Millennials reviving traditional skills like knitting thanks to fathers’ influences, study claims
Nearly one in five surveyed also believe social media makes them more practical
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Your support makes all the difference.Millennials are reviving a string of traditional tasks once thought destined for the history books, a new study has claimed.
Research into the adoption of traditional skills across generations found young adults are adept at life skills such as framing pictures, calligraphy, knitting and letter-writing.
The study also found two-thirds of men and women aged 22 to 38 who responded said the positive influence behind them learning new skills is their father.
Crafting handwritten letters to keep in touch with loved ones is also among the tasks making a comeback.
Thirteen percent are learning woodwork and carpentry – and hand-making items such as tables, chairs, and bookshelves.
“This study is reassurance that practical artisan skills are very much alive – despite a common assumption that young adults don’t have time to be very ‘hands on’,” said Ella d’Amato, chief commercial and marketing officer for notonthehighstreet, which commissioned the study.
“And what’s really nice is that a large percentage of men and women have learnt much of what they know from their dad, as this shows traditional pastimes, crafts and activities are continuing to make their way through generations.’’
The study found more than one-fifth of millennials have been taught by their fathers how to grow their own vegetables.
Embroidery, origami and hand-making sculptures or clothing, while not skills shared by the majority of younger generations, are still being enjoyed by one in 20 adults.
One in 10 like to write poetry, while a further 16 per cent enjoy baking cakes, supposedly inspired by their fathers.
Across the 2,000 adults surveyed, a resounding eight in 10 believe younger generations have fewer practical skills than previous generations.
However, 25 per cent of respondents wanted to learn a new skill, such as how to make furniture, in the next 12 months – compared to just four per cent over the age of 66.
And although many younger adults have learnt many of their capabilities from their fathers, 17 per cent also think social media has contributed to them being more practical.
One-third of those under the age of 38 have at some point watched a YouTube tutorial to learn how to do something, and a further 21 per cent have been taught by a teacher.
More than seven in 10 adults of all ages agree passing life skills on from fathers to children is an important part of the bonding process, and 44 per cent of those polled have already passed on their own skills to their children, suggesting that sharing hobbies and passions with future generations is integral to keeping artisan skills alive.
SWNS
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