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In worse case scenarios, you want to know that your kids are going to be as prepared as you can make them. We’re not talking about sending them for military-style training, just making sure that they know enough about life to become independent at an age when it is appropriate. Even though I’m not a parent, I fully believe that preparing kids for the real world is important, and I do what I can to help prepare my godkids/nieces and nephews as well…

Preparing Kids for Independence

There are lots of things that you could do to help your kids more be independent. Such things include showing them some domestic essentials. From as early an age as you feel suitable, show them how to prepare basic meals, how to operate the washing machine and basic cleaning chores. Whilst you don’t need to pass the responsibilities over to them, it is helpful if they know how to do all of the standard domestic chores that you normally take care of for them.

Preparing Kids to Handle Finances

Help them to understand finances by setting up bank accounts as early as possible. Talk to them about how you pay for all of the bills in the house and why you have to pay them. Talk to them about the responsibilities involved whenever credit is taken out and help them to set up a budget based on their allowance or any other money that they have. It may even help if you mirror the concept of taking out credit; say they would like a new bike but don’t have the money to buy it. You could agree to take the money out of their allowance until the payment is fully paid off. This will give them a taste of not having that extra money each month.

Teaching Them How to Get Around

Another way to prepare your kids is to make them aware of transport arrangements. If you simply drive them everywhere, they will never learn how they would travel from one place to another. If you travel anywhere together, by train or bus etc. when the kids are old enough, tell them to plan the journey and give them the money to pay for the fares. This will help them to understand the process of arranging travel.

Preparing Kids for Driving

Another way that you can help is by teaching them the essentials about driving. Even before they are old enough to get their provisional licence, you can start teaching them how a car works, from changing gear and accelerator/brake pedals to filling up fuel. Show them the important parts of checking that a car is safe to drive, such as the tyres being at the correct pressure, the windscreen wiper water and oil is filled up etc.

You can even help them to understand the theory side of learning to drive, either by downloading a copy of the Highway Code or by setting them up to do practice theory tests on sites such as the Top Tests’ website. Once they are old enough to take their test, they will already know all of the basics.

Why Preparing Kids is So Important

By prepping your kids ready for being an adult, you will give them a huge head start in life. You’re not asking them to grow up too fast; you’re just making sure that they can be more independent if they need to be.