HACKER Q&A
📣 tmaly

What are you teaching your kids that is not taught in school?


I have been doing some robotics with block based programming with my daughter over the Summer.

I have also helped her with some new math concepts. I like to give her real life examples or provide the "why" so she understands the point of learning about something.

We also do some very basic concepts in philosophy , something a young kid can grasp. When I can thing of a good way to explain a mental model, I also do this.

What are you teaching your kids that they won't learn in school?


  👤 sloaken Accepted Answer ✓
How to manage their money. I have given them an allowance, not for chores but for being a family member. You do chores because you are a family member. Paid monthly, based on number of Fridays in a month. Annual increase (on birthday).

When my kids want something, unless it is a reasonable basic (lunch / water / medicine), I make them buy it. Where I am soft is when I see an intellectual value (non fiction book, raspberry PI). Sometimes I will split the cost. Games and candy are fully their expense.

Logic - if I can teach them to handle their money now it will save me the midnight call in the future "Dad ... /cry I am 3 months behind on rent and they want to throw me out of the apartment....". WTF I am not paying your 3 months rent! The allowance, added over the years, is significantly less than 3 months rent, I think.

Reward - My young son and I were at festival, it was hot. He complained he was 'parched'. I was impressed he knew the word, so I expressed my concern and queried as to the best remedy. My son informed me that Lemon aid would work the best. I agreed, it would, and he marched over to the Frozen Lemon Aide stand. When he heard me mention that it was with 'His Money'. He stopped dead in his tracks, turned around, and asked if he could get a drink of water from my water bottle. At that point I knew it had been working. Dads money is FREE money, his money is a completely different thing.


👤 giantg2
As the subjects become age appropriate: + logic/philosophy

+ personal finance

+ mechanical skills (home repair, auto repair, etc)

+ home skills (cooking, cleaning, etc)

+ circuits and programming

+ hunt, fish, garden, mushroom

+ politics/civics/rights (they might teach some of this in school but even then it can be biased)


👤 htanirs
More than teaching I discuss various aspects of life with my elder kid.

Introspection, philosophies, why we do what we do, what we struggle to cope with, death, governments, wealth, consumerism, corruption, business, summary of books I read, movie details.

There is no teaching or schedule. It is a casual talk whenever he gets curious about something. So when he questions or wants to know more the discussion continues.

And it makes me happy when he is able to recollect or relate something discussed in a different event.


👤 AnimalMuppet
How to fairly evaluate someone's ideas without having to either fully accept them or fully reject them.

👤 actfrench
How to teach himself

👤 rolph
blind faith in governments; institutions; or authority figures will get you pwned.