Beginning Home Ec

[kls126s]

I would like to do short lessons once a week in home ec for my rising first grade dd. I bought book one from Home Economics for Home Schoolers (http://www.pearables.com/Home%20Economics%20Level%20One.htm) and it has thirty nice little lessons on cooking, baking, cleaning, sewing, organizing, and hospitality. We school year round, so I am looking for ideas to do about fifteen more lessons on my own to round it out for the year.

Does anyone have any good links on a gentle intro to home ec for the early years? Or other book recommendations?

Thanks!

[swellmomma]

I really like home economics for home schoolers by pearables. We are going to start using level 1 right away here, and it looks really good, I will be watching this thread to see what ideas you get to add to it.

[tinkgumby]

I, too, will be watching with interest! I have two boys that I would like to learn those skills, which could be trickier. I clicked on the link you provided for what you'd used so far, and it looked like it was just meant for girls (referring to how they would be "wives and mothers").

Ooh! I just had a thought! *runs to bookcase to get unread book*

How about Life Skills for Kids (http://www.amazon.com/Life-Skills-Kids-Equipping-Child/dp/0877884722/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1211852774&sr=8-1)? Instead of being a study directed at children, it's a book for the parent about how to teach those skills, but it covers things like hygiene, money management, organization, and lots more. If you click on the link it will take you to the Amazon page, where you can read reviews on it.

Now I just need to read it myself! :D

[kls126s]

I clicked on the link you provided for what you'd used so far, and it looked like it was just meant for girls (referring to how they would be "wives and mothers").

I haven't looked at it personally (only on the website) but this publisher also has books for boys. These are for younger boys (http://www.pearables.com/Responsibility), and they have others for olders. I think I'll get them when my ds is older.

[tinkgumby]

I haven't looked at it personally (only on the website) but this publisher also has books for boys. These are for younger boys (http://www.pearables.com/Responsibility), and they have others for olders. I think I'll get them when my ds is older.

Ooh, thanks! I'll definitely look into those! (:

[Parrothead]

I've used all three levels of HEHS. I needed some extra lessons and worked in some nutrition in the beginning, some extra reicpe practice, introducing cross stiching and crochet, lessons on the washer and dryer, etc.

I didn't have a curriculum to use. My search engine was great for finding nurtirion lessons, my cookbooks for the recipes, pre-packaged cross stich kits, then just things around the house the dd needed instruction on.

[angela in ohio]

You could round out the year with some different home skills:

*beginning cross-stitch or needlepoint
*weaving or spool knitting (leads into knitting and crocheting)
*fire safety in the home
*very simple gardening

Or you could add to each of the topics they use:
*a few extra baking projects
*a few weeks of extra practice with cleaning projects
*some extra sewing practice
*etc...

[Carmen_and_Company]

What about using tools to build simple items? My dd,Storm, learned to use a hammar, screw driver, and sandpaper by building a bird house, toolbox, and treasure box at that age. Last summer, Storm and her younger brother built our raised garden frame, and several smaller ones from scrapwood. She learned to use a hand saw, too. The fruit of her labor was an excellent vegetable garden season that she could proudly state she did from the ground up.

I looked at the series, you mentioned but felt they were too gender specific, as I wanted my dc to learn how to sew, cook and clean as well as balance a checkbook, change the oil in the car or put air in a tire whether male or female. I think many of the lessons offered in the series for boys apply to girls, too, and vis versa. Just a thought.

[Rosie_0801]

I haven't used it, but here's one to consider:
http://www.suegregg.com/teaching/cookingwithchildren.htm (http://www.suegregg.com/teaching/cookingwithchildren.htm)
Rosie