6 Life Skills to Help Your Teen Excel at Adulting

6 Life Skills to Help Your Teen Excel at Adulting

When you're parent to a college-bound middle schooler, it's easy to go all-in on academics and extracurricular activities. After all, the college application process is right around the corner. It's also pricey and competitive, and you want your child to have every advantage.

But in the past year, researchers have found that an increasing number of Gen Z students want to feel just as prepared to navigate the real world as they are for college. They're craving learning opportunities that will help them feel more confident about tackling adulthood in general.

And who better to provide those opportunities than parents?

When you think about it, this is a win-win. You get to share the wisdom you've gained on your own journey while helping your child master life skills that will make them more productive and self-sufficient in college and better equipped for the workforce.

Adulting is no joke, so to help out, we consulted a few experts and new-to-college students and came up with six key skills to teach your young person before they leave home:

• Automotive Maintenance. Let's be honest. This list could be endless, but the top three are changing a flat tire, jumpstarting a vehicle with a dead battery and checking fluid levels. These skills can be invaluable in an emergency, and they are handy to have even if your child ends up living in a city relying on public transportation.
• Cooking. Eating out is more expensive than ever before, and the ability to cook at home with friends can be a game-changer for cash-strapped college students. Start with something as easy as scrambled eggs and pasta and work your way up to mix-and-bake casseroles and hearty crockpot recipes. And don't forget taco Tuesdays!
• Laundry. We're not sure this chore is anyone's favorite, but there are ways to make it a little fun. Let your child select a clothes hamper they like, teach them how to sort clothes by color or material, and offer clear instructions on operating the washer and dryer. Do a few loads together and then supervise from afar and see how it goes.
• Financial Management. Imparting the value of financial responsibility to children and teens pays off like nothing else. You're likely already doing this if you give your child any kind of allowance or pay them for household chores. For teens, a great way to reinforce these messages is to set them up with their own age-appropriate debit or credit card, many of which come with helpful, expense-tracking apps. By the time they're ready for college, they will understand the vital concepts of saving money, setting financial goals and living within a budget.
• Time Management. These days, distractions abound for young tweens and teens, but some tech - cell phones and smart watches, in particular - can serve as excellent tools. Task-tracking apps, visual timers and old-school alarms are all great ways to help your child stay organized and on schedule.
• Collaboration. It's often described as a soft skill, but make no mistake - the ability to work with others is serious business. Collaboration is a skill in demand across a wide range of industries. Equip your child by allowing them to be part of a team, whether academic or sports, and discuss the value of recognizing other people's contributions. At home, practice consensus building when choosing fun activities and conflict management when family members disagree.

Savor the teen years, because we all know they fly by. Time spent helping to prepare them for adult skills large and small will also create lasting memories!

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