Life Skills for Teenagers

Personal Care

• Teenagers can be responsible for their personal hygiene and wardrobe. If a teenager seems to be off the mark in this category, such as dreadful personal hygiene habits, then some intervention and encouragement is needed. However, if the teenager is showing conscientiousness and sound judgment, he is capable of handling his personal care on his own.

Domestic Skills

• If a parent does a teenager's laundry, cleans her room, and cooks all her meals until the day she leaves the nest, the teenager has not learned anything except how to depend on someone else. It is beneficial for a teenager to learn how to do laundry properly and keep not only keep his own room clean, but contribute to the household chores. Additionally, the teen years are a great time to start experimenting with meal preparation for themselves, as well as a small crowd of people.

Financial Management

• Responsible financial management is significant in leading a stable life. Set up a savings or checking account and ensure that it is maintained responsibly. Taking responsibility for expenses such as cellular telephones and car insurance will teach an adolescent how to manage bills and pay them on time. A proper budget must be established to ensure the teen does not overextend his earnings and will aid him in developing positive money management habits. If a teen is earning and controlling her own money, she will feel accomplished and will progressively be able to handle more and more financial matters as she evolves into adulthood.

Public Speaking

• Public speaking pertains not only to standing in front of a large group of people; it can also include interviewing and interacting with small groups of people. In order to ace presentations, interviews and even small group socializing, it is important for teenagers to develop confidence while speaking. If there is an opportunity for a teen to take a public speaking course or any type of instruction for interviewing, seizing this opportunity will greatly benefit her throughout her life. Speaking in front of others is a skill that needs to be fostered, the more it is done the easier it becomes. If a teen is timid about public speaking, and avoids it throughout these crucial years, many situations all the way through his adult life could be awkward and challenging.

Work Ethic

• While the teenage years are a time to explore interest and employment avenues, jumping from job to job for frivolous reasons develops a lack of commitment. Any job is an important obligation; teenagers must realize they have to put in a full effort and not quit at the first sign of boredom or conflict. The same work ethic should be applied to school work and extra curricular activities.