Preparing Teens for Adulthood: Essential Skills for Life Beyond School
- Abbie Cameron
- Jun 30
- 7 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
**This blog is a living document. It will be frequently updated with new information. Please bookmark and revisit to stay updated as new resources are added!
While grades and study habits matter, they are only one piece of the puzzle for youth taking the leap into what might be university, college, apprenticeship, careers, or independent living. This next chapter requires a while new set of life skills. From budgeting, to hygiene, house hold responsibilities, and managing time, emotions and relationships, these skills form the foundation for a more confident and capable transition into adulthood.
Money Management
Managing money is so important when kids are independent and have their own spending money but money management has to be taught and practiced. Of course, schools start the process of teaching financial literacy, but real life practice is essential! Here is how you can teach your child money management skills in day-to-day life.
What to Teach:
Budgeting for essentials vs. wants (rent, groceries, bills, social life)
How to track expenses
Understanding debit, credit, interest, and loans
Online banking, e-transfers, and fraud safety
How to read a pay stub or understand taxes on a paycheck
How to use ATMs and bank machines
Strategies:
Mock Budget Challenge: Give them a pretend monthly budget (e.g., $1500 for rent, food, transit) and ask them to build a spending plan.
Real Money Practice: Let them manage their own real money, set up a youth bank account and check in monthly to review spending habits.
Use Budgeting Apps Together: Try beginner-friendly tools like Mint, Spendee, or Goodbudget and review categories together.
Receipt Tracking: For one month, ask them to save all receipts and log them into a simple spreadsheet or app.
Talk Real Numbers: Share actual costs (rent, groceries, utilities) to help them understand adult expenses, and connect money to values (saving for fun vs. food).
Financial Literacy Resources and Games: https://www.bankofcanadamuseum.ca/learn/activities/
Personal Hygiene and Health
When consistency and structure is changed or removed, it can be really hard for teens to get back into the swing of things independently and unfortunately, it happens where health and hygiene go on the back burner.
What to Teach:
Establishing a daily hygiene routine (showering, brushing teeth, changing clothes, putting clothing in the laundry)
Managing prescriptions or over-the-counter medication (e.g., calling the pharmacy, knowing how to get refills, practicing purchasing things at a pharmacy)
Making and attending appointments (e.g. doctor, dentist)
Knowing what health services are available at post-secondary schools and campuses.
Strategies:
Create a Visual Routine Chart: Use visuals for morning/night routines (e.g., brush teeth → wash face → deodorant → floss → mouthwash).
Use Alarms/Timers: Set a recurring phone alarm with fun labels like “Get fresh!” or “Time to shower.”
DIY Self-Care Basket/Hygiene Kits : Help them set up their own hygiene station with everything they need: deodorant, face wash, toothpaste, etc.
Hygiene Reflection Tool: Use a quick daily check-in: “Did I brush my teeth? Did I change my clothes? Did I shower today?”
Let Them Handle Appointments: Support them in booking their own medical or dental appointments with guidance, then let them do it independently.
Laundry and Clothing
This one often gets overlooked! We all know how daunting laundry can get and the more you put it off the harder it is to get to it.
Or how about that red sock that dyes our nice white shirts!
Laundry is one of those things that can so easily get away from us. Here are some tips on what and how to teach you kids the laundry "rules".
What to Teach:
How to sort clothes by colour and fabric
Understanding laundry cycles (e.g., delicate, permanent press, hot/cold water)
When and how to use detergent and stain remover
Folding, hanging, and basic ironing/steaming
What clothes may need to be taken to a dry cleaner
Strategies:
Assign a Weekly Laundry Day: Help your teen choose one consistent day each week to do their laundry. Add it to their calendar or set a recurring reminder to build a regular habit.
Make a “Laundry Do’s and Don’ts” Cheat Sheet: Post a visual guide near the washer that includes key tips like “Don’t overload the machine,” “Never mix towels with clothes,” and “Clean the lint trap after every load.”
Teach Clothing Label Reading: Show them how to check clothing tags for wash instructions (e.g., cold water only, tumble dry low) so they learn how to prevent shrinkage or damage.
Do the First Few Loads Together: Start by doing laundry side-by-side, talking through each step, from sorting to folding, then gradually step back as they build independence.
Introduce a Laundry Supplies Station: Set them up with their own detergent, stain remover, mesh bags, and a basket so they can manage laundry without relying on others for tools.
Cooking and Meal Prep
Making sure teens are getting balanced meals is essential to ensuring they have enough strength and energy to get through their long working or study days. Balanced nutrition supports focus, mood stability, and overall well-being, helping them stay alert during classes, productive during study sessions, and energized for extracurricular activities or part-time jobs.
What to Teach:
How to follow a basic recipe
Safe use of kitchen tools and appliances (e.g. knives, stovetop, microwave)
Food safety (what goes in the fridge vs. pantry, expiry dates)
Planning a few simple, balanced meals for the week
Strategies:
“Teen Dinner Night”: Pick one night per week where your teen cooks a full dinner for the family. Start with guided support, then gradually step back.
Kitchen Challenges: Give your teen a “mystery box” of 4–5 random pantry or fridge items and challenge them to create a meal.
Meal Plan Monday: Sit down together and plan out 3 meals for the week, including a grocery list and budget.
Kitchen Skills Checklist: Teach one skill per week (e.g., how to chop onions, use a rice cooker, or cook chicken safely).
Online recipe journals: Use an app like Paprika or Notion to build a recipe database together with favourites and go-to meals.
Shopping for groceries: Practice shopping for the groceries needed for the week after making a shopping list.
Basic Home and Safety Skills:
Basic home and safety skills are good to teach so that your teen can independently handle minor common house hold issues and emergencies!
What to Teach:
How to plunge a toilet, reset a breaker, and unclog a drain
What to do in case of a fire, flood, or injury
How to use a first aid kit
Who to contact (landlord, campus security, crisis line)
Strategies:
Basic Fix-It Day: Go over things like plunging a toilet, flipping a circuit breaker, using a fire extinguisher, or unclogging a sink.
Create an Emergency Binder: Include contact info for maintenance, poison control, family doctor, campus security, etc.
Apartment Simulation: Ask “what if” questions like, “What would you do if your smoke alarm goes off?” and role play the responses.
First Aid Practice: Go through what’s in a first aid kit and how to use basic supplies like bandages, cold packs, and ointments.
Job Readiness and Employment Preparation
Whether your teens next steps look like part - time employment, or jumping right into full time employment or apprenticeship programs, building on those job readiness skills early is key to building workplace confidence!
Beyond the resume building and interview prep, we need to remember that they need to practice those every day skills that help them show, up, stay organized and solve problems. These early work experiences help shape independence, resilience, and accountability.
One of the best ways to start is by encouraging low-stake/ low-stress opportunities like volunteering, co-op placements or small summer gigs. These experiences will give your teen a chance to try out different roles, build confidence and understand the world of work all before diving into more permanent and higher stake roles.
What to Teach:
How to write a resume and cover letter
Understanding workplace expectations (dress code, punctuality, breaks)
How to communicate with a manager or supervisor
Time management and prioritizing work tasks
How to handle constructive feedback and problem-solve
Knowing when and how to self-advocate or ask for help
Strategies:
Mock Interviews at Home: Role-play interviews using real job postings. Switch roles to let your teen practice both asking and answering questions.
Resume Building Together: Help your teen create a resume based on volunteer work, school projects, or extracurriculars. Use a simple template and keep it updated.
Volunteer First: Look for low-pressure volunteer opportunities where your teen can get used to workplace dynamics before jumping into paid work.
Weekly Job Log: If your teen already has a job or volunteer role, create a simple reflection sheet they fill out after each shift—what went well, what was hard, and what they learned.
Teach Email & Phone Etiquette: Practice how to email an employer professionally, leave a voicemail, or call in sick.
Part-Time Job Planning: Talk through what kind of jobs might fit with your teen’s schedule and interests. Walk through how to search, apply, and follow up.
Check out or blog on getting an early start on employment skills HERE!
We are here to help!
WonderTree hosts an Employment Skills Program for youth and young adults in the spring, led by our experienced job coach who helps participants build confidence, learn practical skills, and prepare for real-world work settings.
Stay tuned for 2026 registration!
Bonus Tip!
Build Habits with Gradual Release
Use a “gradual release” model to support skill-building:
I do, you watch (model)
We do together (guided)
You do, I help (support)
You do, I check in (checkpoints)
You do, I step back (independence)
At WonderTree, we help teens build the real-world life skills they need to thrive beyond high school. Through personalized support, we guide youth in developing the confidence, independence, and practical tools that prepare them for whatever path they choose next.
Reach out today!
Check out this handy College Readiness Toolkit by Child Mind Institute!
Unsure where to start?
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IMPORTANT: Information shared by WonderTree is not intended to replace or be constituted as clinical or medical care. It’s intended for educational purposes only. Each child is unique, and the information provided may not be applicable to your specific situation. If you need support, please establish care with a licensed provider so that they can provide tailored recommendations for you or your child. This blog is non-monetized.
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