Seattle Child Therapy – Thriving Child Blog

Tasks for Tweens and Teens (part IV – ages 11-15 and 16-18)

teen cooking

Okay, final installment in tasks that children and teens can do to learn responsibility, feel capable, and powerful. At this point, I think it’s important to be looking at skills that these tweens and teens will need as adults in the real world. Teaching and coaching how to do some of the ideas suggested below can be great opportunities to stay in touch with a tween/teen who is trying to be an individual and push parents away.

Kids ages 11-15 can do all of the ideas suggested in parts I, II, and III

and they can:

Baby sit

Cook meals
Buy groceries from a list
Wash windows
Change light bulbs
Make appointments
Order our for family
Wax car
Mow lawn
Operate tools (with supervision) for home projects
Help in parent’s business

16-18 year olds can do all the above, plus:

Run errands
Balance check book
Handle their own checking account
Maintain car
Help with family budgets
Take care of house/garden/yard
Take care of animals
Help younger children with homework
Take care of siblings

These are taken from Kathryn Kvols’ book, Redirecting Children’s Behavior.

I would also add that 16-18 years old is a great time to teach children about credit cards, and how to use them. Check back soon…as I plan to write a blog about this in the near future.