Essential life skills for dudes?

J

jbj

Poor old Geordie's array...
I'm starting a lunchtime club in work. A lot of our kids don't have a male at home and don't learn a lot of basic male orientated life skills as a result.

Dude Club - working title: All The Young Dudes plus Mr JBJ:jam: is here to fix that!!! (plus get them some sneaky national units because funding and stuff.)

It's absolutely in it's infancy but my ideas so far:

- shaving (this is a big one for a lot of our kids)

- general hygiene (teeth, hair, deodorant, aftershave etc...)

- Tying shoe laces - sadly a lot of our kids have never learned this and like the shaving, it really knocks their confidence.

- tying a tie

- washing, ironing and folding clothes

- changing a car tire (risk assessment allowing)

- general house hold stuff - washing windows, hoovering, doing dishes, laundry / dish washer etc...

- Polishing shoes

- basic cooking

- conversing with strangers

- make a tea / decent coffee


Anything I've missed? don't say sewing because home ec probably cover that and I suck at it!
 
How to clean your bong

how to open a beer bottle without a bottle opener

how to start a fire with just a car battery
 
Not sure this is in your remit but basic budgeting and finances.

My son's opinion coming out of "normal" school is that they never gave him any guidance on things like bank accounts, tax and national insurance, mortgages, loans, direct debits, etc so it has had to be covered at home. If your students don't have that input...
 
I like the cooking/coffee/tea idea.

An adult ed school here used to have an intro cooking class called 'Boiling Water' - absolute beginning basics.
 
I think some basic handyman and repair stuff would be useful. Like changing an air filter and spark plug on a lawnmower, replacing a lock set or doorknob on a door, replace the cartridge in a faucet, checking all the fluids under the hood of a car, putting together an IKEA bookshelf, Yadda yadda

not that there’s anything magical about those examples, but just some experience working with tools and understanding how stuff goes together.

And those aren’t necessarily “male” skills - I mean what is really - but more often than not it’s something you learn from your dad.
 
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Trouble shooting. Remote not working? Change batteries?
Something not powering on? Is it plugged in?
Basic troubleshooting will go a long way.
Try to think of everyday things you experience and how you go about troubleshooting them. I feel like we fail our kids on the most simple things that we take for granted.
 
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Putting up a tent

changing a tire on a bike (much lower risk than a car so maybe start there if you have to appease Principal Buzzkill)

Using the “extra” silverware at a nice restaurant

mix and pour something in concrete. Like a fence post etc

Painting a wall with a brush, roller, masking tape, etc
 
If they aren’t teaching high schoolers how to change a tire then they need to do it for both genders. Even the skinny girls can jump on the tire iron and loosen the nuts.
 
jp_nyc said:
If they aren’t teaching high schoolers how to change a tire then they need to do it for both genders. Even the skinny girls can jump on the tire iron and loosen the nuts.
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I agree with this wholeheartedly. It's not a dude thing but that was the OP so I went with it. My wife is on bald tires and can't be convinced they're not ok. Education knows no gender!
 
Gorgon90 said:
Not sure this is in your remit but basic budgeting and finances.

My son's opinion coming out of "normal" school is that they never gave him any guidance on things like bank accounts, tax and national insurance, mortgages, loans, direct debits, etc so it has had to be covered at home. If your students don't have that input...
Click to expand...

This +1000
 
Gorgon90 said:
Not sure this is in your remit but basic budgeting and finances.

My son's opinion coming out of "normal" school is that they never gave him any guidance on things like bank accounts, tax and national insurance, mortgages, loans, direct debits, etc so it has had to be covered at home. If your students don't have that input...
Click to expand...
This!!!

I wish I’d had it…
 
Changing a tire.

learning to set aside a small percentage of any money earned. Starting early to save prepares you for Taxes and retirement planning…. But also how not to blow every dime you have every second you have it, which is easier said than done.
 
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2manband said:
Putting up a tent

changing a tire on a bike (much lower risk than a car so maybe start there if you have to appease Principal Buzzkill)

Using the “extra” silverware at a nice restaurant

mix and pour something in concrete. Like a fence post etc

Painting a wall with a brush, roller, masking tape, etc
Click to expand...
Googles “pitching tent” on urban dictionary
 
My girlfriend changing her own tire would be a last result. She should know how though. Too many weirdos out there. She has AAA roadside assistance.

Tell them to be good people.
 
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