Life What would you want your 13-year-old child to learn, read or watch? - Page 4

teedubya · 05-23-2015, 08:12 PM

I'm creating a summer curriculum for my 13-year-old son. And I'm putting together a list of books, documentaries and other pieces of wisdom to help my son become a jedi at life.

What do you wish you had known at age 13? What book is a MUST read for him? What documentary changed your life?

The US education system is great for helping kids regurgitate facts, but it doesn't excel at teaching people to become a critical thinker.

What information and knowledge should be on any 13-year-old's radar, aside from religious texts and dogma?

Thanks in advance.

Hog's Gone Fishin · 05-24-2015, 11:50 AM

Good age to learn CPR

**notorious** · 05-24-2015, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BucEyedPea

Can't work at age 13. His kid is only 13. I guess some things. I couldn't work until age 16. After that I worked full-time all summer and part-time during the school year right through college years. In face one summer I worked three jobs....so I could go to Europe the next summer.

Anything goes on the farm.

It's Thunderdome.

**notorious** · 05-24-2015, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hog Farmer

Good age to learn CPR

Chief Planet References?

BucEyedPea · 05-24-2015, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notorious

Anything goes on the farm.

It's Thunderdome.

So I hear.

BucEyedPea · 05-24-2015, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donger

http://www.amazon.com/American-Consp.../dp/0199351813

Mean spirited.

Hog's Gone Fishin · 05-24-2015, 12:11 PM

There's a lot to be learned out there

**lewdog** · 05-24-2015, 12:27 PM

Have him learn how to properly make a tinfoil hat.

**Easy 6** · 05-24-2015, 01:57 PM

Get him outside in nature as often as possible... hiking, fishing, watersports etc.

BigBeauford · 05-24-2015, 02:46 PM

Maybe check out habitat for humanity, or mentor with a handyman. My biggest regret is not learning more from my dad on fixing things, which is a valuable commodity/life skill when he gets his own home someday.

Brock · 05-24-2015, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigBeauford

Maybe check out habitat for humanity, or mentor with a handyman. My biggest regret is not learning more from my dad on fixing things, which is a valuable commodity/life skill when he gets his own home someday.

Yes. This is how I learned to sheathe and side a house correctly. Knowing construction trades saves you a shitload of money.

**Buehler445** · 05-24-2015, 09:03 PM

Given some time to reflect on it, and thinking about my nephews and nieces that are about that age. And thinking about my experiences and what I wish I had learned at that age. Most of them revolve around basic life skills. The sooner they can learn them, the more of an advantage he will have.

The value of work There aren't many kids these days that know how to buckle down and work. Dad and I have been trying to figure out how to get my nephew to put forth requisite effort at work. I don't know the answer, but father/son talks about what it takes to get and keep a decent job as well as an explanation of competition in the work environment and how important hard work/focus on productivity/adding value/etc can mean, and it all starts with effort and focus. While mowing the grass, or sweeping the garage or whatever may not take absolute focus, but focusing and putting forth the requisite effort is important. If you can find a way to reward him for good effort and not for bad would be good.

Personal Finance This came easy peasy for me at this age, but a lot of kids I work with can't even get close. Balancing checkbooks, compounding interest, loan amortization and the value of paying additional principle, how credit works, how credit compounds with credit cards, cash flow, calculating profit, budgeting, etc is all vitally important. With college costs and the state of student loans, the cost of everything else too, there is very little margin for error with kids - See Guru's kid car thread. These things should be pretty easy to find. If you need any help feel free to PM me.

Woodworking/Metalworking/Construction/Handyman Skills This is where I wish I would have done better. I'm not very good with my hands, and I wish I were better. I'm decent with mechanics, but I'm not very good with much else. If you can get him to shadow some guys that wouldn't mind having him around, would help. Anything you can teach him is good, but having someone else do it would be more beneficial and reinforce the importance of job well done. Even if it is something as simple as building, staining and finishing a shelf or something, it would be a good way to understand finish quality and precision would be good.

Math/Other Academic Study Math is what fleets the easiest over the summer. If he has any idea what he wants to do after high school, it's never too early to start him down the path. For instance, if he has interest in accounting, he can go through some coursera or khan academy classes or something like that.

All the best bud. There aren't enough good parents on this planet. Kudos.

**Iowanian** · 05-24-2015, 09:15 PM

I think he would be better served if you unplugged his computer for the summer. Teach him how to mow a yard, check and change oil. Show him how to build a birdhouse and change a tire. Teach him how to make some money through labor and how to use and save wisely.

13 is a very impressionable age and you only have his attention for a few more years.

Take him camping.. Rough it. Learn how to skin fish and build fire and put up a tent.

Let the summers lessons come from man classes instead of math books.

I hadn't read the responses prior to mine but I concur. He might forget the passages of higher learning but he will use the man skills for life. They will serve him better.

**Iowanian** · 05-24-2015, 09:19 PM

We used to have relatives from the city stay at our farm in the summers. S even a couple of weeks on a working farm would be awesome. Harder to find them now though.

Pasta Little Brioni · 05-24-2015, 10:04 PM

Ancient Aliens

**Easy 6** · 05-25-2015, 11:19 AM

Ask him to think about his four favorite subjects/what he might wanna be when he grows up, give him some time to mull it over... whatever it may be... astronauts, baseball, cowboys, computers, whatever it may be.

Then take him to the library at the start of each week and help him pick out a book on one of those four subjects, give him the week to finish it and start over the next week... that will kill a month, foster a love of reading and educate him on his interests all at once.

Theres absolutely nothing like reading a book (not a stinking Kindle either, an honest to God book you hold in your hand and turn the pages on), I'm sooo thankful to my mother and aunts for encouraging me to read. Its become a lifelong habit/passion and I wouldnt know half of what I do without it... do that to stimulate his thoughts and keep his body active with outdoor activities = profit.

05-23-2015, 08:12 PM
teedubya Most Valuable Poster Join Date: Oct 2003 Casino cash: $9480002	What would you want your 13-year-old child to learn, read or watch? I'm creating a summer curriculum for my 13-year-old son. And I'm putting together a list of books, documentaries and other pieces of wisdom to help my son become a jedi at life. What do you wish you had known at age 13? What book is a MUST read for him? What documentary changed your life? The US education system is great for helping kids regurgitate facts, but it doesn't excel at teaching people to become a critical thinker. What information and knowledge should be on any 13-year-old's radar, aside from religious texts and dogma? Thanks in advance.
Posts: 36,652

05-24-2015, 11:50 AM	#46
Hog's Gone Fishin Fish are scared of me Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $1540477	Good age to learn CPR
Posts: 40,376

05-24-2015, 12:11 PM	#51
Hog's Gone Fishin Fish are scared of me Join Date: Nov 2001 Casino cash: $1540477	There's a lot to be learned out there
Posts: 40,376

05-24-2015, 12:27 PM	#52
lewdog Mod Team Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Valley of the hot as **** Casino cash: $1731900	Have him learn how to properly make a tinfoil hat.
Posts: 45,630

05-24-2015, 01:57 PM	#53
Easy 6 pie is never free Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: the drivers seat Casino cash: $3557775	Get him outside in nature as often as possible... hiking, fishing, watersports etc.
Posts: 91,845

05-24-2015, 02:46 PM	#54
BigBeauford MVP Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Lenexa, KS Casino cash: $2076717	Maybe check out habitat for humanity, or mentor with a handyman. My biggest regret is not learning more from my dad on fixing things, which is a valuable commodity/life skill when he gets his own home someday.
Posts: 14,292

05-24-2015, 09:03 PM	#56
Buehler445 Supporter Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Scott City KS Casino cash: $2144734	Given some time to reflect on it, and thinking about my nephews and nieces that are about that age. And thinking about my experiences and what I wish I had learned at that age. Most of them revolve around basic life skills. The sooner they can learn them, the more of an advantage he will have. The value of work There aren't many kids these days that know how to buckle down and work. Dad and I have been trying to figure out how to get my nephew to put forth requisite effort at work. I don't know the answer, but father/son talks about what it takes to get and keep a decent job as well as an explanation of competition in the work environment and how important hard work/focus on productivity/adding value/etc can mean, and it all starts with effort and focus. While mowing the grass, or sweeping the garage or whatever may not take absolute focus, but focusing and putting forth the requisite effort is important. If you can find a way to reward him for good effort and not for bad would be good. Personal Finance This came easy peasy for me at this age, but a lot of kids I work with can't even get close. Balancing checkbooks, compounding interest, loan amortization and the value of paying additional principle, how credit works, how credit compounds with credit cards, cash flow, calculating profit, budgeting, etc is all vitally important. With college costs and the state of student loans, the cost of everything else too, there is very little margin for error with kids - See Guru's kid car thread. These things should be pretty easy to find. If you need any help feel free to PM me. Woodworking/Metalworking/Construction/Handyman Skills This is where I wish I would have done better. I'm not very good with my hands, and I wish I were better. I'm decent with mechanics, but I'm not very good with much else. If you can get him to shadow some guys that wouldn't mind having him around, would help. Anything you can teach him is good, but having someone else do it would be more beneficial and reinforce the importance of job well done. Even if it is something as simple as building, staining and finishing a shelf or something, it would be a good way to understand finish quality and precision would be good. Math/Other Academic Study Math is what fleets the easiest over the summer. If he has any idea what he wants to do after high school, it's never too early to start him down the path. For instance, if he has interest in accounting, he can go through some coursera or khan academy classes or something like that. All the best bud. There aren't enough good parents on this planet. Kudos.
Posts: 56,867

05-24-2015, 09:15 PM	#57
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $4678454	I think he would be better served if you unplugged his computer for the summer. Teach him how to mow a yard, check and change oil. Show him how to build a birdhouse and change a tire. Teach him how to make some money through labor and how to use and save wisely. 13 is a very impressionable age and you only have his attention for a few more years. Take him camping.. Rough it. Learn how to skin fish and build fire and put up a tent. Let the summers lessons come from man classes instead of math books. I hadn't read the responses prior to mine but I concur. He might forget the passages of higher learning but he will use the man skills for life. They will serve him better.
Posts: 61,548

05-24-2015, 09:19 PM	#58
Iowanian Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Utopia Casino cash: $4678454	We used to have relatives from the city stay at our farm in the summers. S even a couple of weeks on a working farm would be awesome. Harder to find them now though.
Posts: 61,548

05-24-2015, 10:04 PM	#59
Pasta Little Brioni Consuming CP souls Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: U.S.A. Casino cash: $3808880	Ancient Aliens __________________ **Official TFWdemB Trivia Commisioner**
Posts: 68,748

05-25-2015, 11:19 AM	#60
Easy 6 pie is never free Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: the drivers seat Casino cash: $3557775	Ask him to think about his four favorite subjects/what he might wanna be when he grows up, give him some time to mull it over... whatever it may be... astronauts, baseball, cowboys, computers, whatever it may be. Then take him to the library at the start of each week and help him pick out a book on one of those four subjects, give him the week to finish it and start over the next week... that will kill a month, foster a love of reading and educate him on his interests all at once. Theres absolutely nothing like reading a book (not a stinking Kindle either, an honest to God book you hold in your hand and turn the pages on), I'm sooo thankful to my mother and aunts for encouraging me to read. Its become a lifelong habit/passion and I wouldnt know half of what I do without it... do that to stimulate his thoughts and keep his body active with outdoor activities = profit.
Posts: 91,845