"Cool dad" tricks I can teach myself during lunchtime at home
March 13, 2022 7:24 AM Subscribe
So there it is, my kid is approaching four, and I want to be the dad to teach him tons of cool things.
Thing is, there are some cool things that I have never learned to do myself (I'm 45). So, since I'm mostly working at home (remote work), I've started using my lunch time (roughly an hour) to teach myself cool things... so that eventually I can teach him.
I'm looking for more ideas of skills to learn from the comfort of my couch!
Examples within!
Things I'm going to try and master before he asks "Dad, do you know how to...?":
* Juggling with 3 balls (for starters).
* Whistling really loud: with circled fingers, with four fingers, with just the tongue in a different position...
* Morse code
* Solve a Rubik's Cube
* Sign language
* Stars and constellations
* Shuffling poker cards (like they do in the mooooviez)
* Basic magic tricks
(already by writing this down I'm getting new ideas)
Harder things because they require finding a proper place to train:
* Basketball jumpshooting
* Skateboarding
* Roller/inline skating
* Snowboarding
* Surfing
* I can already bike, swim and ski, so, well, I'm prepared (?)
Bonus points if you have a link to a good tutorial link for each ;)
(I can already play the guitar and piano, and music theory basics. just thought I'd add that :) )
Thank you!
Things I'm going to try and master before he asks "Dad, do you know how to...?":
* Juggling with 3 balls (for starters).
* Whistling really loud: with circled fingers, with four fingers, with just the tongue in a different position...
* Morse code
* Solve a Rubik's Cube
* Sign language
* Stars and constellations
* Shuffling poker cards (like they do in the mooooviez)
* Basic magic tricks
(already by writing this down I'm getting new ideas)
Harder things because they require finding a proper place to train:
* Basketball jumpshooting
* Skateboarding
* Roller/inline skating
* Snowboarding
* Surfing
* I can already bike, swim and ski, so, well, I'm prepared (?)
Bonus points if you have a link to a good tutorial link for each ;)
(I can already play the guitar and piano, and music theory basics. just thought I'd add that :) )
Thank you!
Growing plants (flowers, herbs, etc.) from seeds
Making bread, pizza, etc. (my kids have been particularly fascinated by popovers because of their quick transformation)
mounting an inner tube and tire on a bicycle
I’d definitely keep up with the cubes, by the way, I’ve gotten a lot of mileage out of pretending to be dismayed when they scramble one of my solved cubes lying around the house).
posted by skewed at 7:39 AM on March 13, 2022 [7 favorites]
Making bread, pizza, etc. (my kids have been particularly fascinated by popovers because of their quick transformation)
mounting an inner tube and tire on a bicycle
I’d definitely keep up with the cubes, by the way, I’ve gotten a lot of mileage out of pretending to be dismayed when they scramble one of my solved cubes lying around the house).
posted by skewed at 7:39 AM on March 13, 2022 [7 favorites]
Teach your child how to tie these knots at the very least. Some of these look like magic tricks when done right.
posted by ivanthenotsoterrible at 7:50 AM on March 13, 2022 [10 favorites]
posted by ivanthenotsoterrible at 7:50 AM on March 13, 2022 [10 favorites]
Knots! I'm middle aged and trying to teach myself the half a dozen super helpful knots for camping and I think that part of my brain is already maxed out with novelty song lyrics from the '80s. I don't have an authoritative link because it depends on how you learn, but I generally start with youtube and then sometimes I google for blog posts/web articles with static pictures and diagrams.
On that note, four is old enough to start learning the basics of of loving and respecting nature, and at lunch you can learn to identify your most common local birds and plants and then practice those together in your own yard, on your block, in nearby parks, and then on baby hikes and maybe even camping. Again, web/video search is a good place to start, and the Merlin app for bird ID in the field. PictureThis and PlantNet are similar apps for plants. I want to say get paper book field guides to your region's birds and plants because there is value in learning to do this offline, but the apps are way easier.
Intro to ballroom or social dance. Even the simplest Jitterbug, basic Foxtrot, and the Two-Step are handy to know and really good for motor coordination and spatial visualization.
Simple yoga. This can be part of a larger platform of learning how to move your body as an aid to emotional regulation and completing the stress cycle.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:02 AM on March 13, 2022 [10 favorites]
On that note, four is old enough to start learning the basics of of loving and respecting nature, and at lunch you can learn to identify your most common local birds and plants and then practice those together in your own yard, on your block, in nearby parks, and then on baby hikes and maybe even camping. Again, web/video search is a good place to start, and the Merlin app for bird ID in the field. PictureThis and PlantNet are similar apps for plants. I want to say get paper book field guides to your region's birds and plants because there is value in learning to do this offline, but the apps are way easier.
Intro to ballroom or social dance. Even the simplest Jitterbug, basic Foxtrot, and the Two-Step are handy to know and really good for motor coordination and spatial visualization.
Simple yoga. This can be part of a larger platform of learning how to move your body as an aid to emotional regulation and completing the stress cycle.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:02 AM on March 13, 2022 [10 favorites]
Pick locks
Knit
Bake
Hula hoop
Handstands and cartwheels
posted by quacks like a duck at 8:07 AM on March 13, 2022 [4 favorites]
Knit
Bake
Hula hoop
Handstands and cartwheels
posted by quacks like a duck at 8:07 AM on March 13, 2022 [4 favorites]
All of the small children I have ever met love meeting the hand monster and learning how to make their own.
posted by RobinofFrocksley at 8:13 AM on March 13, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by RobinofFrocksley at 8:13 AM on March 13, 2022 [4 favorites]
Making a water drop noise with your mouth
Making a fart noise with your hands
Simple origami? With a regular 9x11 piece of paper, you can make a paper boat. I learned a slight variation of this story as "the life preserver story", not The Captain's Shirt, and have probably told it to several hundred children at this point. It's a good one if you're waiting in line and have some paper to hand.
Cat's cradle and clapping games are fun and quick to learn.
posted by tchemgrrl at 8:15 AM on March 13, 2022 [4 favorites]
Making a fart noise with your hands
Simple origami? With a regular 9x11 piece of paper, you can make a paper boat. I learned a slight variation of this story as "the life preserver story", not The Captain's Shirt, and have probably told it to several hundred children at this point. It's a good one if you're waiting in line and have some paper to hand.
Cat's cradle and clapping games are fun and quick to learn.
posted by tchemgrrl at 8:15 AM on March 13, 2022 [4 favorites]
Learn to crack and egg with one hand and how to chop vegetables really fast by keeping your knuckle against the blade of the knife.
How to throw playing cards or snap-throw bottle caps.
posted by keeo at 8:18 AM on March 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
How to throw playing cards or snap-throw bottle caps.
posted by keeo at 8:18 AM on March 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Know your sidewalk moss species.
Simple fun ciphers like Pigpen.
Hand crocheting -> pull on the end and this wad of rope disappears.
Casting out nines.
Know subversive local history.
posted by away for regrooving at 8:21 AM on March 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Simple fun ciphers like Pigpen.
Hand crocheting -> pull on the end and this wad of rope disappears.
Casting out nines.
Know subversive local history.
posted by away for regrooving at 8:21 AM on March 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Make a basic grilled cheese
Bike maintenance
Make a few decent paper airplanes
Pop-cycle stick bomb
Diet Coke + Menthos
posted by bondcliff at 8:30 AM on March 13, 2022
Bike maintenance
Make a few decent paper airplanes
Pop-cycle stick bomb
Diet Coke + Menthos
posted by bondcliff at 8:30 AM on March 13, 2022
Building sundials
posted by a humble nudibranch at 8:35 AM on March 13, 2022
posted by a humble nudibranch at 8:35 AM on March 13, 2022
Restaurant special edition:
Balance a salt shaker on edge.
Paper straw wrapper worms.
Quarter hockey (in local coinage).
Hang a spoon on your nose.
Tip well.
posted by away for regrooving at 8:38 AM on March 13, 2022 [4 favorites]
Balance a salt shaker on edge.
Paper straw wrapper worms.
Quarter hockey (in local coinage).
Hang a spoon on your nose.
Tip well.
posted by away for regrooving at 8:38 AM on March 13, 2022 [4 favorites]
We met Avner The Eccentric (Eisenberg) at the airport. He pulled a quarter from my son's ear. My son talked about it forever. Learn this trick so your kid and your kid's friends will consider you legendary.
1st aid.
Any instrument, but ukulele or guitar are pretty learn-able, and a fantastic skill to have for all ages. Camp in the back yard, have a fire, sing. Camping skills are useful, camping with kids is really fun and builds such good memories. Plant, tree, birds, and animal identification are cool to share.
I love your project, and will add that the more things you learn that are less a performance and more a shareable activity, the better the experiences will be for your kid. Except that you should have a ready supply of dad jokes for life.
posted by theora55 at 8:40 AM on March 13, 2022 [4 favorites]
1st aid.
Any instrument, but ukulele or guitar are pretty learn-able, and a fantastic skill to have for all ages. Camp in the back yard, have a fire, sing. Camping skills are useful, camping with kids is really fun and builds such good memories. Plant, tree, birds, and animal identification are cool to share.
I love your project, and will add that the more things you learn that are less a performance and more a shareable activity, the better the experiences will be for your kid. Except that you should have a ready supply of dad jokes for life.
posted by theora55 at 8:40 AM on March 13, 2022 [4 favorites]
Spray their water across the table using Bernoulli's principle.
(Edit: this also falls into the restaurant category)
posted by evilmomlady at 8:42 AM on March 13, 2022
(Edit: this also falls into the restaurant category)
posted by evilmomlady at 8:42 AM on March 13, 2022
Seconding lock picking. Start with THE dude himself.
Maybe a bit much for a 4 year old. But you can amaze him.
posted by falsedmitri at 8:45 AM on March 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Maybe a bit much for a 4 year old. But you can amaze him.
posted by falsedmitri at 8:45 AM on March 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Dad Lab has some neat science-related tricks like how to make an egg float or debunks making a mask "fly" using a votive candle. His own kids are a bit older than yours (like 5 to 8 yrs now?) but often help out--which might be fun for your child.
posted by beaning at 9:01 AM on March 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by beaning at 9:01 AM on March 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
Drawing. (3D shapes, dinosaurs, animals, robots...)
posted by trig at 9:04 AM on March 13, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by trig at 9:04 AM on March 13, 2022 [4 favorites]
You can turn a penny into a corkscrew if you have the right kind of sheers.
posted by mmascolino at 9:23 AM on March 13, 2022
posted by mmascolino at 9:23 AM on March 13, 2022
Make a paper airplane that flies well.
Origami in general.
Basic magic tricks.
posted by vunder at 9:39 AM on March 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
Origami in general.
Basic magic tricks.
posted by vunder at 9:39 AM on March 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
Restaurant category:
Make a wine glass sing
Games to make the wait time pass quickly such as twenty questions
Cambric tea and tea party etiquette
Infant category:
How to walk a sick or unhappy baby to sleep (Pro-tip: keep walking all night. Don't try to put them down.)
All steps necessary to keep the kid in dry diapers, including changing, washing, drying and folding.
Baby first aid
How to tell if a baby is sick
Working safely with a baby on your lap
Sharing favourite music
Round and Round the Garden Goes the Teddy Bear
This is the way the Ladies Ride
Eensy Weensie Spider
Big hole, Little hole
A ride a cock horse
Telling stories without having a book to read from
Putting on the right voices while reading to the baby/toddler
Knowing everything the other parents know about the kid's routines so you can step in without difficulty.
Artistic category:
Drawing cute stuff
Drawing a cute version of your kid doing stuff
Drawing a cute version of your kid beating up Batman or Loki or whoever
Playing the bagpipe by holding your nose, singing and beating time on your throat.
Whistling tunes
Dance steps
(Do not dance in front of the kid unless invited to do so as that is uncool, merely demonstrate as required that you can do the Charleston, Waltz, a ballet leap, the frug, etc. and whatever TikTok dances your offspring discovers, just for the few seconds it takes for you to walk through the room where they are practicing them.)
Security category:
Knowing which dogs are safe to approach and why or why not
Doing the frequent fire safety checks
Doing the frequent vehicle safety checks
Doing the frequent environmental danger checks
(Being observed doing this by toddler/kid so they know Daddy has it all in hand)
Knowing ways to deal with the Monster Under the Bed that are actually effective
(Do not discount kids fears by simply showing them nothing is in there. Do not feed the kids fears by sleeping with them.)
Actually saying out loud to your kids flat out that you love them and would do anything to protect them and if they are scared they can talk to you about it and you will help, and saying it periodically so they know it is still true.
Rescuing spiders and releasing them outdoors
Rescuing other fauna and removing them safely.
Holding their hand so they can walk on railings when you go outside, and taking off your own shoes and socks to hold their hand while they wade.
When to pick up a scared toddler and how to do it without reinforcing their fear.
How a kid can figure out where they are (landmarks, sun, etc.)
More fun
How to push a swing by running underneath it.
Where are the good parks
What to feed ducks and squirrels
Building a castle playhouse from old large cardboard boxes
Building a snow fort
Building a blanket fort
Preparing a treasure chest full of play treasure to hide in their sandbox
Making pancakes that represent things
How to make a trail for them to follow using clues.
The names and back stories of all the media critters they get into (With my kids it was Sailor Moon and Pokemon, with yours it will be something yet to come. )
Recognizing animal tracks, if you live in a place where there is snow
Knowing the varieties and names and habits of your local birds and bugs.
Less fun
Long division, algebra and geometry homework help (You'll need to figure out how their school is doing it when they are the appropriate age, so don't start doing that now or your version will be out of date.)
Having a voice that means when you say it they do it, and yet not having kids who are afraid of you. (This requires good emotional self regulation so the urgent voice is never hard to distinguish from the angry voice and that the urgent voice is never over used and yet familiar enough they know it exists.)
Having good boundaries with their mum and with the other people in your lives.
Cherishing and supporting their mum even if your relationship with her fails.
Some of these don't sound like things you can learn on a lunch break, but they are things that you can go over best practices and remind yourself of their importance, and figure out how you intend to actually put those things into practice and not just reading about them.
posted by Jane the Brown at 9:47 AM on March 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
Make a wine glass sing
Games to make the wait time pass quickly such as twenty questions
Cambric tea and tea party etiquette
Infant category:
How to walk a sick or unhappy baby to sleep (Pro-tip: keep walking all night. Don't try to put them down.)
All steps necessary to keep the kid in dry diapers, including changing, washing, drying and folding.
Baby first aid
How to tell if a baby is sick
Working safely with a baby on your lap
Sharing favourite music
Round and Round the Garden Goes the Teddy Bear
This is the way the Ladies Ride
Eensy Weensie Spider
Big hole, Little hole
A ride a cock horse
Telling stories without having a book to read from
Putting on the right voices while reading to the baby/toddler
Knowing everything the other parents know about the kid's routines so you can step in without difficulty.
Artistic category:
Drawing cute stuff
Drawing a cute version of your kid doing stuff
Drawing a cute version of your kid beating up Batman or Loki or whoever
Playing the bagpipe by holding your nose, singing and beating time on your throat.
Whistling tunes
Dance steps
(Do not dance in front of the kid unless invited to do so as that is uncool, merely demonstrate as required that you can do the Charleston, Waltz, a ballet leap, the frug, etc. and whatever TikTok dances your offspring discovers, just for the few seconds it takes for you to walk through the room where they are practicing them.)
Security category:
Knowing which dogs are safe to approach and why or why not
Doing the frequent fire safety checks
Doing the frequent vehicle safety checks
Doing the frequent environmental danger checks
(Being observed doing this by toddler/kid so they know Daddy has it all in hand)
Knowing ways to deal with the Monster Under the Bed that are actually effective
(Do not discount kids fears by simply showing them nothing is in there. Do not feed the kids fears by sleeping with them.)
Actually saying out loud to your kids flat out that you love them and would do anything to protect them and if they are scared they can talk to you about it and you will help, and saying it periodically so they know it is still true.
Rescuing spiders and releasing them outdoors
Rescuing other fauna and removing them safely.
Holding their hand so they can walk on railings when you go outside, and taking off your own shoes and socks to hold their hand while they wade.
When to pick up a scared toddler and how to do it without reinforcing their fear.
How a kid can figure out where they are (landmarks, sun, etc.)
More fun
How to push a swing by running underneath it.
Where are the good parks
What to feed ducks and squirrels
Building a castle playhouse from old large cardboard boxes
Building a snow fort
Building a blanket fort
Preparing a treasure chest full of play treasure to hide in their sandbox
Making pancakes that represent things
How to make a trail for them to follow using clues.
The names and back stories of all the media critters they get into (With my kids it was Sailor Moon and Pokemon, with yours it will be something yet to come. )
Recognizing animal tracks, if you live in a place where there is snow
Knowing the varieties and names and habits of your local birds and bugs.
Less fun
Long division, algebra and geometry homework help (You'll need to figure out how their school is doing it when they are the appropriate age, so don't start doing that now or your version will be out of date.)
Having a voice that means when you say it they do it, and yet not having kids who are afraid of you. (This requires good emotional self regulation so the urgent voice is never hard to distinguish from the angry voice and that the urgent voice is never over used and yet familiar enough they know it exists.)
Having good boundaries with their mum and with the other people in your lives.
Cherishing and supporting their mum even if your relationship with her fails.
Some of these don't sound like things you can learn on a lunch break, but they are things that you can go over best practices and remind yourself of their importance, and figure out how you intend to actually put those things into practice and not just reading about them.
posted by Jane the Brown at 9:47 AM on March 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
Oooh ooh I’ve got one. How to squeeze toothpaste back into the tube.
(basically if you squeeze the tube back into a “rounder” shape you can suck back in a small amount of toothpaste.)
My dad would come to the rescue when I accidentally squeezed out too much toothpaste and I thought it was ABSOLUTE MAGIC.
posted by mekily at 10:11 AM on March 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
(basically if you squeeze the tube back into a “rounder” shape you can suck back in a small amount of toothpaste.)
My dad would come to the rescue when I accidentally squeezed out too much toothpaste and I thought it was ABSOLUTE MAGIC.
posted by mekily at 10:11 AM on March 13, 2022 [3 favorites]
Do you already know why the sky is blue?
posted by amtho at 10:13 AM on March 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by amtho at 10:13 AM on March 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
Skipping stones
posted by Pretty Good Talker at 10:38 AM on March 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by Pretty Good Talker at 10:38 AM on March 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
Bonus points if you have a link to a good tutorial link for each ;)
How to whistle. Still working from 2011.
posted by StephenB at 11:18 AM on March 13, 2022
How to whistle. Still working from 2011.
posted by StephenB at 11:18 AM on March 13, 2022
Spinning a basketball for sure
posted by mmf at 11:25 AM on March 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by mmf at 11:25 AM on March 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Not sure which type of shuffle you mean (there are several), but include the bridge in there. It looks impressive, and it's manageable just as soon as little hands - and patience - grow big enough. (I was about 7 or 8 and ridiculously determined, but I'm female and have absolutely short fingers as an adult, so a boy may well manage it sooner.)
Common (and not-so-common) solitaire and card games.
Spinning a ball, frisbee, or random item on your finger.
Stacking and balancing random objects.
Math, if it's not your strong point.
Math tricks, like how to multiple nines and other mental math tools.
Long division.
The most common secondary language in the area your child will grow up in.
Numbers, greetings, and the very basic words in many languages.
Recipes and foods from other cultures than your own, and a familiarity with the tastes.
Learn to prepare and eat vegetables and fruits, if you don't already.
Cups, pints, quarts, gallons and how to convert them.
Decimal equivalents of common fractions.
Basic essay writing & proofreading.
Geography - recognizing states and countries, and locating them on a map.
State abbreviations and capitols. Ability to list all states with the above. (Or equivalent, if not in US.)
Country capitols, possibly abbreviations, and the primary language(s) spoken there.
Presidents, in order. Also, what each is "known" for.
Visual recognition of world landmarks.
Types of clouds. Types of weather. Types of land formations.
Visual recognition and names of tools and construction vehicles, and what they do.
Same thing, but for dinosaurs, fish, sharks, mythological creatures, bugs, land animals, birds, transportation, basically anything a kid might fixate on.
How to fold and cut a piece of paper so you can step through it.
Origami, at least the basics.
Names of teeth.
How to use common art supplies.
How to fold and cut paper so you can make a six-sided snowflake.
Melting crayon scraps into new crayons.
How to count money - and how to make change.
How to build a house of cards.
How to set up dominos to fall in a row.
How to spin coins on a table. Many of them at the same time.
How to bounce ping pong balls into a cup.
How to rapidly take a room from "utter disaster" to "tolerable" by focusing on the most-necessary things to make it LOOK clean, even if it isn't perfect. (Preferably without hiding anything under furniture or in a closet.)
How to fold fitted sheets.
How to tie a tie. Including bow ties. Bonus points for learning to do them one-handed, too.
How to ride a horse.
How to use public transportation, if it exists in your area, so you can teach your child to use it (even if you don't) just in case they need to someday.
How to fold pop up tents, play structures, window covers, etc, that fold into a circle.
How to sew.
How to tie knots - and when to use them.
What the ten essentials are, how to build a safe snow cave, and as many other outdoor survival things as possible, starting with those most appropriate for your area.
Vehicle maintenance, including how to safely jack up a car or use ramps.
How to make a fire escape plan for your home, and practice it.
How to make and maintain an emergency survival kit - for outdoors, for the car, for disasters, etc.
How to cook.
How to do and take care of laundry.
How to remove different kinds of spots.
How to maintain a yard; the names of yard tools and how to use them.
How to grow both useful and decorative plants, and harvest them.
How to follow proper food safety.
Iceskating, windsurfing, paddleboarding, rowing, canoeing, kayaking, stretching, WATER SAFETY.
First aid.
Common "secret codes".
Pig latin.
How to read a map, not just follow Google Map's directions.
How to make playdough, fake snow, slime, goop, oobleck, etc, of all sorts.
How to read aloud with voices, if you don't already.
How to throw your voice.
How to stand on your head.
How to do a cartwheel.
How to climb a rope.
How to rock climb.
How to snowshoe, how to cross-country ski if you've only downhill skied.
How to put up a tent.
How to start build a campfire (and to start a fire) with multiple ways and tools.
I raised and homeschooled four now-adults, three boys, one girl. Literally everything on this list has been used by me or learned by at least one of them. I'm gonna stop, because I might just be able to go on forever.
posted by stormyteal at 11:41 AM on March 13, 2022
Common (and not-so-common) solitaire and card games.
Spinning a ball, frisbee, or random item on your finger.
Stacking and balancing random objects.
Math, if it's not your strong point.
Math tricks, like how to multiple nines and other mental math tools.
Long division.
The most common secondary language in the area your child will grow up in.
Numbers, greetings, and the very basic words in many languages.
Recipes and foods from other cultures than your own, and a familiarity with the tastes.
Learn to prepare and eat vegetables and fruits, if you don't already.
Cups, pints, quarts, gallons and how to convert them.
Decimal equivalents of common fractions.
Basic essay writing & proofreading.
Geography - recognizing states and countries, and locating them on a map.
State abbreviations and capitols. Ability to list all states with the above. (Or equivalent, if not in US.)
Country capitols, possibly abbreviations, and the primary language(s) spoken there.
Presidents, in order. Also, what each is "known" for.
Visual recognition of world landmarks.
Types of clouds. Types of weather. Types of land formations.
Visual recognition and names of tools and construction vehicles, and what they do.
Same thing, but for dinosaurs, fish, sharks, mythological creatures, bugs, land animals, birds, transportation, basically anything a kid might fixate on.
How to fold and cut a piece of paper so you can step through it.
Origami, at least the basics.
Names of teeth.
How to use common art supplies.
How to fold and cut paper so you can make a six-sided snowflake.
Melting crayon scraps into new crayons.
How to count money - and how to make change.
How to build a house of cards.
How to set up dominos to fall in a row.
How to spin coins on a table. Many of them at the same time.
How to bounce ping pong balls into a cup.
How to rapidly take a room from "utter disaster" to "tolerable" by focusing on the most-necessary things to make it LOOK clean, even if it isn't perfect. (Preferably without hiding anything under furniture or in a closet.)
How to fold fitted sheets.
How to tie a tie. Including bow ties. Bonus points for learning to do them one-handed, too.
How to ride a horse.
How to use public transportation, if it exists in your area, so you can teach your child to use it (even if you don't) just in case they need to someday.
How to fold pop up tents, play structures, window covers, etc, that fold into a circle.
How to sew.
How to tie knots - and when to use them.
What the ten essentials are, how to build a safe snow cave, and as many other outdoor survival things as possible, starting with those most appropriate for your area.
Vehicle maintenance, including how to safely jack up a car or use ramps.
How to make a fire escape plan for your home, and practice it.
How to make and maintain an emergency survival kit - for outdoors, for the car, for disasters, etc.
How to cook.
How to do and take care of laundry.
How to remove different kinds of spots.
How to maintain a yard; the names of yard tools and how to use them.
How to grow both useful and decorative plants, and harvest them.
How to follow proper food safety.
Iceskating, windsurfing, paddleboarding, rowing, canoeing, kayaking, stretching, WATER SAFETY.
First aid.
Common "secret codes".
Pig latin.
How to read a map, not just follow Google Map's directions.
How to make playdough, fake snow, slime, goop, oobleck, etc, of all sorts.
How to read aloud with voices, if you don't already.
How to throw your voice.
How to stand on your head.
How to do a cartwheel.
How to climb a rope.
How to rock climb.
How to snowshoe, how to cross-country ski if you've only downhill skied.
How to put up a tent.
How to start build a campfire (and to start a fire) with multiple ways and tools.
I raised and homeschooled four now-adults, three boys, one girl. Literally everything on this list has been used by me or learned by at least one of them. I'm gonna stop, because I might just be able to go on forever.
posted by stormyteal at 11:41 AM on March 13, 2022
Bake a pie
Mend/darn/sew
Recite a difficult thing (This is a great one)
Identify weird nature things (trees, birds, bugs, rocks, etc.)
Tom Swifties
posted by TheCoug at 11:50 AM on March 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Mend/darn/sew
Recite a difficult thing (This is a great one)
Identify weird nature things (trees, birds, bugs, rocks, etc.)
Tom Swifties
posted by TheCoug at 11:50 AM on March 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
At seven, my grandson loved the Primitive Technology YouTube channel. That could give you some ideas of stuff to do.
posted by FencingGal at 12:55 PM on March 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by FencingGal at 12:55 PM on March 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Just in case you don't know this, I'd very strongly recommend learning Morse code by listening, rather than reading, with a high Farnsworth ratio (big spaces between fast letters.) Using a computer program that teaches you a few letters at a time is the best way to learn. (It's been decades since I've used any, so I have no idea what the good ones are now.)
As someone who does a lot of kid/museum astronomy outreach, I use the Sky Map phone app for questions about constellations and individual stars. I can sometimes recognize around three constellations, Jupiter, Venus, and the north star without it. That's it, despite years of trying. The kids don't seem to mind that I'm using tools to answer their questions.
In addition to juggling, some other circus and circus-adjacent stuff could be fun: hand-stands, unicycling, tight-rope/slack-line, stilts. I'm not sure a kid will ask for it and four is probably far too young. But, it might be fun in the future.
Magic tricks sure seems likely to be successful. Coin tricks, like cards, are an option that doesn't require special tools.
Other random ideas: local geology and rock identification. Local edible plants. (Knowing about dinosaurs isn't really a trick. But, might be fun.)
posted by eotvos at 1:19 PM on March 13, 2022
As someone who does a lot of kid/museum astronomy outreach, I use the Sky Map phone app for questions about constellations and individual stars. I can sometimes recognize around three constellations, Jupiter, Venus, and the north star without it. That's it, despite years of trying. The kids don't seem to mind that I'm using tools to answer their questions.
In addition to juggling, some other circus and circus-adjacent stuff could be fun: hand-stands, unicycling, tight-rope/slack-line, stilts. I'm not sure a kid will ask for it and four is probably far too young. But, it might be fun in the future.
Magic tricks sure seems likely to be successful. Coin tricks, like cards, are an option that doesn't require special tools.
Other random ideas: local geology and rock identification. Local edible plants. (Knowing about dinosaurs isn't really a trick. But, might be fun.)
posted by eotvos at 1:19 PM on March 13, 2022
Draw a maze! I got a lot of mileage out of this one, and it became the standard way for my son and I to wait for food in restaurants that give crayons to kids.
It's incredibly simple once your realize you're drawing the walls not the paths. Draw the outer wall first, leaving two openings, then draw branching trees of walls inward from the outside. As long as the trees don't actually connect to each other, there's guaranteed to be a way between them no matter how complicated they are. So it scales well whether you have a little time to kill or a lot.
(A word of warning - after your kid hits 10 or so, anything you think is cool will be de facto uncool for the next decade or so.)
posted by wps98 at 2:54 PM on March 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
It's incredibly simple once your realize you're drawing the walls not the paths. Draw the outer wall first, leaving two openings, then draw branching trees of walls inward from the outside. As long as the trees don't actually connect to each other, there's guaranteed to be a way between them no matter how complicated they are. So it scales well whether you have a little time to kill or a lot.
(A word of warning - after your kid hits 10 or so, anything you think is cool will be de facto uncool for the next decade or so.)
posted by wps98 at 2:54 PM on March 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
How to start a fire without matches. This is fun AND a useful survival skill. There are several different ways, difficulty easy to very hard - flint & steel, with a battery, etc. The most interesting & difficult involve using only found or natural materials. (First, of course, you should know how to start a fire WITH matches - that is something every kid should definitely learn and an astonishing number never do. It's everything from what sort of fire pit or fire pan or whatever is needed to be both safe and legal, general safety precautions required, to how to prepare kindling and gather/find/obtain appropriate wood, to how to get the fire started, how to keep it going at the level you want, maybe how to cook on it (make & use coals etc), how to put it out properly/safely, how to clean up afterwards, etc.)
Wilderness first aid. Again, many levels possible here, but some can be tackled from home in hour chunks. Red Cross - other options.
posted by flug at 2:58 PM on March 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
Wilderness first aid. Again, many levels possible here, but some can be tackled from home in hour chunks. Red Cross - other options.
posted by flug at 2:58 PM on March 13, 2022 [2 favorites]
Play guitar or ukulele. Put together ikea furniture. Make pancakes without looking up a recipe.
posted by never.was.and.never.will.be. at 3:51 PM on March 13, 2022
posted by never.was.and.never.will.be. at 3:51 PM on March 13, 2022
Yo-yo tricks
Harmonica
Kendama tricks
How to win the peg game
Tangram (make your own too)
Rolling a coin over your knuckles
posted by jaden at 4:19 PM on March 13, 2022
Harmonica
Kendama tricks
How to win the peg game
Tangram (make your own too)
Rolling a coin over your knuckles
posted by jaden at 4:19 PM on March 13, 2022
identify clouds, trees, and flowers
where to find cool rocks and fossils in your area (if possible)
how to use a compass, read a map
how to look things up in a library
posted by indexy at 4:32 PM on March 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
where to find cool rocks and fossils in your area (if possible)
how to use a compass, read a map
how to look things up in a library
posted by indexy at 4:32 PM on March 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Magic tricks are good, but what you want to do is focus on sleight-of-hand and minimal props to start out with. Anyone can buy and master a trick-in-a-box, but card tricks are a certain manual skill, and starting with a basic regular card deck will make it more impressive should you later integrate trick decks.
So, you probably want to start out, props-wise, with a couple decks of cards, a handkerchief (just a regular one for concealment) and a few coins. Foam balls are cheap too. You can do a lot with those things, and you're already looking at cards for fancy shuffles, rolling a coin over your knuckles (suggested above, very cool if you can do it), and juggling.
Also, spin a pen in your hand.
Napkin/Towel animals. (I did this with a youngster once and it was a valuable lesson in ephemeral art for her.) Having a rabbit at a place-setting, or some elaborate waterfowl towel come bath time is low effort enhancement.
posted by Sunburnt at 4:51 PM on March 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
So, you probably want to start out, props-wise, with a couple decks of cards, a handkerchief (just a regular one for concealment) and a few coins. Foam balls are cheap too. You can do a lot with those things, and you're already looking at cards for fancy shuffles, rolling a coin over your knuckles (suggested above, very cool if you can do it), and juggling.
Also, spin a pen in your hand.
Napkin/Towel animals. (I did this with a youngster once and it was a valuable lesson in ephemeral art for her.) Having a rabbit at a place-setting, or some elaborate waterfowl towel come bath time is low effort enhancement.
posted by Sunburnt at 4:51 PM on March 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Slackline
Phonetic alphabet
Shell scripting
Pen spins
Counting cards
Excel
Knots
Bushcraft
Birdsong
Chess
Soldering
Hacky sack
Cardistry
Instruments
posted by turkeyphant at 7:14 PM on March 13, 2022
Phonetic alphabet
Shell scripting
Pen spins
Counting cards
Excel
Knots
Bushcraft
Birdsong
Chess
Soldering
Hacky sack
Cardistry
Instruments
posted by turkeyphant at 7:14 PM on March 13, 2022
Sharpen a knife or handplane blade.
posted by brachiopod at 7:17 PM on March 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by brachiopod at 7:17 PM on March 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Phonetic alphabet
Dad and I spent the better part of a 5 hour car trip once having him explain how a basic internal combustion engine works till I could repeat it pretty well, and I think I still could, from "spark plug fires". That worked much better than the time I tried to recreate the experience with nuclear power (he still could provide the basics, I just could never grok them well enough).
Basic troubleshooting skills, and the equanimity to treat non-functionality as an interesting problem to solve (instead of a frustrating awful end of the world).
posted by ldthomps at 7:20 PM on March 13, 2022
Dad and I spent the better part of a 5 hour car trip once having him explain how a basic internal combustion engine works till I could repeat it pretty well, and I think I still could, from "spark plug fires". That worked much better than the time I tried to recreate the experience with nuclear power (he still could provide the basics, I just could never grok them well enough).
Basic troubleshooting skills, and the equanimity to treat non-functionality as an interesting problem to solve (instead of a frustrating awful end of the world).
posted by ldthomps at 7:20 PM on March 13, 2022
How to Whistle with a Blade of Grass - YouTube
Dove call tutorial - YouTube
Coin Snatching and the science behind it! (Chinese elbow trick) - YouTube
posted by zengargoyle at 7:27 PM on March 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Dove call tutorial - YouTube
Coin Snatching and the science behind it! (Chinese elbow trick) - YouTube
posted by zengargoyle at 7:27 PM on March 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
I love the suggestion about drawing mazes—this was something I did obsessively around age 7–8 and I really appreciated that my dad engaged with me about it.
On a much less useful note than most of these, my first thought was Bob Mortimer's (and, on googling, apparently also Paul Rudd's) split an apple in half trick.
posted by babelfish at 7:40 PM on March 13, 2022
On a much less useful note than most of these, my first thought was Bob Mortimer's (and, on googling, apparently also Paul Rudd's) split an apple in half trick.
posted by babelfish at 7:40 PM on March 13, 2022
I have a soft spot for the bit from The Godfather where he makes the peel from an orange slice into funny teeth (cut a line and crosshatch it to make teeth, insert in mouth pith side out).
Nature tricks, e.g., if you carefully tear a dogwood leaf, fibers along the veins will hold the bits together. Sticking cicada shells / sticky hand plant (cleavers/ bedstraw) on your shirt. Getting the honey from honeysuckle.
Basic repairing/ building/ sewing/ cooking/ making stuff, even if he’s mostly watching right now.
How to give a good handshake (firm, eye contact). Other basic etiquette like offering guests drinks.
posted by momus_window at 7:50 PM on March 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Nature tricks, e.g., if you carefully tear a dogwood leaf, fibers along the veins will hold the bits together. Sticking cicada shells / sticky hand plant (cleavers/ bedstraw) on your shirt. Getting the honey from honeysuckle.
Basic repairing/ building/ sewing/ cooking/ making stuff, even if he’s mostly watching right now.
How to give a good handshake (firm, eye contact). Other basic etiquette like offering guests drinks.
posted by momus_window at 7:50 PM on March 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
How to peel an apple in one long spiral.
How to make a Mobius (sp?) strip, show them it has only one side and then cut it in half to make the conjoined rings.
Learn how to solve the "Genius" puzzle - the one they always have at Cracker Barrel restaurants with 14 golf tees in 15 holes in a triangular shape. My nephew learned this, I haven't yet managed.
posted by TimHare at 8:52 PM on March 13, 2022
How to make a Mobius (sp?) strip, show them it has only one side and then cut it in half to make the conjoined rings.
Learn how to solve the "Genius" puzzle - the one they always have at Cracker Barrel restaurants with 14 golf tees in 15 holes in a triangular shape. My nephew learned this, I haven't yet managed.
posted by TimHare at 8:52 PM on March 13, 2022
How to tie your shoes super fast!
I would wait until after your kid learns the traditional bunny ears method to try this, as it calls for a bit more in the fine motor skills department.
posted by hydrophonic at 9:00 PM on March 13, 2022
I would wait until after your kid learns the traditional bunny ears method to try this, as it calls for a bit more in the fine motor skills department.
posted by hydrophonic at 9:00 PM on March 13, 2022
It helps to learn to read upside down and backwards so that you can show a picture book to the child while reading the captions out loud.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 9:08 PM on March 13, 2022
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 9:08 PM on March 13, 2022
If you are a Real Dad, you will always use your forehead to crack a hard boiled egg.
posted by SLC Mom at 9:37 PM on March 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by SLC Mom at 9:37 PM on March 13, 2022 [1 favorite]
Do you already know why the sky is blue?
Lucy van Pelt has the answer.
posted by Paul Slade at 1:38 AM on March 14, 2022
Lucy van Pelt has the answer.
posted by Paul Slade at 1:38 AM on March 14, 2022
There are so many good answers here, but inspired by another ask, there are things I learnt from my dad and other adults as a kid that I would like to list here because I am already looking forward to showing them to my grandsons:
Finding food in nature: mushrooms and berries are the easy ones, though there is the drama of avoiding the poisonous ones. Then there are also herbs and roots and fruits and nuts. And mussels and oysters and fish. Also: how to prepare them. I am still proud that I learnt to clean and filet a fish at ten, from my stepdad. It has been useful many times in my life. Technically, I also know how to skin game and pluck poultry, but I haven't used those skills as much. My own kids are used to all this, but I remember the marvel in my nieces and nephews' eyes once I showed them that the mussels we found at the beach could become a delicious stew. Oh, and all the kids at my youngest child's kindergarten remember that time when we went out to an adventure playground with a bunch of pheasants and vegetables and cooked a stew out of them over an open fire.
I'm studying right now to expand my repetoire of wild foods and recipes, specially into using more greens, so I can do this with my grandsons. I'm thinking pies and omelets and soups with foraged vegetables and mushrooms. It is so empowering to know you can feed yourself. My kids also loved making pizzas at home, we literally did it once a week, often with friends.
How to use a knife and keep it sharp. I got my first knife from my Dad for my ninth birthday, but at the same time my grandma was teaching me kitchen skills. I have taught my own kids to use knives way before that, maybe at about 4-5 years.
How to climb trees. OK, maybe you don't really need to learn that, but when I was small, some of my best times when with my dad were spent climbing trees together. This goes with building shelters and tree-houses.
Read a map and use a compass. You don't have to move very far away from the main roads to get off the GPS. A couple of years before my dad died, we went on a trip with a bunch of his friends, who were very proud of their flashy cars with GPS built in. My dad on the other hand was very proud of his vintage Mercedes and his map-reading daughter, and felt completely validated when all the others stranded on a dead-end road with no turning space and we went flying back to our rented villa with the top open. My dad started teaching me this when I was eight, I think. Also, know how to orient yourself using a clock and the sun and stars. It's a long story, but once my compass didn't work because I was carrying a magnetic item. But because dad had anticipated that could happen, I had a rough idea of how to recalibrate and found my way home before dinner.
(If you can, accept that kids can be out for hours on their own and that is a good thing)
Build and fly a kite. I learnt this from my uncle who had a whole book about it that I have inherited. If you have never flown a kite, try it, the feeling of the string in your hand is just -- nice.
How to handle fear: when I was a kid, my gran was building a business breeding ponies, and she wanted me to show them, often by participating in show-jumping competitions and cross-country events. Initially, I was scared, but she told me to throw my heart ahead of me, and go get it. It seems silly, but it worked for me. I wouldn't advise anyone to let their kids participate in dangerous sports, but kids can be afraid of tiny things, like speaking up in class. Throw your heart out there!
posted by mumimor at 9:10 AM on March 14, 2022 [3 favorites]
Finding food in nature: mushrooms and berries are the easy ones, though there is the drama of avoiding the poisonous ones. Then there are also herbs and roots and fruits and nuts. And mussels and oysters and fish. Also: how to prepare them. I am still proud that I learnt to clean and filet a fish at ten, from my stepdad. It has been useful many times in my life. Technically, I also know how to skin game and pluck poultry, but I haven't used those skills as much. My own kids are used to all this, but I remember the marvel in my nieces and nephews' eyes once I showed them that the mussels we found at the beach could become a delicious stew. Oh, and all the kids at my youngest child's kindergarten remember that time when we went out to an adventure playground with a bunch of pheasants and vegetables and cooked a stew out of them over an open fire.
I'm studying right now to expand my repetoire of wild foods and recipes, specially into using more greens, so I can do this with my grandsons. I'm thinking pies and omelets and soups with foraged vegetables and mushrooms. It is so empowering to know you can feed yourself. My kids also loved making pizzas at home, we literally did it once a week, often with friends.
How to use a knife and keep it sharp. I got my first knife from my Dad for my ninth birthday, but at the same time my grandma was teaching me kitchen skills. I have taught my own kids to use knives way before that, maybe at about 4-5 years.
How to climb trees. OK, maybe you don't really need to learn that, but when I was small, some of my best times when with my dad were spent climbing trees together. This goes with building shelters and tree-houses.
Read a map and use a compass. You don't have to move very far away from the main roads to get off the GPS. A couple of years before my dad died, we went on a trip with a bunch of his friends, who were very proud of their flashy cars with GPS built in. My dad on the other hand was very proud of his vintage Mercedes and his map-reading daughter, and felt completely validated when all the others stranded on a dead-end road with no turning space and we went flying back to our rented villa with the top open. My dad started teaching me this when I was eight, I think. Also, know how to orient yourself using a clock and the sun and stars. It's a long story, but once my compass didn't work because I was carrying a magnetic item. But because dad had anticipated that could happen, I had a rough idea of how to recalibrate and found my way home before dinner.
(If you can, accept that kids can be out for hours on their own and that is a good thing)
Build and fly a kite. I learnt this from my uncle who had a whole book about it that I have inherited. If you have never flown a kite, try it, the feeling of the string in your hand is just -- nice.
How to handle fear: when I was a kid, my gran was building a business breeding ponies, and she wanted me to show them, often by participating in show-jumping competitions and cross-country events. Initially, I was scared, but she told me to throw my heart ahead of me, and go get it. It seems silly, but it worked for me. I wouldn't advise anyone to let their kids participate in dangerous sports, but kids can be afraid of tiny things, like speaking up in class. Throw your heart out there!
posted by mumimor at 9:10 AM on March 14, 2022 [3 favorites]
My own kids are used to all this, but I remember the marvel in my nieces and nephews' eyes once I showed them that the mussels we found at the beach could become a delicious stew.
I just mentioned this to my youngest, and she remembered it very well: having the cool mum was a big thing that day.
posted by mumimor at 9:57 AM on March 14, 2022
I just mentioned this to my youngest, and she remembered it very well: having the cool mum was a big thing that day.
posted by mumimor at 9:57 AM on March 14, 2022
Learning the NATO alphabet by spelling out your name and their name, i.e "Alpha Delta Alpha Mike" is a good challenge for 6 year olds
posted by mdoar at 11:14 AM on March 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by mdoar at 11:14 AM on March 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
My dad used to talk to businesses and factories in our small town to see if they would give the three of us (him, me, sibling) a tour of their workplace. We got to see the projection room at the movie theater and the soda bottling plant and generally just a lot of cool backstage areas. This is the only reason I've ever considered having kids: getting to use them to go see new cool stuff. Scheduling little excursions like that seems like a nice use of a few minutes of a lunch break?
posted by lauranesson at 6:11 PM on March 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by lauranesson at 6:11 PM on March 14, 2022 [2 favorites]
Oh, he also taught us to count in binary on our fingers, which was the kind of nerdery we were working with.
posted by lauranesson at 6:13 PM on March 14, 2022
posted by lauranesson at 6:13 PM on March 14, 2022
Tossing pizza dough
Why the ocean will appear to be different colors
ITU/NATO/ICAO phonetic alphabet
Homemade pita bread
No-knead bread dough
posted by SillyShepherd at 4:17 AM on March 15, 2022
Why the ocean will appear to be different colors
ITU/NATO/ICAO phonetic alphabet
Homemade pita bread
No-knead bread dough
posted by SillyShepherd at 4:17 AM on March 15, 2022
Another vote for origami, specifically a fortune-teller, a jumping frog (business cards work really well for these), a banger, a water bomb (paper balloon) and a flapping bird (flapping crane). I don't think the flapping bird instructions there are as clear as they could be when it comes to making the finished bird flap, though: here's a gif that might help.
If those go down well, the keyword to find more is "action origami".
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 5:06 AM on March 15, 2022
If those go down well, the keyword to find more is "action origami".
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 5:06 AM on March 15, 2022
I’ve been following your question and all the excellent answers for a couple days, but I’ve been holding back on a recommendation that I fear will be supremely unpopular. Please don’t take this wrong when I say, being a cool dad is not about you. The coolest thing you can do is to be present. Listen to your child, engage them in conversation, be their biggest fan whether they’re performing in a talent show or just sharing something they’ve drawn. I say this as someone who was once married to a narcissist, who thought of himself as super cool, and expected his child to want to learn all the wonderful things he would deign to teach her (spoiler: as she got older she recognized his teaching as manipulation to do things only he enjoyed and she feels deeply hurt that he rarely recognized her achievements). I hope you’re able to develop some fun skills that you can both enjoy, but mostly, I encourage you to be a cool parent by supporting your child as they try out new skills.
posted by kbar1 at 9:17 PM on March 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by kbar1 at 9:17 PM on March 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by tiny frying pan at 7:27 AM on March 13, 2022 [6 favorites]