Having graduated my oldest two and now looking at my 11th grader and 8th grader, I took the time to write down a list – 6 pages long – of the skills and habits I’d like to help them develop before leaving home. Can you think of anything I missed? π
Bible reading
- Daily Bible Reading and Prayer Journal
- Genesis β Deuteronomy
- Joshua – Ruth
- 1 Samuel – 2 Chronicles
- Ezra β Esther
- Job – Psalms
- Proverbs β Ecclesiastes
- Isaiah β Daniel
- Hosea β Malachi
- Matthew β Acts
- Romans – Colossians
- 1 Thessalonians – Revelation
Scripture Memory
- John 3:16
- Romans 5:8
- Romans 6:23
- Books of the Bible
- Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17)
- The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)
- Psalm 1:1-6
- Psalm 23:1-6
- 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
- Philippians 2:1-16
- Colossians 3:1-25
- Romans 12:1-21
- Matthew 5:1-16
Books to Read
- Hudson Taylor, George Mueller, Gladys Aylward by Benge (or other Christian Heroes books)
- The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by Lewis (The whole Narnia series)
- Mama’s Bank Account by Forbes
- Man of the Family by Moody (the whole series is great)
- The Hiding Place by Ten Boom
- The Knowledge of the Holy by Tozer
- Knowing God by Packer
- The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions
Hymns
- Amazing Grace
- The Doxology
- Come Thou Fount
- It is Well with My Soul
- Take My Life and Let it Be
- Be Thou my Vision
- How Great Thou Art
- To God be the Glory
- In Christ Alone
- Before the Throne of God Above
- Silent Night
- The First Noel
- Oh, Holy Night
- Little Town of Bethlehem
- Joy to the World
- Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Missions
- Support a missionary in prayer, as well as financially and corresponding with them
- Visit a missionary or serve with a local outreach ministry
- Share the gospel clearly in 2 minutes
Social skills
- Serve others – an elderly neighbor, a sick friend, your church – however the Lord leads
(write a letter, cook a meal, help out) - Answer the phone properly and take a message
- Set the table properly for your family
- Use proper manners eating at home using silverware and a napkin
- Order and pay at a fast food restaurant
- Eat at a fancy restaurant using proper table manners
- Express thanks consistently when others serve you
- Greet and converse with adults with eye conduct, proper voice volume and listening attentively
- Make a phone call to order pizza or other food delivery
- Make a phone call to set up a doctor’s appointment
- Life skills
- Childcare
- Play with, change diaper, feed bottle, make lunch, clean up, child development
- Woodworking
- Hand saw, table saw, miter saw, electric drill, hang a picture, repair nail hole, repair dry wall, caulk sink or shower
- Electrical work
- Check breakers, understand types of light bulbs, install a light fixture or ceiling fan, change outlet, install light switch
- Plumbing
- Plunge a toilet, unclog a drain, understand how a toilet works, turn off water to house at street, turn off water at a sink or toilet
- Painting
- Wall, trim, cabinet, door
- Car repair and maintenance
- Change oil, replace windshield wipers and fluid, change tire, jump battery
- Tie a variety of knots
- Pack for a trip
- Plan a trip
- Set a mouse trap
- Tie a necktie
- Shine shoes
- Organize a closet, cabinet or dresser and your bedroom
- Iron a button-down shirt and dress pants
- Sew on a button
- Mend a hole in a sock or shirt
Healthy Living
- Plan a week of meals as well as make a list of meal and snack options
- Grocery shop for a weekβs groceries
- Cook dinner for the family
- Understand a variety of over-the-counter medicines and supplements
- Know the name and phone number of your doctor, insurance and medicine you take
- Learn how to store food – fruit, vegetables, fridge, freezer, pantry
- First aid skills (choking, fainting, heart attack or inability to breathe, cuts, burns, fractures or sprains)
- Make a First Aid kit
Academic skills
- Tell time using an analog clock
- Use a dictionary, a thesaurus and an encyclopedia
- Read a book or story aloud to a group
- Speak in front of a group
- Find a book at the library using the Dewey decimal system
- Put books on hold online
- Check out and return books on time
- Check out and listen to a digital audiobook
Computer skills
- Keyboarding skills of at least 25 wpm
- Type a chapter of the Bible
- Write a letter to a political representative
- Write a cover letter to apply for a job
- Write a resume
- Write a family newsletter or Christmas letter
- Make a blog
- Make a PowerPoint presentation
- Build a computer from parts
Financial and Time Management Skills
- Discuss stewardship – stewarding our time, talents, treasure and testimony
- Make a daily schedule
- Make an online annual calendar with important dates and birthdays
- Open a bank account
- Write checks, use a debit card at a store, use an ATM, set up auto pay, track your expenses and check your bank balance online
- Learn about car insurance and health insurance
- Discuss paying taxes
- Discuss tithing and giving offerings
- Memorize your social security number and know why you need it
- Make a weekly, monthly and annual budget
- Clothing shopping on a budget
- List and price what you need to buy other than food and clothing (shampoo, deodorant, cosmetics, feminine care, shaving, laundry soap, dish soap, TP, first aid β¦)
Cleaning skills
- Vacuum
- Dust
- Clean mirrors, glass doors and windows
- Wash dishes by hand
- Load the dishwasher
- Empty the dishwasher
- Scrub a toilet
- Clean the shower
- Clean a whole bathroom
- Clean blinds
- Wash, dry, fold, hang up and put away clothes
Cooking skills
- Breakfast β muffins, pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, bacon, sausage
- Eggs β hard boil, fry, scramble, egg salad
- Lunch – grilled cheese, ham, PB & J, macaroni + cheese
- Dinner β spaghetti, hamburgers, fettucine alfredo, tacos
- Potatoes β baked, mashed, roasted, potato salad
- Vegetables β salad, broccoli, green beans, corn casserole
- Dessert β cake, cookies, pudding, pie
Arts, crafts, creative skills
- Take, edit and share photos digitally
- Make a video with music from digital images
- Make an album from digital images
- Sketch with pencils
- Watercolors
- Oil painting
- Embroidery or cross stitching
- Knit or crochet
- Sew curtains or a pillow with a sewing machine
- Play a song on a piano, guitar or other instrument
- Read music accurately
- Sing a song on pitch from memory
- Make a model from scratch or from a kit
- Write a poem
- Memorize and recite a poem
Outdoor skills
- Build a fire and learn about fire safety
- Cook a meal on a fire or grill
- Set up a tent and camp outside for 24 hours
- Mow the lawn
- Use a trimmer
- Use a blower
- Rake and bag leaves
- Plant and maintain flowers or garden
- Weed a garden or flower bed
- Shovel a sidewalk or driveway
- Archery
- Marksmanship, gun safety, and maintenance
- Go fishing β tie a hook, put on bait, catch a fish, take it off hook
- Gut and cook an animal or fish
Download a PDF of this list here: