43. Wash windows
44. Place long distance phone calls
45. Place collect calls
46. Unstop drain with chemicals or plunger
47. Install a lock
48. Change plug on electric cord
49. Scrub down walls
50. Wax a floor
51. Clean bathroom tile
52. Replace faucet washer
53. Use weather and all-purpose caulking
54. Know what to look for in home appliances

Cooking Skills
1. Know basic food groups and nutrition
2. Put groceries away
3. Make punch
4. Make a sandwich
5. Cook canned soup
6. Read a recipe
7. Measure properly
8. Make gelatin
9. Pack a cold lunch
10. Boil eggs
11. Scramble eggs
12. Distinguish between good and spoiled foods
13. Bake a cake from a mix
14. Cook frozen, canned vegetables
15. Mix pancakes
16. Read ingredient labels
17. Plan balanced meal
18. Select and prepare fresh fruits and vegetables
19. Bake cookies
20. Bake muffins, biscuits
21. Make tossed salad
22. Make hot beverages
23. Fry hamburger
24. Broil a steak
25. Bake bread
26. Make fruit salad
27. Clean frost-free refrigerator
28. Make casserole
29. Clean oven and stove
30. Carve meat
31. Plan and shop for groceries for a week
32. Defrost freezer or refrigerator
33. Cook a roast
34. Fry a chicken


Money Skills
1. Know monetary denominations
2. Freedom to use small allowance
3. Make change and count your change
4. Compare quality and price
5. Make savings or checking account deposit
6. Use a simple budget
7. Return item to a store properly
8. Write a check
9. Balance a checkbook
10. Understand what household bills must be paid; rent, electricity, water, telephone, etc.
11. Know how to properly use credit card



Navigation and Auto Skills
1. Know address
2. Know phone number
3. Clean interior of car
4. Ride bus or taxi
5. Oil a bicycle
6. Repair bicycle tire
7. Wash car properly
8. Read a map
9. Polish car
10. Fill gar with gas
11. Check oil
12. Fill radiator
13. Change flat tire
14. Fill tires with air
15. Drive car


Other Skills
1. Make emergency call such as ambulance, police, fire department
2. Learn to swim
3. Check book out of a library
4. Know emergency first aid procedures
5. Understand uses of medicine and seriousness of overuse
6. Plan a small party
7. Properly hang something on wall
8. Know differences between latex, enamel paint, wood stains, and polyurethane
9. Paint a room
10. Type
11. Change furnace or air conditioner filter
12. Contact landlord with problem and follow through
13. Organize spring house cleaning
14. Clean water heater and if gas, light it
15. Repair wall holes with putty
16. Shampoo carpets
17. Arrange for services such as trash removal or extermination