Home economics is a vital but wide subject matter. The important subjects under home economics can vary from person to person. I believe it is something that starts in the home early, however if one did not start early, start where you are, I surely did. I personally came to the party of home economics quite late. In high school I took wood working to avoid home economics.
In my homeschooling, we do not have an official home economics course. The children were introduced to it early, so I would hopeful reduce the drama surrounding the need to help each other at home.
For example, as babies I would give them baby wipes to clean the tray of their stroller while we were running errands. They would clean everything and I would enjoy peace and quite while we shopped.
Also as babies they lived on my back when I spent time cooking and cleaning in the kitchen. As they got older I would place them on a chair and give them the scraps of vegetables I did not need, so they could pretend to cook.
I would also have them clean the table and the countertops. If they were in a bad mood, I learned if I gave them a job to do most of the time the bad mood would dissipate while cleaning cabinets or chairs.
They played in the empty laundry basket while I ironed. I bought a play stove, kitchen cookware, laundry, child size brooms and supplies so hopefully it would condition them into thinking work is fun, which it can be by the way. I think it worked for the most part, I do get some complaining every once is a while from the younger ones.
Once they could walk, I sent them to the garage to spend time with their papa. He was either working on cars, motorcycles, cleaning the garage, cutting grass, fixing the house or building something. Saturday mornings and afternoons were spent with him. He would place them in the stroller and move them around as he mowed the garden. We also renovated our house so there was a lot they could help with. This provided a way they could see that cleaning and home maintenance were important part of our lives. The quality of our work would dictate and quality of our life at home.
For financial literacy, I would give them receipt books from the store and they would make up menus for their fake restaurant. I talked and read books about money to them. We talked about investing, budgeting, 401k plans, IRAs, life insurance, generational wealth, millionaire next door, stock market, trading stock market, economics, taxes, real estate, accounting, finance and other subjects surrounding money. I admit, personal debt is not something I focus on because we want to live debt free. I would like them to own assets that can pay for current and future liabilities.
Home economics, at least for me, includes character. Without character a person will struggle in life. I want the children to have as many positive character traits they can get and continue to grow until the Lord calls them home. Traits such as honesty, discipline, courage, kindness, attentiveness, diligence, discernment, loyalty, perseverance, respectfulness, selflessness, teachable, vision, zeal and a spirit of excellence in everything they accomplish. This is a lifetime goal that should be worked on daily. What you practice when you are young is what you will do when you are old.
There are many subject one could included under home economics, however I will address them another day.
