Lisa O
Got a high schooler or a kid about to step into high school? You probably want them to be ready to tackle lives as an adult—both in their work and personal lives. That’s why it’s very important for teens to pick up not just book smarts but also the real-life skills they’ll need to succeed. Here are 15 skills that should totally be taught alongside academic subjects.
Time Management
Time management skills are super important for both your college and work life. It’s basically about breaking tasks into smaller chunks and then figuring out what needs to get done first to use your time in a smart way. High school students can practice this by staying on top of their assignments and finishing all their pending work on time—without any kind of delay.
Communication and Social Skills
Thanks to technology, many young people don’t know how to communicate anymore. Ever watched a group of teens hanging out? They’re all glued to their phones—texting, snapping, and doing everything except actually talking to each other. In the real world, you need to know how to converse face-to-face without relying on a phone. High schools can help by encouraging class discussions that get teens talking to each other.
Social-Emotional Learning
Social-emotional learning (SEL) is a super important skill for success in all areas of life—personal and professional. If high school students can get better at being self-aware, practicing self-control, and handling things like conflict resolution, they’ll be much better off. Teens need to learn how to respond to situations with things like safety and the well-being of others in mind.
Household Management
Home economics classes used to cover basic life skills like cooking, grocery shopping, and using simple tools from a toolbox. However, for one reason or another, many schools have stopped offering these classes. At home, you can teach these essential skills by showing your teen how to do them yourself. It’s like running your own life skills class right at home! Your teen might not love it right now, but they’ll definitely thank you for it later.
Basic First Aid
Teaching basic first aid and CPR can be useful for students in the real world. You never know what you have to face in life, so it’s better to be prepared for it. Some high schools offer CPR classes. These skills can come in handy if your teen ever finds themselves in a dangerous situation and can also help them assist others who may need their help.
Organizational Skills
Staying organized can save lots of time and help you stay on track with everything you need to do. This is key because when you’re disorganized, it’s easier to miss appointments or important deadlines. High school can be a great way to help your child build these skills by encouraging them to use a planner and take responsibility for their assignments.
Financial Literacy
With online banking being the popular choice these days, a lot of high school students may not realize that they still need basic money management skills. From budgeting and saving to even writing a check (now don’t be surprised, people still do that), most teens just don’t have the know-how. Kids need to learn how to budget, save money, and spend their money wisely.
Public Speaking Skills
Learning how to present ideas clearly is a super important skill for the workforce. Research, reporting, and data analysis are all essential skills that teens can start working on in high school. A lot of the time, teachers will assign projects that give students a chance to practice these skills and improve in areas where they might need a little extra help.
Computer Skills
While many schools teach computer skills throughout the year, it’s super important to stress how valuable they are in the workforce today. Being able to use tools like MS Office, Google Drive, and graphic design software has become a must-have in most jobs. As these tools keep changing, it’s important for students to stay updated so they’re ready for what’s ahead.
Self-Care and Stress Management
When we don’t take care of ourselves, stress tends to build up. Teens aren’t any different. With school, extracurriculars, and the pressure of preparing for college, today’s teens are more stressed than we often realize. Self-care strategies like deep breathing, exercise, and asking for help are important tools for managing stress in a healthy way.
Artificial Intelligence
The future is all about Artificial Intelligence (AI), and it’s definitely here to stay. High school kids need to learn how AI can help solve real-life problems. Some education companies are already putting together AI courses for middle and high schoolers. The goal is to show them how to use AI correctly and make it work to their advantage.
Remote Working Skills
Remote work and learning are here to stay, even after the pandemic. While whether or not someone can work remotely depends on the kind of job they have, high school students should still understand the concept and the skills required to make it work. This means being organized and having self-discipline and time management skills.
Analytical Skills
Analytical skills are all about gathering data, breaking it down, and then presenting it in a way that makes it meaningful. These skills come up in a lot of high school subjects, and as students work on them, they get better at using them. The more they practice, the more these skills will come in handy in their future careers.
Adaptability Skills
Being part of the workforce of the future means you have to be able to adapt. Just think about how the last few years completely changed the way we work. If employees couldn’t or didn’t adjust, they probably didn’t make it through. Teaching high school students to adapt is very important as they get ready for real-life situations in the workforce.
Teamwork Skills
Being a student or employee means being able to work well with others as part of a team or group. When you team up, it gives you a better chance to learn and have fun at the same time. Networking with others (even virtually) and tackling problems together can bring you success. It also helps build a sense of community, not just in your own classroom but across the whole school.