More Than DIY Skills: Other Ways for Dads To Be “Handy
While it is nice in one respect to think that, as dads, we have that typical macho fixer-upper approach to things and are handy with our hands, there is so much more to it than just being good at DIY. Having skilful hands can translate to so many different practices in our lives. If you are a parent that has had more than his fair share of DIY mishaps, you might want to try to make up for this in other areas. With this in mind, how can we be useful with our hands in other ways?
Learn to Sew
Undoubtedly, one of the most difficult tasks you can ever learn, but one of the most beneficial. Learning your way around a needle and thread can make a big difference, not just in terms of sewing buttons, but you can start a hobby that could give you so much creativity, meaning, and even make you some money on the side! Sure, the dexterity involved in putting sewing machine thread into a machine is not for everyone, but it is one of the most important life skills we should all learn. Perhaps it’s time to stop thinking that it’s a job for the mother to sewing buttons?
Grip Strength
So many people don’t utilise their strength in the right way. One of the most fundamental lessons we can teach our children with regards to exercise is to train our grip. Because when you see people in the gym lifting heavy weights, if they’re not actually engaging with the bar, and not gripping it properly, they are not recruiting those all-important muscle fibres, which means they don’t get as strong as they really could! If we want to teach our children proper strength, the best place to begin is by training the grip. You can easily buy grip strengtheners, and use overcoming isometrics to strengthen yourself. Because getting strong is not about being able to lift a certain amount of weight for so many reps. Real strength carries through into real life.
Learn to Chop Properly
The biggest skill we should all teach our children is the skill of cooking. But how many times have you been in the kitchen and become so frustrated by the amount of prep time involved that you decided to call for a takeaway? Learning to chop properly and preparing food is one of the most finite skills we can use with our hands. When you look at an Itamae, which is a traditional Japanese chef that specialises in sushi, it’s only after five years they actually start preparing the sushi rice. It’s an art that we don’t necessarily have to spend years on, but learning our way around the chopping board could save a lot of time, and with the right practice, becomes one of the best skills we can use with our hands.
If you are handy with your hands when it comes to DIY, these three areas could make a significant difference to your life, and are wonderful lessons to teach your children. It’s nice to be handy!
