Why this Life Skill?
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 I owned one, I still want the children to understand there is a proper way to handwash the dishes.
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 remember my grandma (she raised me) teaching me the proper order of washing dishes when I was 9 years old. Here's what she taught me and I'm passing on to my own children.
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. (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 and fill with hot-as-you-can-stand soapy water.
2. Wash the dishes from cleanest to dirtiest. This only makes sense. Washing glasses after greasy pans just gives you greasy glasses. Also, it reduces how many times you need to change the dirty 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 taught to the children this week.
How about you? What life skill are you teaching in your homeschool?
Happy Homeschooling!
