9 Skills All Teenagers Should Know
July 31, 2020
Important skills for teenagers
We all want what’s best for our children. It’s why we try to teach them things we think they ought to know. From social to domestic and even financial, there are many skills for teenagers that will set them up for a happy and productive life. When it comes to imparting such vital learnings, it’s tough to know what to teach.
At Abbotts College, we like to empower our students with everything they need to make a success of themselves at every stage of life. As a result, we assist both them and their parents at every stage of the educational journey. Where life skills for teenagers are concerned, our school and its educators lay a solid foundation of values and ethics. This drives the skills that they need most.
What are our top skills for teenagers? Here are the ones that we believe every child should master.
1. Budgeting and financial management:
Does your child know the value of money, understand how to follow the budget
and respect the concept of saving? What they don’t learn now will impact them far worse later.
2. Basic food preparation:
Every teenager should know how to prepare a few simple, healthy and affordable meals. This will help them stay nourished and save money in the long run.
3. How to look after their health:
Knowing what medication to take for certain ailments and when to get to a doctor is the key to helping them stay healthy. Help them put together a medicine kit and teach them how to use it.
4. The importance of social skills and manners:
Basic greetings and eye contact go a long way.
Not only will this help your child make friends, it’ll also enable them to network, land jobs and even make good first impressions.
5. Personal hygiene and grooming:
This is imperative to help them practise self-love and put their best foot forward. How to dress appropriately for every occasion is an important skill, as is bathing daily, brushing teeth and caring for nails and hair.
6. How to change a tyre:
The value of this one is only realised once your child is stuck on the side of the road with a flat. Show them and make sure they know how. It’ll help them avoid danger.
7. Key domestic tasks:
How to do laundry, how to iron and how to do a basic clean or their room or apartment. This makes them responsible for their surroundings and ensures that they can keep them clean.
8. Good work ethic:
Work is an important part of life and without it, we cannot enjoy the lives that we want. Give your child chores or encourage them to take up a part-time job so that they can appreciate the life and opportunities that work affords them.
9. Basic first aid:
Teach them what to do in an emergency and arm them with the correct numbers to call. Show them how to clean a wound, administer CPR and apply pressure to an injury.
The skills they need to succeed
Our non-traditional approach to learning fosters life skills and enables our students to achieve everything they set out to. For more on us and our schools, please click here - Our Schools
To apply for your child to join us, please visit the following link: Apply Now
If you have a general enquiry, please address it to us here: Enquire Now
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As the preliminary and final examinations approach, both students and parents or guardians often experience heightened anxiety and stress. This guide provides practical strategies to help parents and guardians support their children through this critical phase of their academic journey. 1. Foster Effective Organization Create an environment conducive to studying by providing a quiet, well-lit study space equipped with essential stationery. Collaborate with your child to develop a structured study timetable to set clear expectations and promote disciplined preparation. Encourage the use of resources such as past question papers, which serve as valuable tools for revision and practice. 2. Maintain Daily Check-Ins Schedule regular, intentional conversations, such as during dinner, to discuss your child’s progress. Inquire about their experience with the day’s examination paper, adherence to their study schedule, and their feelings about upcoming tests. These check-ins foster open communication and allow you to gauge their emotional and academic state. 3. Minimize Distractions Help your child stay focused by keeping electronic devices like phones, tablets, and gaming consoles out of reach during study sessions. Set boundaries on screen time and social media access to prevent procrastination. While challenging, limiting Wi-Fi access during study hours can significantly enhance productivity. 4. Support Emotional Awareness Encourage your child to identify and articulate their emotions, such as anxiety, stress, or fatigue . Recognizing these feelings is the first step toward addressing them effectively. Discuss coping strategies to help them navigate emotional challenges during this period. 5. Teach Self-Regulation Techniques Guide your child in practicing self-regulation to manage stress. Techniques include: Breathing Exercises : Inhale deeply for four seconds, hold for four seconds, exhale for four seconds, and repeat. Sensory Focus : Identify five things they can see or hear to ground themselves in the moment. Tactile Stimulation : Hold a cold object to shift focus and reduce anxiety. These methods can help your child regain calm and focus during stressful moments. 6. Promote a Balanced Routine Prolonged study sessions late into the night can lead to burnout. Monitor your child’s study habits and encourage breaks to maintain balance. Plan activities such as outings with friends, a family meal, or short recreational periods with access to devices. Engaging in non-academic activities, like helping prepare dinner, can provide a refreshing change of focus. 7. Prioritize Self-Care Support your child’s well-being by ensuring they: Eat nutritious, regular meals. Get at least eight hours of sleep by limiting screen time before bed. Engage in physical activities such as walking, jogging, yoga, dancing, or gym workouts. These practices help alleviate stress and anxiety, which are common during examination periods. 8. Practice Empathy and Patience The examination period can be emotionally taxing for both students and parents. Approach your child with empathy, actively listening and offering guidance without criticism. This fosters a supportive environment, bolstering their mental health and sense of inclusion. By implementing these strategies, parents and guardians can play a pivotal role in helping their children navigate the challenges of examinations with confidence and resilience. Good luck to all the Grade 12 students with the upcoming examinations - you most certainly can do it!
