YA checklist for life?

[KevinBaconsMoustache]

Am shortly going to be 'fostering' a YA careleaver. The idea is that they will come at 16 and stay, then be supported over the next few years to then move to live independently. Many moons back I saw, but didn't pay much attention to, a thread about what teenagers should know/be able to do before leaving home and thought it would be good to work towards. Can't remember the thread or find it though. Can anyone else please?

If they are going to live independently, they need to know enough to run a home, themselves and their finances. Google and YouTube can fill in gaps in knowledge but some things need to be taught more explicitly. There are a gazillion things you could include but I'm sure your young visitor does not just want a 3 month lecture.
Laundry, house cleaning, the fact your fridge, oven and kettle need occasional cleaning. How to read a gas/electricity meter, change a lightbulb.

How to cook a sufficient variety of food that they don't develop scurvy or an expensive deliveroo habit.
How to manage a budget, online banking, savings and what the budget needs to include.
How to travel independently if they can't already.
The fact certain bits of paperwork/documents are important and need to be looked after in an organised manner.

Something I never knew until it came up with a family member recently is an under 18 cant have a credit gas or electricity account in their name they have to have a prepayment meter.

learning by doing is really good, but it’s also ok to just say ‘come and watch me clean the fridge’.
it takes away the suspicion that you are just using teaching them as an excuse to get them to do the work for you.

Plus there are some things that having an awareness that they need doing,
and more or less what it involves is helpful.

I'm sure your young visitor does not just want a 3 month lecture this!
I'm thinking of making an information file type thing to avoid this and so they can refer back to, if they so want to. Reading meters is one I wouldn't have thought of so thank you!

come and watch me clean the fridge’.
it takes away the suspicion that you are just using teaching them as an excuse to get them to do the work for you.
Good advice!
Didn't know that about prepay meters. How on earth do the YA who are forced to live on their own cope?

Food shopping list within a budget and how to store and reheat leftovers safely

Reheating .. wouldn't have thought of that either!