Unfortunately, today’s kids spend the majority of their days swiping and tapping on devices rather than honing practical, real-world skills. Meanwhile, kids in our generation built a vast array of practical competencies under the age of twelve that seem almost wizardly to today’s children.
Table of Contents
- 1 1. Reading an Analog Clock
- 2 2. Making Collect Phone Calls
- 3 3. Writing in Cursive
- 4 4. Making Prank Calls
- 5 5. Map Reading
- 6 6. Making Your Own Toys
- 7 7. Memorizing Phone Numbers
- 8 8. Making Change Without a Calculator
- 9 9. Writing Thank-You Notes
- 10 10. Playing Outside Until Dark
- 11 11. Repairing Your Own Bike
- 12 12. Double Dutch Jump Rope
- 13 13. Making Mixtapes
- 14 14. Playing Marbles
- 15 15. Operating a Rotary Phone
- 16 16. Making Cootie Catchers
- 17 17. Reading a TV Guide
1. Reading an Analog Clock
Experience and time tell the entire story of time-telling. Every single one of us knew how to tell time. Just think back before every screen in our lives and in our hands. Think of how many kids learned this skill at an early age. Failing to communicate this is simply an abomination and a crying shame.
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2. Making Collect Phone Calls
Who can even say to this very day that they have the “honor” or “privilege” of having spoken to an operator? And remember that “name of caller” message at the end? That was the best part! Failing to say “name of caller” at the end meant you went from hero to zero. And don’t even let me start on how many scheme? I mean, case? I mean, queries these call operator barriers sparked to bypass payment systems in order to engage in free call privileges.
3. Writing in Cursive
Nobody had better motor skills, drawn-out cursive practice, or developed such refined patience than a kid with a beautifully crafted signature. And let’s be real here. This was a much-needed and well-deserved break in the normal hand writing routine and textbook copies to have a “grown-up” signature with your name on it.
4. Making Prank Calls
Pranks were not only hilarious, but at times maybe even take a kid from “not approved” to “parent approved” for engaging in these mischievous acts. In fact, this is a wonderful way to practice improvisation, creativity, and quick thinking while at the same time teaching the importance of having a clear comedic timing and the worth of a good voice act or impression.
5. Map Reading
You probably remember a time before GPS was a part of everyday life. You remember when large paper maps, along with an understanding of the cardinal directions and scale, were needed to navigate. Road trips and neighborhood explorations gave us confidence, and helped us develop our spatial awareness and planning skills.
6. Making Your Own Toys
Using anything we had available to us to make a game or toy helped us develop creativity and resourcefulness. Whether it was a paper airplane or a slingshot, we built our own entertainment.
7. Memorizing Phone Numbers
Before the age of smartphones, we memorized dozens of phone numbers which gave us independence. Not knowing a number by heart could have meant losing contact with family or friends and possibly meant not being able to call for help in an emergency.
8. Making Change Without a Calculator
Any trip to the corner store required quick mental math. We needed to be able to calculate change and determine the percentages to know what the sale price was. Confidence with money and basic math was built on being able to see a pricing mistake from a distance.
9. Writing Thank-You Notes
Thank you notes were a necessary part of being taught good manners, but they also helped children develop composition, clear penmanship, and practice articulate expression of their feelings.
10. Playing Outside Until Dark
When the street lights turned on, we knew how many minutes we had left before the play time came to an end. This wasn’t just a game, it taught time management and risk assessment to avoid needing to follow the rules.
11. Repairing Your Own Bike
Every kid had to become a bicycle mechanic. Kids were hands-on and learned how to fix flat tires, adjust chains, and tighten their loose parts. They learned basic mechanics and problem-solving while maintaining their prized possession.
12. Double Dutch Jump Rope
Jump rope wasn’t just jumping rope. It was a lot more complex. Kids learned and developed their own timing, rhythm, and coordination. Kids could turn two ropes for hours, while other kids jumped and created elaborate and complex routines.
13. Making Mixtapes
Making a mixtape required skill, and perfection. Kids learned to deal with technology, develop their music taste, and learn how to start and stop the recording at the right time.
14. Playing Marbles
Playing games required kids to learn about the complex systems of strategy and rules. Kids learned about force and the importance of a steady hand while managing their prized collection of “shooters” and “cat’s eyes.”
15. Operating a Rotary Phone
The rotary phone click was second nature to kids. It required a lot of patience and dexterity. Kids learned the value of getting things right the first time.
16. Making Cootie Catchers
These paper fortune tellers were more than games. They were a way to practice creativity, social interaction, and origami. Paper fortune tellers taught friends basic storytelling and engineering using only paper.
17. Reading a TV Guide
Prior to streaming services and on-demand viewing, we learned to plan our weeks around TV schedules. We honed our time management and planning skills as well as mastering complex systems. We even learned to deal with the disappointment of missing a favorite show.
