Is your family in a fix? All family members should feel confident about doing
household repairs; you never know when something might need fixing – and such
practice are good for the environment. Family members can teach each other –
and they can consult reputable online resources. In addition, reading repair
documents helps one follow and create good directions, which is a valuable
lifelong skill.
CONNECT:
- Yahoo contribute Sylvia Branch lists five basic home repair skills for kids: https://shine.yahoo.com/five-basic-home-repair-skills-kids-223800824.html
- Ms. FIXIT’s how-to library has lots of advice on home repairs. Here’s her list of ways to deal with laundry and stains: http://www.mrsfixit.com/fixits/FixitCategoryList.asp?id=16
- Watch about electricity safety at http://www.ogepet.com/videos/kids-safety-video.aspx
- Kids can be rough on clothes, so it’s good to involve them in repairing those occasional rips. The University of Kentucky cooperative Extension Service provides useful factsheets on clothing repair: http://www2.ca.uky.edu/hes/fcs/factshts/CT-MMB-147.PDF
CREATE:
- Children should learn how to use basic repair tools, such as screwdrivers, hammers, and even can openers. Get some starting tips at http://www.stretcher.com/stories/10/10dec06e.cfm
- How do parents start teaching children about home maintenance and repair? Get some ideas from http://voices.yahoo.com/involve-kids-home-maintenance-repairs-teach-self-12314086.html?cat=25
- There are some tips for teaching children basic plumbing skills: http://plumbernw.com/teaching-your-children-basic-plumbing-skills/
- Youngsters can have fun with these fire prevention activities: http://www.sparky.org/
CARE:
- You may find that directions need improvement, or you might discover a better way to do something. http://www.wikihow.com/ provides a venue for contributing how-to-ideas to the public.
- Here are some great youth programs focused on “recycle-a-bicycyle”: http://www.recycleabicycle.org/youth-programs. See if something similar is in your area – or consider starting such a program. You can become a member of this program, and get ideas for helping.
- RePlay for Kids is an organization that provides free repair services to agencies tht work with kids with disabilities. Teens often participate in this service, so maybe your family can get involved too: http://www.replayforkids.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=109&Itemid=54
- Find good resources on bike maintenance and bike repair for kids at http://www.partselect.ca/resources/bicycle-maintenance-and-repair.aspx. Maybe you can host a neighborhood bike repair day.
CAREERS:
Do you have handy family members? Even in this “throw-away”
culture, there are always repairs to do, and as people become more resource
conscious, repair/recycle jobs will become even more important. There a lot of
ways to get a fix on jobs in repairs:
FOR PARENTS:
Be sure to discuss with your
family as to when a repair should be done by an outside expert rather than
dealing with it by yourselves. This note applies particularly when high-voltage
electricity is involved.
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