OK for Castles

You’ve probably seen castles in movies or TV, or maybe read a story that takes place in a castle. But what are castles really like? And are they different throughout the world? Try these activities to experience castles in a new way.

CONNECT:

• Learn about castles by watching and listening to this kid-friendly introduction to real castles at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AesgRREuCQI
• Discover the history of castles around the world at http://www.kidsdiscover.com/spotlight/castles-for-kids/?wpss-routing=results
• Read about one of these top 10 castles in fiction: https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2015/mar/05/jessamy-taylors-top-10-castles-in-fiction.

CREATE:

• Construct your own castle, and play games about castles at https://medievaleurope.mrdonn.org/castles.html
• What food did people in castles eat? Which might you eat now? Find out at https://www.dkfindout.com/us/history/castles/food-in-castles/
• Create a castle theme party and games using the ideas at https://www.thespruce.com/kids-knight-and-princess-party-games-2104593

CARE:

• It’s been said that a man’s home is his castle. Here is an age-appropriate checklist for kids to help keep the family’s castle in good shape: https://www.harryhelmet.com/train-em-early-how-your-kids-can-help-around-your-home/
• Children can also learn simple home repairs, as explained at https://www.stretcher.com/stories/10/10dec06e.cfm
• Pets are part of the home “castle, “ and they may have their own little “castles” such as a fishbowl or dog house. Here are age-appropriate ways for kids to help pets in those “castles”: https://www.familyeducation.com/pet-care-kids-age-appropriate-ways-kids-help

CAREERS:

Do you dream of castles in the air? Here are some down-to-earth careers that involve castles: writer, photographer, artist, actor – or film maker, historian, castle manager (probably in Europe), party planner. So while many castles are historic, castle-related jobs may be in your future.

https://www.learnhowtobecome.org/arts-humanities-careers/history/

https://www.nyfa.edu/student-resources/jobs-film-average-salary-career-paths/

And here are typical jobs in the middle ages: http://medieval.stormthecastle.com/medieval-jobs.htm

Which ones are still around?

Family Fix-it

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:

http://www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/2010/fall/art03.pdf

http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/maintenance-and-repair-worker

http://occupations.careers.org/field/49/installation-maintenance-and-repair

https://www.collegetoolkit.com/careers/category/installation__maintenance___and__repair/49.aspx

http://www.careerprofiles.info/installation-repair-careers.html

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.

There's No Place Like Home

Ranch houses, apartments, town houses, igloos, tents. They are all houses. Whether you live in a project or housing development or gated community, your home is unique because what is inside: furniture, personal items, AND the people. You can explore your home with new eyes – and improve it.

CONNECT:

Homes come in all shapes and sizes. Explore some of the possibilities below.    

• See how houses reflect people’s culture and geography as shown in these websites: 

http://www.ict.mic.ul.ie/websites/2002/Imelda_Fitzgerald/Homes%20Around%20the%20World-1.htm   http://www.shelterpub.com/_wonderful_houses/wh-toc.html

http://weburbanist.com/2008/09/09/70-amazing-houses-from-around-the-world/

http://www.vikingjorvik.com/

http://www.rom.on.ca/programs/activities/longhouse/longhouse1.php

• Farms are the homes to millions of people around the world. This website presents 150 farm homepages give you a feel for life on the farm in 40 states and 18 countries around the world. http://www.disknet.com/indiana_biolab/farms.htm
• If these walls could talk. 'Within These Walls' is an interactive website that documents the history of a house that has been the home for over five generations to the same family. What is the history of your home? What stories could it tell? You can get some ideas by looking at http://americanhistory.si.edu/house/default.asp
• Furniture helps make a house a home. How has furniture changed over the years – and around the world? Does some piece of furniture in your house look like something in another part of the world or another time? http://www.furniturestyles.net/

• Think small. Imagine living in these small spaces:

http://www.designboom.com/contemporary/tiny_houses.html

 http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/

http://www.thetreehouseguide.com/  (Some of these tree houses are not so little…)

CREATE:

Creativity begins at home. There are lots of items around the house that can be used to show your originality.

• Doing family crafts is a great way to spend time together: http://familycrafts.about.com/
• Take a look at some of these home project; hopefully some of them will inspire you to improve your home: http://pinterest.com/kbkphotography/diy-projects-for-the-home-and-kids/
• Try some creative ways to dress up kids’ rooms -- and have fun recycling: http://www.hgtv.com/decorating/10-creative-yet-simple-projects-for-kids-rooms/index.html
• You can be creative and energy efficient at the same time doing these projects: http://www.alliantenergykids.com/FunandGames/CoolProjects/index.htm

CARE:

It takes a lot of work to take care of a home. And home care involves the whole family.

• Home safety is everyone’s business. How safe is your home? Check it out using http://www.safetyathome.com/
• Energy can be costly, and homes can make big carbon footprints. Use a bit of your own energy with  some  of these ideas to save energy. http://www.mortgagecalculator.org/helpful-advice/energy-saving-for-kids.php
• It’s (practically) never too early to learn basic repair skills. Here are five lifelong skills you can gain: http://shine.yahoo.com/five-basic-home-repair-skills-kids-223800824.html
• Kids can help keep the home in great shape. Here are some starting kid-friendly projects: http://www.bobvila.com/blogs/kid-friendly-diy-projects/
• Many people in the United States are homeless or have very poor housing. Here is what the government is doing about it; see how you can help at http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/fair_housing_equal_opp

CAREERS:

Like to hang around the house? Look at all the jobs it takes to build and maintain a home. Take a look at some of the possibilities:

• Architect http://www.kidzworld.com/article/5966-becoming-an-architect
• Building things: http://kids.usa.gov/teens-home/jobs/building-things/index.shtml
• Home economics: http://voices.yahoo.com/is-career-home-economics-right-you-4269545.html
• Home-centric green careers: http://climate.nasa.gov/kids/greenCareers/index.cfm

PARENTS:

Safety is your first concern. These activities can help your children be more aware of safety issues at home. You can remind them that technology requires awareness of safety issues too.