Introduction to home economics

Home Economics can be defined as a field that is concerned with improving family life. It does this by:

(i) finding out the needs of individuals and families.

(ii) finding ways of meeting individuals and families.

(iii) preparing people for family living and employment.

Scope (Areas in Home Economics)

Home Economics is made up of many areas. These areas can be grouped into seven major areas.

The seven areas in home economics are:

(i) Foods and Nutrition: This deals with the study of foods and their nutrients.

(ii) Clothing and textile: It deals with designing and sewing of clothes. It also includes wise selection clothes, personal hygiene and good grooming.

(iii) Home Management: This deals with processes of using those things which the family has, to obtain the things needed by the family e.g money, time, energy, etc.

(iv) Consumer Education: It teaches people how to make wise decision in selecting or buying goods and services.

(v) House and interior decoration: deals with provision of housing for the family.

(vi) Child development and care: it deals with how children grow and develop. It also deals with how to care for children properly.

(vii) Family living: it deals with how people live in the family. It teaches people how to maintain good relationship in the family.

In Nigerian schools and colleges, Home Economics is however, broadly divided into three areas; Foods and nutrition, Home management, Clothing and textiles.

Careers in Home Economics

1. Careers in foods and nutrition. They include:

(i) Dietetics

(ii) Nutrition

(iii) Food research

(vi) Catering

(v) Hotel management, etc.

2. Careers in clothing and textiles. They include:

(i) Designing

(ii) Pattern illustration

(iii) Beauty care and hair dressing

(iv) Dress making/tailoring

(v) Dry cleaning and laundering, etc.

3. Careers in home management. They include:

(i) Interior decoration/designing

(ii) Institutional house keeping

(iii) Advertizing and promoting

(iv) Baby sitting

(v) Child care etc.

4. Careers in family living and child development. They include:

(i) Hair dressing and beauty care

(ii) Social welfare

(iii) Laundry and dry cleaning

(iv) Management of homes, hotels and housekeeping.

(v) Baby sitting/day care services, etc.

5. Careers in consumer education: Specialists in consumer education guide consumers of goods and services on how to spend their money wisely by buying goods and services that will give them good value for their money.

Importance of Home Economics to the Family

Home economics is important to the family in the following ways:

1. It helps the family to manage their income wisely (budgeting).
2. It teaches families the different nutritional needs of family members.
3. It teaches family planning and proper upbringing of children.
4. It aims at improving family life.
5. It teaches people how to use what the family has (resources e.g money, time) to satisfy family needs e.g foods, clothes and housing.

Importance of Home Economics to the Nation

Home economics is important to the nation in the following ways:

1. Home economics reduces unemployment in the society because it creates job opportunities.
2. It reduces poverty in the nation because it teaches people to work hard.
3. It helps to promote health of citizens through consumer education.
4. It promotes food security because it involves food protection, processing and conservation.
5. It focuses on improvement of family living.

EVALUATION

1. Define Home Economics.
2. State any five areas of Home Economics.
3. List any three careers in each of the following areas of Home Economics:

(i) Clothing and textiles

(ii) Food and Nutrition

(iii) Home management

4. State any five reasons why Home Economics is important to: (i) Families (ii) The nation

ACTIVITY

1. Visit areas where students can see people in various careers in action e.g hotels, fashion designers, etc. Allow them to see the nature of the job in each organization.