INQUIRING MINDS

LET CHILDREN LEARN FROM HANDS- ON EXPERIENCE AND YOU COULD SAVE YOUR HOUSE FROM GOING INTO THE ETHER

Learning, it never stops. But at what point do we remember to share that knowledge?

Lately I’ve been reminded of how much my children are yet to learn.

As the days, weeks and months roll by it is easy to get caught up in the everyday grind, resulting in groundhog day if we’re not careful.

In between the chaos that is parenting, work and extra- curricular activities, it is easy to forget everything the littlies need to learn.

And as they further age, so does their curiosity. And without some details to marry up with that new-found interest you could be on the path to disaster.

Regular readers of this column will remember that Master Six and Miss Four have a love of cooking. I have often found Master Six in the kitchen adding a tin of tuna to a cake mix.

Over the years he’s learnt the basic ingredients for a few recipes and has experimented with different flavours.

After recently saving our house from possible total destruction, I realised how much more I needed to teach my children… now.

Sounds obvious I know, but as they appear older every day I sometimes forget they don’t already know everything I do.

For example, Master Six melted butter in the microwave to make his latest dish, which ended up a yummy brownie, but not before we removed the foil covering the container. Yes, foil! We’re not sure how long it had been bubbling away and whether we were mere seconds away from a fire or a full- on explosion, but crisis averted… this time. Sure, you can tell your kids not to do or use something, but unless they understand why, it will often fall on deaf ears.

Even then, as most of us know, you learn from experience, not from being told, which is a scary thought as a parent.

So I’ve decided first-hand experience will be my best bet with Master Six.

I’ll show him how to use things correctly instead of saying ‘I’ll do that’. I will let him help me use appliances so he understands how they work and I’ll lead by example instead of in voice.

Hopefully by giving my children these tools and experience we’ll save ourselves from too many future disasters.