The 20 Life Skills Every Teen Should Be Capable of Before Leaving Home
With many teens preparing to leave home for Uni after the summer holidays, researchers polled the nation’s parents around the top life skills they hope their offspring will be capable of, when they fly the nest. Coming top of the list was, to keep a tidy room, with 63 percent of mums and dads, feeling a clean and decluttered living space is the first step to independence. Other important lessons, according to mums and dads are to put away and hang up clothes (52 percent), to grocery shop on a budget (50 percent) and start a savings account (48 percent).
Shopping for bargains and having empathy for other people are also important traits, according to 43 percent of the parents surveyed. But the research, from global student housing brand Yugo, found the reality is that most teens will not learn these basic skills until they actually live on their own for a while.
Almost half (47 percent) are trying to teach their children how to do their washing, while 44 percent are showing their teens how to be mindful of their mental health.
Other skills parents are keen to try and pass on to their young adults include how to shop for a bargain (44 percent), how to have empathy for others (43 percent), how to fold laundry (42 percent), how to manage their time effectively (42 percent) and how to clean the bathroom properly (41 percent).
Yet three-quarters (74 percent) of those with Uni aged children admit that their teen is currently ill-equipped for life outside of the family home, because everything has previously been done for them, they spend too much time playing on their phone, have never had to worry about anything and they spend too much time playing games online.
As a result, unsurprisingly, one in six (20 percent) parents admit their child lacks social skills.
When it comes to the life skills teens will be unable to perform on their own – changing a tyre and jump-starting a car are at the top of the list. One in four (29 percent) believe their teen won’t be able to unclog a drain, while a further 24 percent will have trouble cleaning the oven.
It’s no surprise that younger Brits ask their parents for help an average of 21 times per day. Eight in ten (84 percent) parents whose children are going to university this September feel their child will be in for a shock when they leave home – even though they are secretly hoping it will give them a jolt to learn some life skills.
Those whose teens are not going to university are hoping they will develop life skills by pursuing an apprenticeship or vocational training (37 percent), entering the workforce (35 percent), managing their own finances, and living independently (13 percent), or travelling and experiencing different cultures (seven percent).
Joe Persechino, Chief Operating Officer at Yugo said: “University isn’t just about lectures and exams – it’s where young people truly learn to stand on their own two feet. It’s a time of discovery, from figuring out how to budget, to learning the art of laundry (without shrinking everything!). And while parents might worry, they can take comfort in knowing that these life lessons will help shape their children into capable, independent adults.
“At Yugo we’re not just about housing — we’re about creating vibrant, sustainable, and supportive spaces where students can thrive. This is because we know that no matter how hard parents try to prepare them, students understandably need lots of extra support once they leave home.”
“Our Live Your Best Life (LYBL) programme provides training and development opportunities to build students’ confidence and empower them to live their lives with purpose and impact. It covers many essential life skills from baking and planting to carbon literacy training, and even workshops on how to navigate AI and utilise it to the best of their advantage” adds Persechino.
77 percent think that they were more prepared to leave home than their own children, because they took on responsibilities earlier (60 percent), had more independence growing up (58 percent) and their expectations for independence was higher (49 percent).
TOP LIFE SKILLS PARENTS HOPE THEIR CHILDREN WILL HAVE BEFORE LEAVING HOME… HOW MANY IS YOUR TEEN CAPABLE OF?…
- To keep a tidy room – 63%
- To make the bed every day – 58%
- To put away and hang up clothes – 52%
- To grocery shop on a budget – 50%
- To start a savings account – 48%
- To do your own washing – 47%
- To look after your mental health – 44%
- To shop for a bargain – 43%
- To have empathy for others – 43%
- To fold laundry properly – 42%
- To have good time management – 42%
- To keep a clean bathroom – 41%
- To be resilient – 39%
- To recognise when to ask for help – 39%
- To boil an egg – 39%
- To cook a decent spag bol – 37%
- To keep on top of your bills – 37%
- To prioritise family – 37%
- To follow Google map directions – 35%
- To booking your own doctor/dentist appointments – 35%
- To iron your clothes properly – 33%
For more information on Yugo, please visit here.