According to research, 35% of people in Britain wish they had learned about budgeting and personal finances in school. It clearly explains the need to use every opportunity you have as a parent to teach your children some life essentials. Since they may not have access to such information once they leave home. Below are a few of such essential skills
Teach your teen about communication and privacy
Even though your teenagers may be schooling, you may need to educate them more about their well-being and safety. Early exposure to smartphones and social media causes many youngsters to get comfortable using slang and shorthanded language. As a result, you should consider reminding your teen to use complete sentences when writing academic papers and emails. Also, teach your teen to pay keen attention when reading and writing to improve their general communication skills.
Since teens spend a lot of time online, remember to teach them to keep strong passwords and use VPN when browsing for privacy. Advise your teen to avoid sharing personal information with strangers and not to access bank accounts while on public networks. Also, prompt them to contact you when any sexual advances are made toward them both online and in person.
Teach your teen about money and budgeting
The lifestyle people live centers mostly on their money handling skills. Therefore, be sure to teach your teen some financial skills since it may be of great help to you and may help keep them out of trouble. Some financial skills include how to make a budget and the discipline to stick to your budget. It also includes how to open and operate a bank account, the importance of saving and investment, and the rewards of giving to the needy. Be sure to teach them how to apply for a credit card and use it to their benefit without falling into any debts. And lastly, teach them how to keep financial records for accountability.
Teach your teen how to drive and maintain a vehicle
On the road to living an independent life, your teen would at some point need to learn to drive and maintain their vehicle. You can assist them by teaching them the process involved in buying, insuring, and registering for vehicles. Navigation skills and how to follow traffic regulations are also necessary. Teach how crucial it is to keep a seat belt or helmet on and how to use tools to change tires. Other vehicle maintenance skills such as changing the oil and pumping gas are also necessary. In case you are unable to teach your teens how to drive yourself, seek assistance with an online search for ‘driving school near me.’
Teach your teen how to cook
Food is a basic necessity and so teaching your teenager how to find and cook their food is essential. You may need to teach them what to look out for when getting groceries, such as expiry dates and reading labels for ingredients. Show them the best places to find their groceries, how to use kitchen appliances like a dishwasher, microwave, coffee machine, etc. Also, teach them how to make healthy meals with the ingredients they find and proper storage procedures for their food and groceries. Teach your teens the importance of a balanced diet; so they don’t end up living off junk food.