To some who read this, the title of this article sounds a bit ridiculous.
“What do you mean ‘teach kids how to do things offline’? Are you serious?”
Yes, I’m quite serious.
There are kids today who literally do not know how to find a job without using the internet. Many also know nothing about how to save cash from the use of clip-out coupons, and heck, some don’t even know how to mail a letter properly (ask a kid why you put the flag up on a mailbox and they probably won’t know the reason behind it). And forget about asking a kid how to manage a checkbook register by hand, because he or she probably won’t know how to do it at all.
Experience is obviously the best teacher one could have. If you have children or grandchildren, you should ask them the simple questions. “Do you know how to mail a letter (and how to fill out an envelope properly)?” “Do you know how to use paper coupons?” “Do you know how to read the classifieds section in a newspaper or local flyer?” You might be surprised at the answers you get, and you may have to teach them how those ‘offline’ things are done. Time well spent.
I’m not saying all kids are inexperienced when it comes to using what’s now considered Old World ways of doing things – but many are.
The easiest way to make it interesting for a child to discover Old World ways of doing things is to teach them how certain things work.
Example 1: Making a phone call when the power is out
As most people are aware, even when the power is out, a landline phone will most likely still work because it carries an independent electrical current of 48 volts when you pick it up to talk, and around 90 volts when a signal is sent to the line to make the phone ring. (Trivia: The almost-double voltage for the incoming ring is a holdover from the days when phones used real bell ringers and needed enough power to move the phone’s small hammer to clack the bells.)
And yeah, I know this is assuming the place of residence even has a POTS line. If it does, then explain to the kid why it will work even if the power it out. It’s old but good information to know.
Example 2: How to make DTV work
Kids grow up and leave home. They all do (well, most of them). Television coming through a wire connected to a central office was obviously not always the norm. A kid should be taught how to receive free television programming over-the-air using the appropriate equipment; this involves teaching them how to use a cheap Hi-V (rabbit ears) and/or UHF (circular or rectangular) base antenna and how to auto-tune channels on the set.
DTV isn’t that old, but receiving TV programming over-the-air is. If that kid goes to college, he or she will appreciate knowing how to get free TV because college kids never have any money; any knowledge they learn for how to get free stuff is good.
Example 3: How to get forms, permits and licenses
Certain forms, permits and licenses are still better acquired offline. A classic example of this are fishing licenses. In the State of Connecticut for example, anyone under the age of 16 is required to have an inland fishing license. The kid doesn’t know this, but you do. And while true that adults can buy licenses online if they wish in that state, anyone who fishes knows you’re better off getting your license at an authorized shop if for no other reason than the clerks who sell them can alert you to any new rules/regulations up front when it comes to that sport. In addition, shops that sell these licenses are almost always mental giants when it comes to knowing the ins and outs of other license types, such as for hunting and trapping. The personal interaction you get is invaluable in many instances.
If you have kids around you, make it a point to teach them the offline stuff. Try to make it interesting and share the knowledge.
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