Adulting 101
101 Skills They Should Know Before Flying the Nest
Do you remember how you learned what Benadryl is for? Or the first time you learned to use a screwdriver? To stamp and mail a letter? To have your oil changed? These are just things that adults somehow know.
Now you’re realizing your precious child, who you’ve been taking care of for their entire life, is going to head out into that great big scary world and start adulting on their own.
We’ve compiled a list of “101 Adulting How To” tasks your soon-to-be-an-adult should know. In the time you have before the big day, be intentional about setting them up for success, from the basics like mailing a letter to the vital things like staying safe.
Enjoy the satisfaction of checking off the ones they already know — you’d be amazed at how many college freshman don’t know their right from their left. And for those that don’t get checked, just let them know they can always call home to ask.
Info to know
___ Memorize their Social Security number
___ Who it’s safe to tell this info
___ Someone to call besides you in an emergency
Cooking & feeding themselves
___ Find and use a recipe
___ Use a knife and basic kitchen appliances safely
___ Shop for groceries (list, budget, coupons, loyalty cards)
___ Prepare food safely
___ Store leftovers safely
___ Tell if food is bad
___ Reheat leftovers
___ Cook their favorite dish
___ Cook cookies, brownies, or cupcakes from a box
Basic Household
___ Wash dishes by hand or in a dishwasher
___ Clean a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen… etc.
___ Empty a vacuum cleaner
___ Create a cleaning schedule (how often to clean things)
___ Sort and do laundry, settings on the washer and dryer
___ Fold and put away laundry
___ Clean out a lint filter in a dryer
___ Iron
___ Use a fire extinguisher
___ Turn off a smoke alarm
___ Deal with bugs, pests, snakes, etc.
___ Use basic tools
___ Plunge a toilet and unclog a drain
___ Locate and use the breaker box
___ Turn off water to an overflowing toilet or sink
___ Change a light bulb (pro tip – turn the light off first)
Basic Adulting
___ Complete important forms (HIPAA, FERPA, POA)
___ Address an envelope, purchase stamps, and mail it
___ Send a package
___ Return a purchase (online and in a store)
___ Sew a button or ripped seam
___ Tie a tie
___ Protect themselves (basic self defense)
___ Be prepared for weather and power emergencies
___ Know left from right
Health & SAFETY
___ Keep themselves clean
___ Stay healthy – getting enough sleep, eating well, taking vitamins, exercising regularly, hydrating, managing stress
___ How to let someone know where they’re going
___ Fill out their health history
___ Know their health Insurance and health savings account info
___ Use over-the-counter medicines
___ Administer basic first aid
___ Choose a doctor or dentist and make an appointment
___ Find medical care in an emergency
___ Fill and refill a prescription
___ Recognize when they need help
___ Safely & legally consume alcohol
___ Stay safe online
___ What to do in a lockdown
Going places
___ Tip in a restaurant
___ Tip service workers
___ Take care of each other when going out
___ Use ride-sharing safely
___ Pack a suitcase
___ Purchase an airline ticket or book a hotel room
___ Get through TSA
___ Use public transportation
___ Know their car insurance info
___ Deal with a car accident & interact with police
___ Get their oil changed and maintain their car
___ Use jumper cables (and put a set in their car)
___ Change a tire (or contact roadside assistance)
Time Management & Goals
___ Read an analog clock
___ Manage their time with a calendar
___ Set a SMART Goal
___ Set up a LinkedIn profile
___ Analyze information and make a decision
Money & Budgeting
___ Set and stick to a budget
___ Save money to buy something, invest, or an emergency
___ Read a bank statement
___ Deposit, withdraw, and move funds (ATM, app, or in person)
___ Find the routing and account number for their accounts
___ Detect and report unauthorized purchases
___ Report a lost or stolen credit card
___ Build and check their credit score
___ Keep track of subscriber services
___ Save money when shopping
___ Determine if something’s a scam
___ Pay bills on time, online, and with automatic payments
___ Understand the terms of credit cards
___ Lend and borrow money
___ Maintain financial records
___ Carry extra cash “just in case”
Communicating & Interacting
___ Sign their name in cursive
___ Say “no”
___ Apologize
___ Send a proper, professional email to a professor or boss
___ Advocate for themselves
___ Find and ask for help (ie: counselor, job search, tutoring, etc.)
___ Network
___ Make, change, or cancel an appointment
___ Contact customer service with a problem
___ Disagree respectfully and calmly
___ Live with strangers
___ Understand not everyone is your friend
___ Be culturally aware and sensitive
___ Find like-minded people, a church, an organization, etc.
___ Be situationally aware
___ Check if a story is true
