There comes a time in every parent’s life, when the teens step out of home to make a place for themselves in the big wide world. It’s almost certain that your teen would go to a different city or state or country to study at some point in time. As many parents would admit this is probably the most difficult part of being parents and they worry about primarily two things at this stage :

• Getting used to the empty nest
• How well will the teens be able to adjust to their new life on their own in the absence of immediate parental support.

This article deals with the second issue of ensuring a seamless adjustment for your teens in a new world and new life. As parents, letting go is difficult but you don’t have much of a choice there. In fact in lot of ways staying away from parents helps a child undergo the transformation from a completely dependent teen to a strong and independent adult. This transformation is not without it’s own trials and tribulations. But what makes the process easier is “how well the teens have mastered certain life skills before heading out to lead their own lives”.

Here are the top life skills you should focus on:

Financial skills

Teaching your teen to handle money well is the best gift you can give them. Start early when it comes to imparting financial prudence. Even before they become teenagers, talk to them about the need to save money and use it for just what they want. Also, live by example and show them how well you manage your finances. This will register in their subconscious mind and they are more likely to handle money better when they grow up. Besides this your teen should also know:

• How to make a payment by cheque
• How to open a new bank account
• How to apply for a new Credit/ debit card ( in case of loss of card)
• How to withdraw money from ATM and always keep some cash
• How to make online transfer of money ( they need this skill a lot for transferring to friends etc)

Cooking skills

Another important and often overlooked skill is cooking. Your teen should know to make the right food choices when they live by themselves because remember, you’re not around to cook for them anymore. They need to know the ingredients they have to buy and how to make a decent edible meal out of it. Show them the different kitchen utensils and how to make simple and healthy meals from basic ingredients. Also, make sure you talk to them about storing foods and learning to distinguish between nutritious and junk foods. Teach them a few simple dishes like boiling noodle, making pasta, making a fried / boiled eggs etc. Don’t be surprised when your teens insist on making some special dishes on their first visit home. The teens should also know:

• How to check the expiry/ best before dates on the packaged food items
• Shopping for groceries with a list in hand
• Using a microwave
• Storing the leftovers in the fridge and checking the quality of the stored food before reheating. They should know that storing the food in the fridge doesn’t keep it fresh till eternity.

Cleanliness and hygiene

Needless to say, this is an important skill to live a healthy and happy life. Teach your kids to not only keep themselves clean, but also the surrounding environment. It’s an essential part of home management. Train them to mop, dust, vacuum, clean kitchen, clear garbage, eliminate clutter and wash dishes. You have no idea how much it’ll help them later on, especially when they have to manage their own dormitory or room. They should also know:

• Using a washing machine/ dryer
• Sort clothes before putting them in machine – all whites go together. Colored clothes to be washed separately. It’s very common to get calls from teens saying “ Mom, my favorite white shirt just turned blue/ red”
• Socks and undergarments need to get washed regularly as well

Health, safety and first aid

As a part of taking care of themselves, teens should learn this critical life skill. First off, ensure they have a basic first aid kit in their room and vehicle. This kit should include over-the-counter medicines that can come handy. It goes without saying that they should know which medication is right for which condition. Also, they should know when they should stop self-medication and head to the doctor. Talk to your son or daughter about these different aspects over a period of a few months, so they tend to listen to you better. Besides health, safety is a top concern for all parents. Honestly, don’t worry too much about it because our natural instincts take over when they sense danger. As living beings, our bodies are capable of protecting us in a dangerous situation. So, just give a broad overview on this without sounding too “boring”.

Time management skills

Your teenager needs to know to manage time well, especially if he or she has to handle too many things like college, a part time job, social relationships and more. They should know how to prioritize the tasks on hand. This is where the college going kids suffer the most because remember Mom - the alarm clock would be missing from their lives.

Social Skills

Teens should feel confident enough to talk to the college office staff, the professors, senior students and their own batch mates. Building their own network goes a long way in settling down in a new place.

Miscellaneous Skills:

• Making occasional phone calls say, to the bank or courier service or making some reservation. They should know that texting is not the only mode of communication.
• Preparing and sending a letter by courier or post. Yes, postal service is still needed in this age of internet. They should also know how to write the full “To” and “From” address.
• Book tickets and make hotel reservations online.
• Using a map or GPS to locate a new address.
• Getting familiar with the local public transport
• Preparing their resumes and applying for internships and be on the lookout for earning assignments
• Buying both life/ motor insurance
• Have some basic understanding of legal contracts ( useful if your child is heading abroad)
• Keeping the important documents like certificates and passport safe

In short, while you’re never going to feel completely confident of their ability to live by themselves, you can make life better for them and you by teaching them these essential life skills. Use a combination of teaching techniques to impart these skills and more importantly, live by example. Let us know the strategies you use to impart these life skills to your teenage sons and daughters before they leave for college.

Happy Parenteen!