If your parenting goes as normally planned, your teenager at some point will leave home and live independently whether he goes to college, or gets a job and moves out. Teaching your teen independent living skills will help him become independent so that he will be able to live on his own, which is the goal of a successful young adult and his parents. But it isn’t easy. Older teens often feel they can take the big step towards independent living without having all of the life skills they will need to succeed. Therefore, they start out at a disadvantage by not gaining the confidence they need because they have not learned how to be independent. This makes the transition from a teenager at home to their life as a young adult on their own harder.
You can help your teenager become independent by teaching him independent living skills. Here are a few life skills your teen will need to learn in order to be successful at living independently the first time they are on their own:
1. Good Health and Hygiene: Throughout childhood and adolescence, it is important to teach your child how to take care of their body by encouraging good hygiene habits and seeking medical attention when necessary.
2. Job Skills: In order to live independently your teenager will need to know how to look for a job and keep a job. Here is where the years of taking responsibility for household chores, earning allowance, and learning what to buy, save, or spend develops important independent living skills.
3. Money Skills: Your teenager needs to know how to deposit money into a bank account. They also need to be able to do simple tasks with their money, like pay their bills monthly, balance a checkbook, and be able to purchase necessities.
4. Create a Budget: Your teen needs to learn how to create a real budget with real expenses. You can start now by using how much allowance they earn and their expenses. (Cell phone bill, clothing they buy, or outings with friends).
5. Stress Management Skills: Life can be stressful and difficult. Help your teen learn to relieve stress in a healthy way. Being able to relax in a healthy way such as exercise, meditation, sports, and talking to friends and family is important. When stress is overwhelming, it may be appropriate to seek a professional’s support such as counseling.
As a family therapist, I help teens develop skills that they need to become independent and successful. Call me for a free phone consultation at 661-259-8200×2 or visit me at www.therapywithcompassion.com to learn more about how I help families.