What do you consider essential skills for a 16 year old?

[poshredrose]

I'm just interested in opinions after talking with a friend. What skills do you think your 16 year old should have?

Being able to swim. Able to read a map, able to get about by public transport. Make a simple meal.

Well seeing as legally a 16 yr old can get married, I would say that technically means they should be able to do pretty much everything required to run a home, with guidance as needed.

Everything they need to do to live independently. Skills to hold down a job.

Everything an adult can do except drive a car.

What exactly do you mean by skills ?

I think social skills are really important. I have two teenagers and they both work weekend jobs and are able to hold a conversation with customers and get along with colleagues.

I also think being independent around the house - so cleaning up after themselves, being able to make themselves a basic meal, washing and ironing clothes, managing their money are all useful for later life.

In an educational aspect, I'd say literacy, numeracy and ICT are important.

I work with young adults and see a lot of 18 - 30 year olds who really struggle to do anything for themselves, so I've tried to encourage my teens to take some responsibility in life.

Everything anyone living alone should be able to do so cooking, cleaning, budgeting, making medical and other appointments, how to apply for jobs and interview skills, basic sewing and mending, how to set an alarm for the morning and actually get up instead of pressing snooze repeatedly...

In England and Wales a 16 year old can only get married with parental permission. It is quite uncommon outside of certain ethnic groups. I wouldn't expect a 16 year old to be able to do everything an adult can without guidance

Personal organisation - knowing where they have to be and when, and how they'll get there (ok to be dependent on lifts, but understand that it has to be planned), keeping track of homework etc. Know where most of their stuff is most of the time (mind you I'm still working on that myself )

Not assume that the washing fairy will extract their sports kit from their bag and wash it for them

Household - able to do most housework tasks (clean floors, bathroom etc.), cook a reasonable selection of meals, make tea and coffee, wash up, do basic laundry, change a lightbulb.

Independence - navigate from A to B. Read a bus or train timetable.

Manage money - the earlier the better. Banks are gagging to lend young adults money.

Cook simple meals

Food shopping

Public transport

emotional intelligence

I think by the time they leave home (which for most won't be 16, but for many will be 18), they need skills for independent living. Whether they are reached by 16 is more moot.

Eating sensibly & Cooking, budgeting, thinking ahead for themselves, ability to hold down a job by turning up on time & doing it conscientiously, using public transport, managing own health, etc.

Make 4 basic dishes without a recipe, wash up, launder clothes properly, do a basic food shop, use public transport locally, do normal housework, budget, and know how to make a GP appointment

Knowing their arse from their elbow!

Travel independently
Cook basic meals

1. Write a formal letter
2. Arrange to be somewhere on time
3. Follow instructions in the workplace
4. Cook a simple meal and wash up
5. Know roughly how often things need to be cleaned in a house (not to Mumsnet standard with towels washed every day)
6. If they were still in education I'd expect them to be independant in study skills. Write and organise notes, structure an essay, revise.

and most important..... They should know that they're not too old to ask for my help if they mess up.

cook, budget, travel independantly (not via plane), clean.

1. Being able to sort their own transport out, bus, trains, walking routes, flights.
2. Be able to revise effectively for exams
3. Understand how to converse politely in most social situations.
4. Basic first aid and what to do in an emergency
5. How to say no and understand that other people have the right to say no as well.
6. How to take care of themselves physically and emotionally and how to ask for help if they are not well, either from parents or medical professionals.

How to hail a cab, book tickets to the theater, write a cheque and do internet banking, use the washing machine correctly with the right wash for the right colour/item of clothing, make a cake, cook a meal, speak to official people and explain what they need eg a police officer or doctor.

Write a proper letter (either on paper or online) with the correct title and the correct use of Sincerely/Faithfully

Manage money

Time plan, work out how long it will take to get from A-B and by which method.

Be safety aware (including who their friends are)

Be aware of contraception/ STI protection even if they do not need to use it at the moment , including not being too embarassed to use it or to obtain it .

ok this is actually for people within the spectrum but it is a good starting point for young people too (financial awareness)
www.fca.org.uk/publication/documents/everyday-banking-easy-read-guide.pdf
I took each of my dc in turn before 16 birthday to do first aid course.
learn how to use washing machine

What littlegecko said.

Plus, being able to know when they need help and be able to ask for it.