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What are some life skills you think kids should have by their mid to late teens? Here are some of my examples.
1. Laundry-wash, dry, fold, hang, and make bed.
2. Basic cooking-eggs (boiled, fried, scrambled), chicken, beef, fish fillets, pasta, and rice for example.
3. House cleaning
4. Using basic hand tools
5. Auto maintenance-check tire pressures, change flat tire, check fluids, change wiper blades, etc
6. Personal finance-balance checking account, set a budget, understand difference between "needs" and "wants" when it comes to personal purchases, and the dangers of credit cards and payday loans
7. Time management-video games, online games, and parties should not rule your day
Those are good examples. Those are good exercises to the real one, when faced with a problem, any problem, how do you solve it. Oh hey look. Your underwear came out of the laundry all pink. Why do you suppose that happened? Vs you need to sort your laundry! Oh gee, we are at the arcade, and you have no money left from your allowance. Huh. For some of the trickier ones, we have stepped it out. DS was having trouble with completing is assignments on time. He asked for my help. We wrote a problem statement on the white board. And I sat there and listened as he came up with possible solutions. We discussed the possible outcomes of each solution until he came up with the approach that work for him all on his own.
Great examples, especially about financial responsibility. I would add a healthy skepticism for advertising. I'm already starting these discussions with our six year old. "What is this commercial for? How does this make you feel? Does our family really need this product?"
Took courses on finance in high school which helped to define a need and a want. Video games=want
Junk food snacks=want
Whole natural foods like milk, eggs, bread, oatmeal, meat, cheese=need
Tap water=need
Tattoos & piercings=want
Electricity=in today's homes this is a need
Landline phone=depends on if it's cheaper than a cell phone plan
Cell phone=depends on cost of plan and valid usage like for a job.
Latest designer sneakers with celebrity name=want or a waste of $200
OTC medications=need
Toiletries (soap, shampoo, razor, shaving cream, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, mouthwash)=need
Expensive shampoo/conditioners, hair gel, hair coloring, and bath accessories like beads and oils=want
Vehicle maintenance (gas, oil, wipers)=need
Stereo, rims, decals=want
I would say decision making skills too---start them early, toddler age..picking from 2 outfits to wear, deciding between 3 snacks, etc. Let them pick their own friends and stay out of squabbles with those friends. Let them navigate their school problems from about 4th grade on--actually earlier for minor things like if a teacher said they didn't turn in some homework. By the time they are in high school parents should have VERY little say in what they do and how they go about their schoolwork..and should NOT be contacting teachers except for the most serious issues..and even then only after their child has exhausted all avenues. Then TRUST them that they know what is going on better than you do!
Kids should be give more freedom...or at least the opportunity to earn that freedom. Outside of some bad inner city neighborhoods, kids should be riding their bikes to friends' houses, the park, to school, getting themselves back and forth to various practices--or at least doing the planning to get to/from if they NEED a ride.
Don't schedule every minute of their day--let them get bored---and give them the option to figure out what to do on their own or hand them a bucket/mop if they don't.
Let them take the consequences of their actions...if they stay up too late playing video games and don't get their homework done, let them take an F on that assignment and go to school tired--they will figure it out...
Took courses on finance in high school which helped to define a need and a want. Video games=want
Junk food snacks=want
Whole natural foods like milk, eggs, bread, oatmeal, meat, cheese=need
Tap water=need
Tattoos & piercings=want
Electricity=in today's homes this is a need
Landline phone=depends on if it's cheaper than a cell phone plan
Cell phone=depends on cost of plan and valid usage like for a job.
Latest designer sneakers with celebrity name=want or a waste of $200
OTC medications=need
Toiletries (soap, shampoo, razor, shaving cream, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, mouthwash)=need
Expensive shampoo/conditioners, hair gel, hair coloring, and bath accessories like beads and oils=want
Vehicle maintenance (gas, oil, wipers)=need
Stereo, rims, decals=want
Sorry--I disagree with the landline vs cell phone and cost...it's hard to get by without a cell phone--both socially and for work. Most companies require cell phone use, or at least expect it, and landlines don't go with you when you are out and about. Cell phones are here to stay, just accept that.
Our kids had to do an assignment in high school where they had to draw up a budget. They were not given any information about what income they were earning--just draw up a budget. It was an eye opener for the kids when they put numbers to how much rent, insurance, food, etc really cost....and when they thought they had a good budget worked out only to find out that their income wouldn't cover 1/2 of what they had on there. Part 2 of that assignment was to figure out how to live off that income given their budget. It took kids a LONG time to figure out that getting roommates was the easy answer
Sorry--I disagree with the landline vs cell phone and cost...it's hard to get by without a cell phone--both socially and for work. Most companies require cell phone use, or at least expect it, and landlines don't go with you when you are out and about. Cell phones are here to stay, just accept that.
Our kids had to do an assignment in high school where they had to draw up a budget. They were not given any information about what income they were earning--just draw up a budget. It was an eye opener for the kids when they put numbers to how much rent, insurance, food, etc really cost....and when they thought they had a good budget worked out only to find out that their income wouldn't cover 1/2 of what they had on there. Part 2 of that assignment was to figure out how to live off that income given their budget. It took kids a LONG time to figure out that getting roommates was the easy answer
I love that idea - particularly the order they did the task in
What are some life skills you think kids should have by their mid to late teens? Here are some of my examples.
1. Laundry-wash, dry, fold, hang, and make bed.
2. Basic cooking-eggs (boiled, fried, scrambled), chicken, beef, fish fillets, pasta, and rice for example.
3. House cleaning
4. Using basic hand tools
5. Auto maintenance-check tire pressures, change flat tire, check fluids, change wiper blades, etc
6. Personal finance-balance checking account, set a budget, understand difference between "needs" and "wants" when it comes to personal purchases, and the dangers of credit cards and payday loans
7. Time management-video games, online games, and parties should not rule your day
Add: how to be responsible and support yourself and not move back home.
I think it is important to teach soon to be independant teens how to shop in a grocery store. Most by that age stopped going to the grocery store with their parents and aren't aware of how marketing affects the displays of certain products.
While they won't be doing a great deal of grocery shopping they should learn how to keep a running list of needs, use the grocery circulars to get the best prices and how to plan for at least 5 days worth of meals out of each week. My experience with teens and young adults is they have no idea how much more eating out costs compared to cooking at home. And most of their discretionary incomes goes for eating and drinking out.
They need basic sewing skills like how to fix a rip in a seam, sew on a button and hem a pair of pants. Alterations and repairs are extremely expensive.
They also need a reality check about how expensive being a responsible pet owner can be. Most pets are surrendered because the owners can't afford food, classes, and vet care. Also they don't consider how many hours they will be away from home and how this affects their pet.
Some need lessons on how to dress appropriately for the work place.
They also need to learn that it will be some time before they can afford to live like they probably did with Mom and Dad who spent decades reaching the standard of living they are leaving.
Those are all great examples. I can only add what to do in an emergency, and also, what actually constitutes an emergency.
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