Essential LIFE Skills
Adulting is the gradual process teens go through as they take on the responsibilities that come with stepping into their role as adults. Like learning to read or ride a bike, the age students full take on this role can vary. Emotional maturity is not the only factor. Practice and growing in confidence within a mentoring relationship is key to helping students make wise and informed decisions, and build the skills that will help them achieve independence.
Many students leave the nest without learning some basic life skills because they have always relied on parents or someone else for these things. Parents, frankly, we just might not have thought about some of these skills as needing to be taught. One of the ways to help our students launch successfully into a career or college is by helping them gain confidence in their adulting skills so they see themselves as contributors. There is a natural transition between confidence in adulting skills and launching with confidence in determination and direction.
Essential Life Skills
Be inspired to add to this list. Often what men and women see as important complement each other, so get input from both parents. Highlight one or two items from each area and be intentional about teaching, modeling, and building practice opportunities into your student’s schedule.
1. Home Care and Repair
• Kitchen appliance use and enjoyment
• Using tools safely and with confidence
• Familiarity with and minor repairs of home systems – heating, electrical, plumbing
• Home care – painting rooms, patching drywall, basic construction
• Maintain smoke and CO detectors
• Lawn and garden care
2. Money Management
• Budgeting, responsible use of credit cards, investments, financial independence and retirement planning
• Maintain and organize financial records
• Organize all passwords, accounts, and important documents in a safe place for reference
• When and how to pay taxes, understand pay stub
• How to select, negotiate, and pay cash for a car
• Rental agreements and terms (signing contracts), car and renters insurance (coverage and comparison shopping)
3. Employment Skills
• Write a resume, cover letter, conduct a job search, leverage LinkedIn
• Networking, career guidance
• Professionally formatted communications
4. Transportation Savvy
• Read a map
• Car care including routine auto maintenance including changing a tire, oil, and checking fluids, making mechanic appointments
• Bike maintenance
• Utilize and navigate public transit and taxi services
5. Personal Well-being
• Healthy cooking, shopping, and gardening
• Basic first aid, Emergency preparedness, CPR, Fire safety
• Personal safety, Awareness of surroundings
• 911 plan, Recognizing potentially dangerous situation and solutions
• Record personal medical information and keep up with appointments
• Internet protocol including cyber security and safe online practices
• Child and elder care
• Simple sewing
• Grit: How to fail fast, fail often, and move on. Curious? Take this GRIT Test. Millions have watched this TED talk.
6. Responsible Citizenship
• Identify and engage with your governmental representatives
• Responsible civic engagement
• How to evaluate media and news sources
• Expressing your opinion respectfully and effectively
One of my favorite resources to guide learning and life-application projects: Life Prep by Barbara Frank
Please share this article with friends and introduce them to Credits Before College. Course guides, how-to book, and one-to-one counseling available.
Copyright©2018 Cheri Frame – All Rights Reserved.
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