What life skills to teach kids so that they can be independent at 18?

[Anonymous]

In a situation where the 18 year old does not have parents and are basically orphans, I am sure even the college admission process is hard. Do they even know how to navigate it in a way that will allow them to recover from on missteps?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Importance of having oil changes for a car.

(I burned up a car engine as an 18 year old)

Basic car maintenance skills is hugely important. Just getting your car serviced, properly inflated tires and toping off fluids is something that is simple to learn and easy first steps to start with.

Bike maintenance, too!

Oh, please!
I won't be caught dead on a bicycle and neither will be my children. They don't need to know 'bike maintenance'. I'm glad you're getting your exercise through biking, but we're just fine using a stationary bike, thankyouverymuch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Importance of having oil changes for a car.

(I burned up a car engine as an 18 year old)

Basic car maintenance skills is hugely important. Just getting your car serviced, properly inflated tires and toping off fluids is something that is simple to learn and easy first steps to start with.

Bike maintenance, too!

Oh, please!
I won't be caught dead on a bicycle and neither will be my children. They don't need to know 'bike maintenance'. I'm glad you're getting your exercise through biking, but we're just fine using a stationary bike, thankyouverymuch.

Our nephew took his bike to college and he does cycle around the campus to go from one class to the next. I think it is a low cost transportation alternative, keeps kids active and it reduces the carbon footprint, so why not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:More than that it is about
-time management
-decision making
-critical thinking
-coping with negative emotions
-grit and resilience
-managing boredom and loneliness in healthy ways
-strong foundation in sense of self and identity
-assertiveness
-setting boundaries for self and others
-treating others with respect and expecting respect from others
-help seeking skills
etc

x100000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:More than that it is about
-time management
-decision making
-critical thinking
-coping with negative emotions
-grit and resilience
-managing boredom and loneliness in healthy ways
-strong foundation in sense of self and identity
-assertiveness
-setting boundaries for self and others
-treating others with respect and expecting respect from others
-help seeking skills
etc

x100000

How do you teach them that?? If this was easy this nation would not have somany adults and children medicated

This seems like a wish list rather than an executable plan.

[Anonymous]

How to write a formal email.

How to deal with bureaucratic things like insurance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:More than that it is about
-time management
-decision making
-critical thinking
-coping with negative emotions
-grit and resilience
-managing boredom and loneliness in healthy ways
-strong foundation in sense of self and identity
-assertiveness
-setting boundaries for self and others
-treating others with respect and expecting respect from others
-help seeking skills
etc

This is an excellent list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Importance of having oil changes for a car.

(I burned up a car engine as an 18 year old)

Basic car maintenance skills is hugely important. Just getting your car serviced, properly inflated tires and toping off fluids is something that is simple to learn and easy first steps to start with.

Bike maintenance, too!

Oh, please!
I won't be caught dead on a bicycle and neither will be my children. They don't need to know 'bike maintenance'. I'm glad you're getting your exercise through biking, but we're just fine using a stationary bike, thankyouverymuch.

Our nephew took his bike to college and he does cycle around the campus to go from one class to the next. I think it is a low cost transportation alternative, keeps kids active and it reduces the carbon footprint, so why not?

Perfect mode of transportation if you want to ensure your kid is a Virgin until graduation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Importance of having oil changes for a car.

(I burned up a car engine as an 18 year old)

Basic car maintenance skills is hugely important. Just getting your car serviced, properly inflated tires and toping off fluids is something that is simple to learn and easy first steps to start with.

Bike maintenance, too!

Oh, please!
I won't be caught dead on a bicycle and neither will be my children. They don't need to know 'bike maintenance'. I'm glad you're getting your exercise through biking, but we're just fine using a stationary bike, thankyouverymuch.

Our nephew took his bike to college and he does cycle around the campus to go from one class to the next. I think it is a low cost transportation alternative, keeps kids active and it reduces the carbon footprint, so why not?

Perfect mode of transportation if you want to ensure your kid is a Virgin until graduation.

As long as grades are good, they get a well paying job after graduation, I am ok with them being virgins.

Sex is not calculus or rocket science. Even teenagers are able to figure out how to do it. This life skill is not necessary to teach. Safe sex and how to use BC are essential info for all kids though!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Importance of having oil changes for a car.

(I burned up a car engine as an 18 year old)

Basic car maintenance skills is hugely important. Just getting your car serviced, properly inflated tires and toping off fluids is something that is simple to learn and easy first steps to start with.

Bike maintenance, too!

Oh, please!
I won't be caught dead on a bicycle and neither will be my children. They don't need to know 'bike maintenance'. I'm glad you're getting your exercise through biking, but we're just fine using a stationary bike, thankyouverymuch.

Our nephew took his bike to college and he does cycle around the campus to go from one class to the next. I think it is a low cost transportation alternative, keeps kids active and it reduces the carbon footprint, so why not?

Considering how bad parking is on most college campuses, biking is actually pretty smart. Some semesters I spent more on parking tickets than on tuition.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How to write a formal email.

How to deal with bureaucratic things like insurance.

+1

Hugely important to know how to write and communicate in a formal manner. Same goes for now to dress I'm a work situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How to write a formal email.

How to deal with bureaucratic things like insurance.

+1

Hugely important to know how to write and communicate in a formal manner. Same goes for now to dress I'm a work situation.

Damn autocorrect!! How to dress in a work situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Managing their health care, etc.

Thank you. Glad you wrote this here. Mental and physical health both need to be taken care of.

You're welcome.

I'm sure these posters mean taking personal responsibility for health, including regular exercise, a well-balanced diet, and sleep hygiene, and knowing oneself well enough to recognize little problems before they become big problems, and how to deal with them (changing diet, changing exercise, changing friends and associates), so they don't become ill and beholden to the "health" industry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Managing their health care, etc.

Thank you. Glad you wrote this here. Mental and physical health both need to be taken care of.

You're welcome.

I'm sure these posters mean taking personal responsibility for health, including regular exercise, a well-balanced diet, and sleep hygiene, and knowing oneself well enough to recognize little problems before they become big problems, and how to deal with them (changing diet, changing exercise, changing friends and associates), so they don't become ill and beholden to the "health" industry.

Agreed. Also recognizing when you are depressed or have anxiety and how to manage it.

[Anonymous]

Although I don't know if this is a need by 18, I'd advocate for some kind of financial planning/life insurance/investing resource.

I never got this and while I certainly don't blame my parents I never gave investing much thought beyond putting $ in whatever retirement vehicle was available at work.

We moved overseas and had our first kid there - no one ever mentioned life insurance so we were dumb on that for a few years - it's not something you need much of when you're single, childfree, and don't own property.