Counter Culture Mom Logo
life skills

Are Millennials Learning Important Life Skills?

by Katrina Cheshire


The World is Off Focus!

 Are young people even learning the important life skills that they need to survive? What are high schoolers and college students being taught about money, time management, and setting realistic goals? If you have a teenage or young adult child, here are some insights into what young people wish they were being taught!

The numbers prove it!

A recent survey conducted in Western Europe revealed which life skills and topics millennials wish they were being taught. The group consisted of a wide range (13-39-year-olds), and covered a rather staggering amount of topics! Here’s the list (in order of importance) that these millennial and Gen-Z young adults wish they were being taught!

1 – Financial management skills / Economics

2 – Ethics / Mutual respect / Kindness

3 – Practical life skills (e.g. housekeeping skills, technical skills, etc.)

4 – Sex education / Healthy sexual habits / Sexology / Sexuality

5 – Emotional intelligence / Social skills / Communication skills

6 – Civics

7 – Racial and gender equality / Cultural awareness

8 – Career skills / Career choices

9 – True history  / Slavery / Colonial history

10 – Mental health skills / Psychosocial Skills

11 – Discipline / Good manners

12 – Ecology / Environmentalism 

13 – Computer skills / Science / Coding

14 – Entrepreneurial skills

15 – Foreign languages

Interestingly, the first item on this list, financial management, had more than twice the amount of votes as any other item. Millennials don’t know how to manage their money, but they want to learn! The rest of the list is an eye-opening revelation; young people are desperate to learn basic life skills! With the growing trend away from the home, these young adults wish they knew basic housekeeping skills, and wish they had the discipline needed to be a true adult.

It’s your job!

YOU are the best person to teach your child ALL of these skills! Your child doesn’t have to grow up stressed about how they’re going to manage their home and finances, communicate with others, and have the discipline to keep it all together. These skills can be learned in the home, but too often, they aren’t, because parents aren’t taking the time to teach them to their children and teens!

If you homeschool, you can make sure that your kids are learning foreign languages, real history, all about culture, and computer skills. Discipline and good manners are learned in the home, and it’s essential to teach them from a very young age. A two-year-old can learn to say please, and a five-year-old can be taught to make their bed before breakfast. These disciplines, once learned, will last a lifetime.

Moving into the teen years –

There are all kinds of wonderful ways to prepare your teen for life. Their sex education should be coming from you; you are the best one to answer their questions on this subject. They should also be learning how to take care of a home from you. Boys and girls alike can learn basic household skills by simply rotating household chores, even cooking and laundry. Having to do these chores every day will prepare them for the monotony and routine of taking care of their own home someday.

Finances and entrepreneurial skills are more important life topics that you can teach your teen! Getting a job in an area that interests them is a great way for a teen to start making money. Once they do, opening a high school bank account is another great way to save their money. Teach your kids about interest, paying off credit cards, and the importance of being debt-free.

You’re doing great!

Don’t be hard on yourself! We are just doing the best we can as parents and hopefully, this gave you some ideas on ways to prepare your children for their future! If you have friends with kids who are struggling, consider starting some kind of co-op where parents can share the work of teaching multiple kids! If you’re skilled at cooking, computer skills, finances, or in any other area, other kids could benefit from your teaching, too. Let’s raise a generation of competent adults who are prepared for life and excited to follow their dreams!

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Ephesians 5: 15-16

Check Out the Z2 phone and Watch from Gabb Wireless

gabb phoneGabb Wireless is equipping families with products that keep kids safe while still connecting them to friends and family. This results in freeing up time to experience the world in a positive way.

Gabb wireless is by far the safest option when it comes to staying connected! Find out more on their website!

Katrina Cheshire is a home school and Bible college graduate and the author of Seller of Dreams. She is passionate about good stories and the power they can have in shaping a life.

With seven siblings her life is full of adventure and excitement! She loves to design and sew clothing. She enjoys writing endless stories and read even more of them. You can find her making music with her brothers and sisters or dancing for the glory of God.

Download Our New Counter Culture Mom App to get our trending news and pop culture alert notifications. Connect with other parents in the Parent Chat section to gain helpful ideas on how to counteract the Pop Culture Cult!

Be sure to contact us if there is an issue you would like to have us write about! Our mission is to help parents deal with today’s lifestyle trends and how to biblically navigate them.

No Comments

Post A Comment