How to Prepare Your Teen for Adulthood

As a parent, one of the most important jobs you’ll ever have is preparing your teenager for adulthood. While you might not be able to prepare them for everything, there are some basic life skills they should know before they go out into the “real world”.

Let’s cover a few of those essential skills, so you can feel confident in what you’re teaching your teen. The more you prioritize preparing them for adulthood now, the easier it will be for them to transition from living at home to living on their own. So, what should they know to be ready for adulthood? 

Time Management

There’s no denying we live in a busy, fast-paced world. People are working more than ever. On top of that, your teen will need to maintain some kind of healthy work-life balance to avoid burnout early on. Unfortunately, there are a lot of distractions that can get in the way of balancing time. That’s why it’s so important to teach them about time management now, and how to find a schedule that works for them.

Share the importance of staying focused when it comes to work or school, but also how important it is to take breaks. One of the best ways to do that is by helping them establish a routine. Encourage them to wake up at the same time each day and go through simple morning activities to get the day started on the right foot.

Stress Management

Speaking of taking breaks, that’s just one of the ways you can prepare your teen to handle stress. Whether they have a full-time job, they’re heading off to college, or they’re just dealing with the everyday stress and pressure of society, it’s essential to know how to manage that stress. Thankfully, if they develop an understanding of stress management at a young age, they can use those skills for the rest of their lives. Mindfulness, meditation, journaling, and even exercising are fantastic ways to combat stress. When you encourage these activities, you’ll help your teen avoid unhealthy ways of coping, like drinking or dangerous behaviors.

Communication Skills

Teenagers aren’t always known for being the best communicators. However, it’s one of the most important skills to have as an adult. Strong communicators tend to excel at their careers and have healthier personal relationships.

Everyone has their own communication style. You don’t necessarily need to change the way your teenager communicates. However, you need to make sure they speak confidently and know how to listen to others effectively. They’ll need to use communication skills for everything from making a doctor’s appointment over the phone to nailing a job interview.

Health and Wellness

Stress management is an important part of self-care, but it’s not the only part. If your teenager plans to go to college, it will be easy for them to fall into unhealthy “traps.” That includes things like not getting enough sleep, not getting enough physical activity, and maintaining a diet that isn’t exactly nutritious.

Healthy habits start at home. Start implementing them into your own life. Even though your teen is older, they still look up to you. They’re likely to continue the habits you’ve instilled in them no matter where they go in life. Be a role model when it comes to a healthy lifestyle. 

There’s so much more to be covered when it comes to what your teenager should know for adulthood. But you know them better than anyone. Prioritize what you think is the most important, and use these suggestions as your guide to getting started.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the teen years, we can help! We offer parent coaching, family, and teen therapy. Contact us for more information!