There’s a lot of knowledge that parents know should be imparted to their children — things not taught in school. For example, how to do taxes or how to write a decent will isn’t something that children typically learn about in school. (Did you know that 78% of Millennials and 65% of Gen X don’t have wills? That’s worrying!) Instead, that responsibility falls to parents, and it’s important that they prepare their children for life as an adult. Entering the adult world unprepared can make youngsters feel uncertain and unable to handle the new pressure.
As parents, you should ensure your children are ready for whatever life will throw at them as soon as they become adults. Here are a few ways you can help your kids prepare and become thriving, independent adults.
Help Them Know Who They Are
Your children need to know who they are as individuals so they can thrive and feel happy with their lives. Of course, getting to this point requires a long journey of getting to know themselves, and it won’t happen overnight.
Sometimes, children need a little bit of extra help, which can be provided by a good psychiatrist. Many parents shy away from therapy because they feel like they’re admitting that there is something ‘wrong ‘ with their children, or that they’re doing something wrong.
However, therapy can be of great help to children (and adults), especially in helping them to understand who they are. With one in five adults in America experiencing a mental health disorder, according to Roots Through Recovery, the value of seeking help can’t be underestimated.
Make Them Eager to Earn for Themselves
You should teach your children that it’s better to earn their own money rather than depend on others to take care of them. If you teach your kids from a young age the value of money because they have to earn it themselves, they’ll be far more money-savvy when they’re older.
You can start small, such as not giving a monthly allowance, but asking your children to do chores or extra tasks for money instead. Teach them that their hard work can pay off, and about the freedom that comes with earning your own money.
Increase Their Employability
Being employable is something that few of us have been taught. It’s about more than being smart or charming. Employers care about other elements as well, such as the ability to do research, learn from experience, and work with others. Teach your children about these things so they’re more attractive to hiring companies once they set out to start their own lives.
Also, they should learn about the careers they hope to pursue and what they need to achieve their dreams. For example, peace officers in California have to be at least 21 years old, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. If that’s a career your child wants, they should be prepared to wait and study after graduation.
Teach Them How to Save for the Future
Saving money sounds easy, but is far more challenging when you have to walk away from an item you really want to buy. That’s why it’s important to teach children from a young age how to save for the future.
Teach your kids about the complexities of money saving as they grow up. Help them save money for their education or travel aspirations if they long to go backpacking in Europe when they graduate, for example.
Instill a Thirst for Knowledge
A thirst for knowledge is a wonderful thing to have, and it’s something you can teach your children. Make them want to never stop learning, and feed their child-like curiosity so they’re always eager to know more about the world around them.
Encourage your children to seek out mentors and broaden their knowledge horizons by always seeking answers. They should question everything they don’t understand and be prepared to take in new knowledge and change their opinions based on what they learn.
Prepare Your Kids to Be Awesome Adults
Ensuring that your children are ready to take on the world and remain standing no matter what happens is one of the core jobs of a parent. It’s up to parents to teach youngsters how to be self-sufficient and contributing members of society. With the advice shared here, you’ll be able to give your children the tools they need to become adults that you can be proud of.