I picked up the book Catch a Fish, Throw a Ball, Fly a Kite : 21 Timeless Skills Every Child Should Know (and any parent can teach!) and first thought to myself, "Wow, what a wordy title!." and, then I thought, "How would I rate against kids today on the 21 skills?."

Here are the recommended skills:

1. Catch a Fish
2. Throw a Ball
3. Catch a Ball
4. Plant a Tree
5. Ride a Bike
6. Bake Bread
7. Fly a Kite
8. Juggle
9. Build a Fire
10. Make a Sandcastle
11. Play a Blade of Grass
12. Skip a Stone
13. Make a Paper Airplane
14. Do a Magic Trick
15. Eat with Chopsticks
16. Build a Wooden Box
17. Spin a Yo-Yo
18. Grow a Garden
19. Make Apple Pie
20. Throw a Frisbee
21. Name the Stars

Looking over this list, I can thank my mom and dad for passing on these essential life skills.  I can not claim mastery of any one, but I can claim the experience!  How many children today can say the same thing? 

Please name some other ESSENTIAL life experiences for today's kids (I would say that sitting in front of a computer is not one of them!)  It is Friday.  I am leaving this computer and I have plans to fly a kite! It's never to late to be a kid!