While rummaging through the net on a research topic concerning employability skills of today’s youth, I stumbled across this article by a Stanford Dean on Adult Skills every 18-year old should have. Consider this a must-read if you are a parent raising a young child, and also consider this a must-read if you are an educator or a teen especially 15 years and above. I’ve encapsulated Julie Lythcott-Haims’ articulative response with a few questions that a parent or a teen might want to mull over. Or maybe even need to mull over. Yet, beyond thought there is always something that you are already doing and perhaps even find something new you would like to do going forward…
What are skills every 18-year old needs?
Julie Lythcott-Haims’ response to the question on Quora
- Must be able to talk to strangers
Is your child able to discern a few good strangers?
Are they capable of triggering and holding conversations?
- Must be able to find his or her way around
Is your child able to manoeuvre his/ her way around in a new class, college, city, country, culture… context?
- Must be able to manage his assignments, workload and deadlines
Are we raising our children to be responsible?
Are we raising them to realise the consequences of their action or inaction?
Are we raising them to be responsible?
- Must be able to contribute to the running of the household
Are they able to take care of their own needs?
Are they sensitive to the needs of others?
- Must be able to handle interpersonal problems
Are they able to resolve misunderstandings?
Are they able to cope with differences of opinion, rejection, betrayal with minimal parental involvement?
- Must be able to cope with ups and downs
Are they able to adjust to life when little things don’t go their way or when the unexpected happens?
Is your 18-year old able to earn and manage money?
Has your child realised the value of hard work?
Has your child learn to make wise decisions concerning money?
- Must be able to take risks
Have they developed a sense of wisdom to make critical decisions?
Have they developed the ability to take calculated risks?
Julie Lythcott-Haims had initially posted her response to the question on Quora with the disclaimer
[Originally appeared in my book How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success (Henry Holt & Co., 2015)] You could click on the link below to read the entire article.
From <https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-skills-every-18-year-olds-need/answer/Julie-Lythcott-Haims>
Click hereto listen to Julie Lythcott-Haims on Ted Talk on How to raise successful kids without over parenting.