wise words prepping for adulthood
Teens Take Charge !
Each first day of school marks one year closer to adulthood ! The best way to make sure teens are prepared ? Give them more responsibility now ! The key is striking the right balance by allowing teens to take more of a lead while parents continue to provide guidance . Here are a few suggestions to help along the way !
Stay on Top of Your Work
Teens : Losing work , scrambling for supplies and forgetting test dates will affect your grades , and you ’ ll have to hear “ I told you so !” from mom .
Parents : Provide students with the necessary organizational supplies , but try to avoid looking at assignments online . Instead let your teen face the consequences of missed work , both at school and at home .
Choose Friends Wisely
Teens : Avoid “ guilt by association .” No surprise- people will stereotype you by your friend set .
Parents : Give them guidance and boundaries but try to avoid being unnecessarily critical . Encourage positive influences and help your teen learn to become a good judge of character .
Keep a Calendar
Teens : Make sure you have a handle on all of your activities , even unstructured ones like studying and hanging out with friends . Get in the habit of putting everything in your calendar and communicate with your parents to avoid embarrassing phone calls from your mom !
Parents : Coordinate with teens and give them the opportunity to communicate their time commitments to you . Avoid the tendency to schedule their time for them .
Be on Time
Teens : Set your own alarm and make sure you ’ re up when you need to be and make it your goal to arrive on time . You know , there ’ s an app for that !
Parents : Avoid being the backup alarm ! Allow your teen to become self-reliant when it comes to waking up on time in the mornings , and try to avoid reminding them of every appointment and scheduled activity .
Take Charge of Appointments
Teens : Work towards feeling comfortable calling to make appointments on your own , handling issues such as emailing your teacher and taking care of “ grown up ” errands such as banking- ( unless you plan to live at home until you ’ re 30 !)
Parents : Avoid handling communications and errands your teen is capable of handling . It ’ s not as quick , but it will be worth it when you see how self-sufficient they can be .
Make a Budget
Teens : Make a budget and learn to set money aside rather than spending it all right away .
Parents : Guide your teen but try not to dictate every dollar spent , and avoid enabling poor financial decisions . This means not giving them extra money when they overspend !
Know Basic Safety Procedures
Teens : Learn what to do in the case of severe weather , how to treat basic first aid needs , or how to proceed if you have a flat tire or get pulled over .
Parents : Take opportunities to discuss emergency procedures with teens . Make sure they have emergency numbers programmed into their phones and ensure their vehicles are equipped with first aid kits , insurance information , and other important items .
Clean it Up !
Teens : Get in the habit of keeping your space at least somewhat neat . Take on your own laundry , and know how to do basic housekeeping tasks . Your future roommate will thank you !
Parents : Encourage teens to be in charge of their own laundry . Have them do a variety of household chores even if they are not regular responsibilities so they will know how to get them done when they ’ re on their own .
Fill in the Gaps
Teens : Be aware of requirements for a good college resume and plan to fill in weak or missing areas .
Cheat sheet
Parents : Brainstorm with your teen on how they might fill in any weak areas and let them take the lead . Offer to proofread for them , and make suggestions for improvements .
20 | Fall 2016 www . potentialmagazine . com