We know every teen is an individual and every parent has different expectations of how to prepare them for adulthood. We recommend having a family discussion on the things every adult needs to know when living on their own. One way to do that is to start with categories such as finance, housekeeping, cooking, safety, jobs, and social participation. Then the parents and teen can make a list of individual activities that will strengthen skills in each category. We have provided a sample list but we encourage parents and teens to work together to make their own list. As always, Hatch Pediatrics encourages communication and acceptance within families as well as fun!
Finance:
1. Open a checking and saving account
2. Learn to use safe on line banking as well as balancing a checkbook on paper
3. Plan a budget and then practice it
4. Buy groceries
5. Fill out a job application
Housekeeping and Cooking:
1. Learn to cook and make a meal for your family
2. Do laundry
3. Learn to clean the house and treat your parent by cleaning
4. Try new foods
5. Learn to do simple mending
Safety:
1. Learn to identify online, mail or in person fraud
2. Learn some self defense
3. Learn how to change a tire on a car or bike
4. Have a serious conversation about how to say no to drinking, drugs and texting while driving
Social Participation
1. Volunteer in the community
2. Read a book with purpose and for fun
3. Learn to give a speech
4. Practice face to face conversations with a friend on a difficulty subject without texting.
There are hundreds of ways to make a list or start the conversation. Have fun with it!