Teaching
When it comes to kids, a parent’s job is to teach them things. A lot of times, we teach them things they aren’t interested in, like teeth-brushing, how to take out the trash, how to make their own damn sandwich (I’m looking at you, son). Other times, we teach them things because they express an interest in it. Such as I did when my daughter said she wanted to shoot and I bought her her own pink AR.
Some hand-wringing, bed-wetter thinks that giving my kids guns and involving them in the learning process is overkill because . . . well, I’m not sure why. It’s not articulated. I’m guessing because some guns are scary. I’d think a supposedly on prepping would realize that teaching my kids useful skills that could come in handy some day.
Need has nothing to do with it. My daughter does it because she wants to.
April 1st, 2014 at 2:25 pm
And while your at it.
Changing a spare tire
Clutch/stick
Clearing a hair clog
Circuit breakers (maybe even fuses)
Red Cross level first aid
Electric multi-meter
April 1st, 2014 at 3:05 pm
My comment over there:
Your comment is awaiting moderation.
18 years teaching Hunter Education to kids of all ages. Maturity varies and I have had a few parents whose opinion of their kids’ maturity was wishful thinking.
But largely I found this post off base and not useful
April 1st, 2014 at 3:15 pm
I recall learning the difference between tools and toys from my grandfather, who worked safely in a steel mill for 30 years, then lost a digit on one of his fingers to a garden rototiller drive belt in his retirement. He would wag his (missing) finger at us kids and tell us that working in the garden was dangerous, and he would only let us work there with him (heh, heh) if we acted responsibly and used the shovels/hoes/rakes safely. We complied, or got banished back to the house, and we learned.
That is what learning to load magazines with bullets for daddy, or hold hands crossing the street, or not scream like banshees while mommy drives, is about: learning that there are consequences to actions, and doing things correctly avoids bad consequences.
I think I taught my kids about 4 things of importance before they left home for college:
1. You are responsible for your actions; act accordingly.
2. Know what you are doing. Or learn, ask, check, test before doing something that might hurt you.
3. There is a difference between tools and toys. Know which are which and act accordingly.
4. There are no limits on what you are allowed to try, to know, to attempt, to learn about or to experience, other than objective physical reality. Enjoy life.
I think I did pretty good as a dad, and I now enjoy watching my kids lead their own lives.
April 1st, 2014 at 6:30 pm
Hahahahaha! He must be the most pathetic prepper around! I can almost here him now telling his 18 year old to slow down, he’s to young to learn how to start a fire!
April 1st, 2014 at 6:55 pm
That’s some nice feel good advice, like don’t talk to strangers. Of course, it doesn’t really give the kid any skills to handle a situation of say, there aren’t adults around and there are younger or more irresponsible kids “touching guns”. Seems to me, you daughter would be able to clear and secure the gun, then tell an adult instead of leaving a gun in the hands of other kids.
As for the don’t talk to strangers, what does the kid do if there are only strangers around. It was long ago, but I quite often got lost needing the “kindness of strangers”. Not a bad idea for a kid to know they can get help from a stranger but not to go anywhere with them. Stay in public and out of arms reach, etc.
April 1st, 2014 at 7:42 pm
Most parents that are anti gun won’t admit it, but the reason they won’t teach their kids about guns is because they are afraid their kids will shoot them.