When you think of your children hitting milestones, I bet you think of hitting the milestones of early childhood. However, even as teens, there are many important milestones for them, like getting their first job. In trying to make sure we prepared our oldest for his first job, I have been thankful for resources like the Center for Parent and Teen Communication (CPTC). They provided some wonderful tips for preparing our teen for his first job, and today I want to share a little bit about how we got him ready for his first job!
This post is made possible with support from the Center for Parent and Teen Communication, part of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. All opinions are my own.
Preparing our Teen for his first job
This summer, our oldest got his first job, and we wanted to make sure he was ready for it! We talked to him about being professional while at work, as well as interactions with co-workers. Also, we took him to get his bank account set up so that he could do direct deposit.
One of the things he struggled with when he first started getting paid was budgeting. He suddenly had more cash at his disposal and a wish list a mile long! However, when we helped him set up his checking account, we also got him a savings account. This is something I feel is super important in teaching budgeting. We went over what a budget for him might look like and stressed the importance of putting most of his money in the savings account so he wouldn’t be tempted to spend it impulsively.
Over the last few months, we have noticed some positive changes in our son. He seems more mature and responsible. While it is hard to see our kids grow up, it is definitely amazing to see when your kids step up to new challenges and also show readiness to be out in the real world!
Finding Resources for Teen Milestones
While we see all the parenting books for parenting babies and toddlers, we don’t often see a lot of guidance for raising teens. That is why resources like the Center for Parent and Teen Communication (CPTC) is so important. They provide science-based strategies in easy-to-read formats for parents like you and me! You can even sign up for their newsletter so that you can get tips sent right to your inbox!
I definitely would recommend any parent with teens to take a look at the teenage milestones CPTC lists and think about the ones you have observed in your teens. How did you prepare for these?
I hope you find this resource helpful! What has been some milestones your teenager has reached recently?
I still remember my first job and the pride I felt in making my own money.