How time flies when you’re not looking; what better way to use your time than to pick up some essential life skills for teens? The internet is rife with various anecdotes of teenagers and even adults finding themselves not knowing what to do in certain situations. Some cases make for funny stories, while others are downright terrifying. However, preparing for your future goes beyond being book smart and best done in advance. Here are the eight most essential skills for teens to pick up.
Resume crafting
Planning for your career can and should start whenever you can. An organized and detailed resume and cover letter is something worth creating. Having this essential skill nailed down can be a massive boon for your prospects. Not only does it send a good first impression to your potential employers, but it also gives you a huge confidence boost. Take time to do the necessary research and preparation to provide yourself with a career head start and increase your chances of securing internships and jobs.
Money management
Budgeting is one of many excellent life skills for teens to have. Managing an allowance can start young, and it can be a model for the future. A good strategy is to analyze what to spend on needs and wants while setting aside savings. Ingraining this essential skill as part of teenagers’ routines will help manage future expenses, especially when they begin living solely off an allowance or their own income.
Time management
Planning is crucial to success; planning one’s daily, weekly, and monthly schedules will go a long way to ensuring teens’ success. Time management is an essential skill because it helps teenagers effectively split their focus, energy, and resources. By identifying their current priorities in order of importance and urgency, teens can plan for their short and long-term goals. Ideally, they will be able to juggle their health, social life, and their career success. If not, they will have the framework to readjust and re-establish control over their schedules.
Grocery shopping
Independence comes with keeping track of the items one needs to function. Learning where to buy these items, how often to buy them, and the best way to procure them can make life a lot easier. Teens should not forget the importance of keeping a store of essential items or managing the stock that one possesses. Grocery shopping may be overlooked as a necessary skill for most. Still, teaching teens this skill early can inculcate a sense of responsibility and accountability.
Basic domestic skills
When I was in the army, I came across individuals who had no idea how to wash their clothes, fold them, or manage a washing schedule. I myself did not know how to polish my boots, efficiently change my bedsheets, nor how tedious it would be to get rid of dust. When your teens eventually grow up and move out, they should learn how to manage the daily activities that allow them to live their lives. This means exposing them to the reality of domestic maintenance and the essential skills needed to carry out these tasks. Starting from basic chores like ironing clothes or washing the dishes is a good starting point. Teens can eventually progress to more complex tasks like simple electrical maintenance or repair work.
Cooking
It’s probably a no-brainer that cooking is an essential skill for anyone to survive. Still, the prevalence of ordering food delivery leads some to disregard cooking entirely. In short, cooking is often a healthier and cheaper alternative to food delivery. Being able to whip up easy yet tasty dishes saves a lot of money in the long run, not to mention how fulfilling it can be to learn how to prepare new types of meals. The importance of variety in one’s diet cannot be understated. Cooking serves that purpose by giving teens the ability to cook multiple options of dishes.
Self-care
Taking care of oneself is surprisingly overlooked in today’s era. In a variety of age groups, overworking and poor health practices have very common. These are linked to a myriad of health problems that tend to crop up in old age. To stay healthy, there are many things that teens can practice, from knowing simple medicines, picking up a sport, to tracking their diet and exercise routines. Getting into the habit of maintaining one’s health is an essential skill for teens to possess and is best done through early practice.
Cultural Intelligence
As connectivity continues to increase, humanity’s diversity will become more apparent in our work, schools, and relationships. Teens should take the opportunity to learn cultural intelligence to navigate an increasingly complex and diverse world. Learning cultural intelligence will fortify their interpersonal bonds and improve their understanding of different countries and cultures. In the face of a rapidly changing future, cultural intelligence is an essential skill for teens to pick up.
Want to learn more about cultural intelligence? Head over to TransCultural Group for their detailed yet fun courses!
Sources:
https://www.imom.com/10-life-skills-your-teen-needs-before-leaving-home/
https://www.weareteachers.com/life-skills-for-teens/
https://www.momjunction.com/articles/everyday-life-skills-your-teen-should-learn_0081859/
https://www.today.com/health/teenagers-stuck-home-here-are-13-life-skills-they-can-t176759
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