Our life skill this week is properly washing dishes. I know you're thinking "You load them in the dishwasher, put the soap tablet in, close the door and push ON. How hard is that?" Ahem.. not in my world. We still do it the old-fashioned way. Yes, it's more eco-friendly to use a dishwasher but this house doesn't have one. In fact, I've rarely had one. Even if when I did, because our household is now so small (2 children instead of 5), we reserved it for only our big Sunday dinners and Saturday brunches. After all, I didn't want to be washing dishes for 2 hours! Even if we used one all the time, I still want the children to understand there is a proper way to handwash the dishes.
Alexis is 12 and has known how to load a dishwasher and even to wash dishes. But properly? Not necessarily. I've had a few broken glasses lately because people are putting them in the bus pan and other dishes are being stacked upon them. It's time to teach the correct way!
Proper Dishwashing
When I was young, dishwashers were a "new" thing and I never even saw one until I was 11 years old. I recall Grandma (she raised me from infancy) teaching me the proper order of washing dishes.
1. Start with a clean sink. Even if the sink is full of dishes, take them out and stack them each according to it's kind. One must begin this task with a clean sink. (My house doesn't have a double sink. So I've created one by placing a bus pan to the left of the single sink.) Clean the sink (or bus pan) and fill with hot-as-you-can-stand soapy water.
2. Wash the dishes from cleanest to dirtiest. This only makes sense. To wash a greasy pan and then stick a glass in there simply makes you spend more time washing the grease off the glass! Also, it lessens how many times you'll need to change the water. Dry dishes if the dish drainer becomes full before all dishes are finished. (Yes, this is such a simple thing... but a child MUST be told or the full drainer will signal the end of the chore, in their minds!)
Wash in proper order
- Silverware
- glasses
- plates/bowls
- cooking utensils (spatulas, slotted spoons, etc.)
- serving dishes (gravy boats, serving bowls, platters, etc.)
- bake ware (cookie sheets, baking pans)
- pots and pans
And these are the lessons being
How about you? What life skill are you teaching in your homeschool?
Happy Homeschooling!
9 comments:
Austin learned to wash dishes several years ago when my Mom had knee surgery. But, I must admit, it wasn't necessarily the "proper" way. He's about to turn 13 and is still learning the proper way to load the dishwasher. This seems to be a male thing, because neither he nor my husband load it to my satisfaction. LOL
Right now, Austin is learning how to care for a new baby, now that he is an uncle. He's been around babies before, but never to this degree. We have spent one to two nights per week at Joel & Brittany's house, helping them with the nighttime care so that they can get some sleep. I think this is really good for Austin. Brittany had this experience when Austin was born. She turned 11 the month after he was born.
This is a great life skill. I do a slightly different order, which makes sense for us:
1. Cooking utensils (because they're BIG and float to the top and get in the way)
2. Glasses
3. Plates / bowls
4. Cutlery (that's what we call silverware around here)
5. Pots, pans and other big stuff (no serving dishes here!)
Anyway, this is a good reminder to teach this to the kids, though I fear it is too late for the older ones...
Ahem.. So I will be teaching my children from your fabulous how-to blog soon ( I so hate washing dishes lol )
Actually I have always had a dish washer whether it be my MOM, My husband, or a real dishwasher.. For some reason I rather clean a toilet~> ewww I know right?
But Anyways In our home right now my kids are learning the value of money and how to manage it they have chores and each has a price, if they want things they must do thier chores and then put so much of thier income into savings and then they may spend the rest $-)
Keri
Sahm to my 2 little Online Learners
Oh man this brought back memories! We had a dishwasher (me!) but not an automatic one until I was in middle school. There is so much self-discipline and order being taught with simple dish washing! LOVE it!
I might print this out for my kids to work on! ;-)
A great post. I think all children need this for life. My children have to load the dish washer, but from time to time I require them to wash by hand. I want to make sure they are prepared for life. Their home may not have a dish washer in it when they grow up so these are skills they will need.
Thanks so much for all the comments! Wow... who knew a simple little post on dishwashing would be so helpful! :-)
A great post. I think all children need this for life. My children have to load the dish washer, but from time to time I require them to wash by hand. I want to make sure they are prepared for life. Their home may not have a dish washer in it when they grow up so these are skills they will need.
This is a great life skill. I do a slightly different order, which makes sense for us:
1. Cooking utensils (because they're BIG and float to the top and get in the way)
2. Glasses
3. Plates / bowls
4. Cutlery (that's what we call silverware around here)
5. Pots, pans and other big stuff (no serving dishes here!)
Anyway, this is a good reminder to teach this to the kids, though I fear it is too late for the older ones...
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