Life Skills for Teens: The Ultimate Readiness Checklist

• Open and manage a checking and savings account
• Build a simple monthly budget and stick to it
• Read a pay stub and understand tax withholding
• Understand credit scores, interest and minimum payments
• Transfer money, pay a bill and avoid overdraft fees

Typically starts around age 14.

• Write a one-page resume with real experience
• Fill out a job application accurately
• Answer common interview questions out loud
• Ask about pay, schedule and expectations
• Give notice and leave a job professionally

Typically starts around age 14.

• Study for and pass the permit test
• Log supervised driving hours in varied conditions
• Pump gas, check tire pressure and oil
• Know what to do after a minor collision
• Read an insurance card and registration

Typically starts around age 15.

• Research programs, trades or colleges that fit the goal
• Understand FAFSA, scholarships and total cost
• Request transcripts and recommendation letters
• Track application deadlines independently
• Email a teacher, advisor or admissions office

Typically starts around age 15.

• Cook five reliable meals from scratch
• Shop from a list and compare unit prices
• Do laundry start to finish, including stains
• Clean a kitchen and bathroom to a standard
• Handle basic repairs: plunger, breaker, smoke alarm

Typically starts around age 14.

• Book their own doctor and dentist appointments
• Describe symptoms and ask follow-up questions
• Understand insurance cards, copays and pharmacies
• Take medication safely and refill prescriptions
• Know their allergies and medical history

Typically starts around age 14.

• Write a clear, polite email to an adult
• Make a phone call to a business or office
• Advocate for themselves when something is wrong
• Handle disagreement without shutting down
• Say no and set a boundary

Typically starts around age 14.

• Use unique passwords and two-factor authentication
• Spot phishing, scams and fake job offers
• Adjust privacy settings on their accounts
• Understand what a digital footprint costs them later
• Back up important files and photos

Typically starts around age 14.

• Know where their Social Security card and birth certificate are
• Get and renew a state ID or passport
• Read a lease, contract or terms before signing
• Keep copies of pay stubs, tax forms and records
• Fill out a W-4 and file a simple tax return

Typically starts around age 15.

• Perform basic first aid and know when to call 911
• Shut off water, gas or electricity in the home
• Keep an emergency contact list and meeting plan
• Handle a car breakdown or lockout
• Recognise a mental-health crisis and where to get help

Typically starts around age 14.

• Use one calendar for school, work and commitments
• Break a big task into deadlines that hold
• Wake up and get somewhere on time without reminders
• Say no to overcommitment
• Follow through on something boring for a month

Typically starts around age 14.

• Navigate a new place using transit or maps
• Handle a week alone: food, sleep, cleaning, budget
• Ask for help from the right person
• Make a decision and own the outcome
• Live within their means for a full month

Typically starts around age 16.