The Lost Art of DIY
Posted by adminHow do you feel about DIY? Well, the odds are good that you’re DIY proficient – re-wiring plugs, putting up shelves, fencing, and bubble-free wallpaper. Hopefully, your shed is full of power tools that are USED, stored well and regularly maintained. But how do the younger folks in your life fair when it comes to the toolbox and basic DIY skills?
A recent study showed that just fewer than 12% of graduating university students can rewire a plug. Around 50% rely on a parent or friend to check the oil, water and tyre pressure of their car, and even identify a proficient mechanic for them. We can’t help but think perhaps a few life lessons are in order.
Time was when there were certain basic skills the older passed on to the younger. So what changed? A key problem is arguably the digital revolution. Of course Granddad can strip his old Volvo 340 to the bones and back, but are those skills transferable into modern life? The simple fact is that SO much of our lives is controlled digitally, some folks feel more traditional skills (we keep coming back to rewiring a plug, but it really is SO simple – we were shocked at its Dying Art status!) don’t have a place in the bustling young minds of younger generations. The tinkerings and tweakings, once common sounds on workbenches across land, are silenced… lest the warranty be voided!
Our advice? A basic grasp of DIY skills is arguably a step in the right direction for every young mind.