Raising a teen is no easy challenge. This is a notoriously difficult time where you are likely to see many changes in your teen and not always positive ones.
This is also a key time in their life where they will start to break away and want to develop their independence. As a parent, it can be hard to know how to help during this time as you will want to give them the skills needed, but you do not want to be overbearing. With this in mind, here are a few ways to prepare your teen for adulthood that they are sure to appreciate.
SHOW THEM BASIC DOMESTIC CHORES
It is amazing how many young people arrive at university and do not know how to cook a meal or do their own laundry. Often, these are tasks that have been done for them throughout their life, so it can be a shock to the system and often embarrassing when you do not know how to perform these tasks. This is why it is a good idea to show them how to perform basic tasks around the house so that they will be independent once they move out.
HELP THEM FIND WORK
There are many benefits to a teenager getting a job. This will develop many important adult skills that they will need, it will help them to get used to working for a living, and it will give them some money to manage and enjoy. As a teen, it can be hard to know how to go about finding a job, so you may want to help them with this (but try not to force them into a job that they do not want to do).
TEACH THEM PERSONAL FINANCE
Following on from this, you should also teach your teen about personal finance. This is not covered in school, which means that many young people have very low knowledge of how to manage their money as a young adult. A few key topics that you should cover include:
- Budgeting
- Savings
- Debt
- Mortgages
- Inflation and interest rates
- Investing
ENCOURAGE A SUMMER ABROAD
A language exchange programme, a summer volunteering excursion, an outward bounds adventure…encouraging your teenager to develop their independence in a supervised setting abroad can be one of the best ways you can help them prepare for adult life.
‘If you love someone, set them free’, as they say. If they have a very specific passion, then places like The Real Madrid summer camp or Rugby School Thailand can provide a fantastic experience for young adults so that they are prepared for success both academically and in life.
Not only will this be a unique and exciting adventure, but schools such as these focus beyond the classroom and take a holistic approach with their development. Taking a slightly different approach to other schools, your child will gain crucial skills and prepare themselves properly for the next stage of their life.
SHOW THE IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH
It is no secret that mental health is a major and important issue these days, especially with young adults.
As Dr. Mitch Keil, a specialist in Orange County teen therapy, tells us, ”Teens and young adults are particularly susceptible to mental issues, and if left untreated, these can adversely affect their daily life.”
As a parent, you need to show your teen that looking after your mental health needs to be a priority and to show them how they can do this. Additionally, you should encourage them to speak up if they have any issues and to seek professional help if they have mental health problems that are interfering with their life.
These are a few of the best ways that you can help your teen to prepare for life as an adult and hopefully put them on the pathway to a happy, healthy, and rewarding life.