Would you let your kid...?

I don't have kids, but yes, I would. I have learned a TON of stuff by shadowing other people both in the work place and as an educational endeavor. I have learned to weld, cook, and conduct business simply by mimicking and paying attention to others. and not all things are obsolete, there are some children in other countries who learn to work the looms (textile industry) at a young age, as well as ceramics in other parts of the world.