A glance into home science
Home science is an integrated field of study that provides scientific and systematic knowledge about various aspects of family living.
Home science suggests that it is concerned with home and includes health and happiness of each and every person residing in it. It is an interdisciplinary field in which faculty of science helps prepares students to develops themselves with multiple vocational and career options.
As a field of specialization, home science draws its content from courses in both science and art.
Definition
According to Ellen Richard, the first president of home economic association,
“Home science aims at freedom of home from dominance of things and their due subordination to ideals; the simplicity in material surroundings which will free the spirit for the more important and permanent interest of the home and society, the ideal home life for today unhampered by the past”.
In very simple words home science can be defined as the multidisciplinary field of study that deals with healthy, diet , caring child, textile and garment designing, managing resources and other subjects associated with home.
Importance of home science
The subject of home science is concerned with every area of home life including cooking, clothing, furnishing and decoration of the house, child care, house hold purchase and family relationships it teaches people how to eat better food, dress up well, look after their homes and spend money wisely and how to lead a happy home life.
The knowledge of home science improves the quality of life: The study of home science provides the home maker with the knowledge and skills required to manage a home effectively.
Helps In the best utilization of resources to get maximum satisfaction and returns: family resource management provides knowledge necessary to make intelligent decisions regarding the purchases budgeting and other managerial activities
Teaches the application of modern science and technology to improve domestic life: modernization of the world is reflected in home also. High tech products and modern equipments have entered our homes especially kitchens.
Helps to improve family relationships: the study of home science includes the area of human relation ship which teaches people how to get alng with one another and how to do solve problems within the family.
Develops the students the necessary skills and techniques required for better home making and family living: home science prepares students for greatest of all profession i.e. being a home maker.
Helps to solve the day to day problems: the changing society not only increases the managerial problems concerning the use of human and use of material resources but also requires different methods of meeting the problems.
Helps in changing the values, attitudes, and interests: home science is not only confined to development of home making skills, it also makes the person aware of changing world.
Home science promotes the moral, familial and spiritual aspects of family living: moral values of honesty, truthfulness, objectivity and decision making are some important values that a home is expected to develop in its members.
Enables the person for many career opportunities: use of new techniques and modern equipments has helped the housewife to make efficient use of her resources.
Home science has an important role to play in society: home science aims at promoting satisfactory personal family and community life by developing the qualities needed for responsible and creative living.
Fields of Home science for entrepreneur
Home science can be described as a diversified field of knowledge drawn from a variety of disciplines (humanities, biological, physical and social sciences and arts) which involves education and research in areas concerned with family life including foods and nutrition, management of family resources, consumer economics, clothing and textiles, home and furnishing, child development and family relationships and the economic, social, managerial, aesthetic and ethical aspects.
Foods and nutrition: it deals with scientific facts about the nature of food, the constituents of food, the function in the body, food requirement at different stages of life cycle, nutritional deficiencies and ways to overcome them, better methods of cooking food, diet in health and diseased conditions, food preservation, food hygiene and sanitation, psychological aspects of food etc.
Clothing and textiles: it deals with the skills and knowledge required for selection, construction and care of clothing, principles of design I n relation to clothing, the manufacture of fabrics, the properties of textile fibres in relation to use home, different types of weaves, laundering of different types of fabrics, repair and storage of clothes.
Family resource management and interior decoration: it deals with organizational and managerial process, efficient use of family resources, increasing family income, use of labor saving devices, furnishing and decoration.
Child/human development: it imparts knowledge about various aspects of the development of child and factors affecting them, child psychology, mother craft, care of the child, childhood disease, immunization of child etc.
Education and extension: the field deals with improved methods of teaching, extending home science knowledgeto various section of the society; attitudes, values, knowledge and practices prevalent in the society.
The entire program of home science can be explained as:
Home science is the study of
Facts, principles, processes, theories, methods, formulae, generalizations in food and nutrition,
Clothing and textiles, Family resource management and interior decoration, Child/human development, Education and extension
For the development of
Abilities, competencies, skills
To comprehend, compare, synthesize and apply
Knowledge for the development of
Beliefs, opinion, practices, attitudes, values
For contribution to
Self family community nation world
Scope of home science
Home science is an interdisciplinary field of knowledge with focus on food & nutrition, fabric & apparel designing, human development, resource management and communication and extension.
Home science is the application of many sciences and art towards achieving better, healthier and happier homes.
fashion and home science 