7 Ways to Prepare Your Child for Life After High School

Congratulations! You’ve helped your child every step of the way in their academic journey, and now it’s time to prepare them for the real world. Whether they’re moving on to college, trade school, a new job, or taking a gap year, you can help prepare them for what comes next. Help your child take on their next chapter with confidence by equipping them with the proper tools and guidance. Here are seven ways to prepare your child for life after high school.

1. Provide them with job skills. 

Let’s face it: no matter what your child’s next step is. All roads lead to the workforce. So why not prepare them for it by helping them develop job skills? Whether your child chooses to attend a college, trade school, enter the workforce, or enjoy a gap year, they can stand out from their peers with certifications that impress job seekers. 

Tell your child about Bridgeway’s Indpendent Online Course options, where they can develop a new skill at their own pace and receive certifications that make their resume stand out to job recruiters. 

2: Get Your Child a Credit Card

Before you shake your head “No” at the thought of your child having a credit card, hear us out. We understand that many young adults (and not-so-young adults, for that matter) view credit cards as an unlimited source of cash, which can lead to irresponsible usage. We can all agree that credit cards should be used responsibly. A part of responsible credit card usage is creating a positive credit history.

In addition to building a positive credit history early, young adults should also have a credit card for emergencies. Imagine your child away on their first Spring Break trip, and something goes awry, and they need to fly home sooner rather than later. You’d feel much more at ease if they had a credit card for emergencies instead of being stranded far from home.

Navigating life after high school becomes much easier with the proper resources. So, instead of shying away from credit card use, embrace the idea of financial autonomy. If you don’t know where to start, check out this article from NerdWallet, “11 Things to Know Before Getting Your First Credit Card.”

3. Prepare Them for Life After Highschool with Budgeting

Similar to understanding the importance of a positive credit history, establishing a budget can help your student responsibly manage their finances. If your child is going away to college, help them figure out how much money they need to allocate to their expenses.

College Expenses

• Utilities (if not included in campus living expenses)
• Books
• Car insurance
• Gas
• Food
• Social Events

Working Full-time/Moving Out

• Rent/mortgage
• Renters/homeowners insurance
• Health insurance
• Cell phone service
• Food
• Gas
• Utilities
• TV/internet service
• Household necessities, etc.

We know it sounds like a lot of responsibilities, but helping them create–and stick to–a budget ahead of time can help your child avoid financial issues that can follow them for years and ultimately impact major buying decisions down the road.

4. Teach Them How to Cook

Now, this is the fun part. Don’t worry, we’re not talking bacon-wrapped filet mignon or risotto here–think about beginner meals. Eggs, hamburgers, chicken and rice, tuna, tacos, turkey wraps, and other meals that require minimal ingredients and fewer dishes. One of the most important components of preparing for life after high school is being able to sustain yourself with healthy and nutritious options.

While your child may still enjoy meals their parents cook, depending on their plans after high school, those home-cooked meals from mom and dad can be far and few between. So, make sure they can survive on their own with a few simple recipes up their sleeves. 

5. Let Them Do Their Own Laundry

This will literally take a load off of your to-do list (pun intended.) With more sophisticated laundry machines, learning how to do your own laundry is a breeze. You can even use this as a bonding opportunity. Teach your son or daughter your best methods on how your clothes come out clean and smelling good after every wash.

Imagine that your student’s life after high school isn’t just the next chapter for them but also for your household. A chapter where you don’t have to do all the laundry yourself, and you can use your extra free time as you wish.

6. Teach Them How to Set a Schedule

Procrastination is the thief of productivity. While your child is still in school, their schedule is often made for them. As they begin to think about life after graduation, they are challenged to create and adhere to their own schedules. But where to start? As parents, we understand that you, too, may have trouble keeping a schedule. Below are some tips and tricks you and your child can try together.

• Establish a morning routine
• Get a planner
• Create a to-do list
• Create time blocks

When you’re first creating a schedule, it can be challenging to stick to it. So, choose two things from the above list and slowly add to it once your student is ready to fine-tune their schedule.

7. Teach Them How to Ask for Help

As students prepare to leave high school and transition to college, trade school, a full-time job, or a gap year, they face the intimidating reality of entering the real world without the safety net provided by high school. This adjustment can lead to feelings of loneliness, especially if they are no longer engaged in clubs or sports. This stage can cause depression and a sense of not belonging. Leaving high school is similar to a culture shock, and some students may struggle to ask for help. 

Teaching them stress management and encouraging them to seek professional help is crucial. A conversation with your student about the importance of admitting when they need help and guiding them to seek therapy can make a significant impact.

Transitioning from high school to the real world can be scary, but with proper guidance, your child can tackle their next chapter like a pro.