If your teen is headed off to college soon, then it’s not too early to start preparing them for independent living. Up until this point, they’ve most likely lived under your roof where perhaps the household tasks and chores were taken care of – thanks mom, am I right? Regardless, they may be living on their own in a dorm or an apartment, which means you won’t be there to help.
Now, you want to be careful with how you approach this topic because if you tell your teen, “Here’s a list of chores you have to master,” then they might get discouraged and check out before they’ve even left.
“Instead of calling these tasks ‘chores’ let’s talk about them as life skills – and in becoming more confident and proficient in these life skills before going off to college, they will be better prepared to manage their own space, time, growing responsibilities, and overall well-being,” says Michelle Felder, LCSW, psychotherapist and founder of Parenting Pathfinders.
We have listed some household tasks teens should know before college that you can help them with so they are better prepared to succeed during this next chapter.
Cooking Simple Meals
Most college kids live off a diet of ramen noodles and energy drinks. There’s a time and place for that in college and this is a judgement-free zone. That said, it’s good for your teen to know how to cook simple meals before going off to college. In the event that they run out of points on a meal plan or simply are tired of the cafeteria food, knowing how to cook can help them out immensely.
“Teach your teen how to whip up super simple meals: pasta, egg dishes, maybe even a basic stir-fry,” says Tracy Douglas, MS, LPC, therapist and founder of Your GenX Therapist. “Be sure to teach them how to read a recipe, how to avoid setting off the smoke alarm by burning their food, and, most importantly, how to clean up messes afterward.”
Cleaning the Bathroom
Although your teen might think the bathroom cleans itself, the reality of the situation is that it doesn’t. Maintaining a clean bathroom requires a consistent effort, and in a college situation this task is usually a shared responsibility by everyone living in the space.
“Helping them to be more aware of how to clean, what needs their attention, and the tools they can use can be helpful information for teens to know,” says Felder.
In terms of the bathroom, make them aware that the toilet, shower floor and walls, sink countertop, and mirrors are areas that need to be cleaned on a consistent basis. The same knowledge can be applied to other areas of the living space too, whether that’s a common area or bedroom. This may involve teaching them how to use a vacuum, Swiffer, and duster.
Doing Laundry
When your teen goes off to college, you’ll be left with significantly less laundry to do. That said, your teen will now have a pile to take care of themselves.
“Learning how to sort clothes, use the proper detergent, how to operate a washer and dryer, the importance of reading the label on their clothing (and following the directions) and how to fold clothes are helpful tools for teens to have in their toolkit,” Felder tells us.
Plus, if they are using communal washers and dryers, then they’ll also need to learn the importance of time management. You want to make sure they are aware of when to switch over their laundry so they are considerate of other people’s time in the dorm.
Going Grocery Shopping
If your teen doesn’t opt for the dining plan at their university, then they might have to go grocery shopping. Even if they do, they might want snacks in their dorm room for the times they don’t want to leave, whether that’s late at night or super early in the morning when they are barely making it to their 8 a.m. lecture.
“Understanding how to shop for groceries on a budget and make a shopping list that helps them manage their food and avoid waste is essential,” says Reena B. Patel, parenting expert and board certified behavior analyst.
Before they head off to college, have your teen join you on a grocery store run and show them how to find what they need. This may involve teaching them about food expiration dates, deals going on, or even how to operate a self-checkout kiosk.
Doing the Dishes
According to Patel, cleaning up after meals, washing dishes, and maintaining a clean kitchen are important life skills for teens to have when they go off to college. Ideally, you’ll want your teen to get into the habit of rinsing off their dishes after they are done with them and putting them directly in the dishwasher. If they don’t have a dishwasher, you’ll want to teach them how to do dishes by hand and make sure they have an adequate drying rack at their disposal.
Taking Out the Trash
Many universities have trash compactors outside of the dorm rooms for students to put their trash. Make sure they are well-versed in how to tie a trash bag and take it out in a timely manner so it doesn’t stink up the living space. If they don’t know how to recycle, then that’s also something you’ll want to show them as most college campuses are dedicated to creating a greener tomorrow.
These are some of the basic household tasks teens should know before going off to college. They’ll learn as they go what else they need to know to live comfortably, but having this knowledge will give them a leg up during this transition.
