100 Practical Life Skills That Every 18-Year-Old Should Have
Think of it as a recipe for success in adulthood.
I write a monthly column for the Globe and Mail, Canada’s largest newspaper. My most recent one was titled, “Is your kid 18? Here are 11 life skills they should have mastered by now.” My editor was pleased by how well it did. The concept clearly struck a chord with many parents across the country.
The piece got picked up by Apple News, and then it was noticed by CBC Radio, the national broadcaster, which asked me to do a series of interviews last week, discussing the importance of cultivating practical skills in kids. The dozen show hosts were enthusiastic, with some staying on the line after we finished recording to share their own experiences.
Of course, I cannot resist reading online comments, despite editors always recommending against it, so I noticed that some Globe readers wished my list weren’t quite so high-level and philosophical. Some said it focused too much on broad general concepts, such as being able to stay focused, sit alone with one’s thoughts, cope with adversity, handle conflict, and manage time, whereas they’d hoped for something more like a chore list.
They’re not wrong. Both sets of skills matter, the broad philosophical ones and the practical ones. Kids need to practice and learn them all, which takes a very long time and plenty of repetition (another reason why they shouldn’t be on their phones so much). So, I thought I’d pull together another list, this time focusing more on the highly practical day-to-day skills that most 18-year-olds should know. These are a mix of recommendations from commenters, readers, and my own experience.
To be clear, not every kid will possess every one of these skills; nor is the goal to be able to do them perfectly or flawlessly (many adults struggle with that). It’s OK to do them messily, to have to try again, and to improve slowly with practice. We have a lifetime to master these skills, but training for them ideally starts when we are young.
An 18-year-old should know how to:
Spell properly. Understand homonyms like they’re, their, and there. Be familiar with commonly misspelled words. Use proper punctuation (and never use apostrophes to pluralize words).
Change a tire. Check tire pressure and add air if needed. Arrange for seasonal tire changes.
Sew a button back on. Contact a tailor or seamstress for more major repairs.
Tie a tie, wear a suit, polish dress shoes.
Follow a recipe to make a new meal.
Drive a car and a boat. Drive manual, if possible, because that’s what you’ll get if you ever rent a car in Europe.
Perform CPR or the Heimlich maneuver. Clean wounds. Bandage bleeding cuts.
Do laundry. Read laundry labels. Know when to hand wash and hang certain materials. Iron and fold clothes properly. Clean the lint trap in the dryer.
File taxes. Understand deductions.
Start a campfire. Light a gas stove if igniter fails.
Swim and tread water.
Get a car unstuck from snow.
Check oil and wiper fluid levels in car. Top up as needed. Get an oil change. Change wipers.
Make a monthly budget. Live within one’s means. Understand how much things cost. Learn how to say no to expensive purchases or outings.
Coil an extension cord or a long rope.
Write a proper handwritten thank you card.
Create a simple menu plan and grocery list.
Vacuum thoroughly and mop a floor without leaving streaks.
Change a baby’s diaper.
Say hello, make eye contact, and interact with strangers in public, a.k.a. exercise civil attention.
Dance decently enough to be able to participate at weddings.
Read a bank statement. Recognize routing and account numbers.
Create a resume and apply for a job.
Pitch in with doing dishes after a meal at someone’s home.
Remember people’s names and greet them with poise. Introduce one person to another.
Keep a house plant alive with regular watering, dusting, and fertilizing.
Unclog toilets and drains.
Hammer a nail. Use a wrench. Sink a screw. Use a tape measure and level. Cut with a handsaw.
Plan outfits and dress appropriately for every situation. Take a sweater, just in case.
Clean a bathroom thoroughly. Do it before guests arrive.
Read street signs. Understand that one side of the street has even numbers, the other odd. Notice which way the numbers are running.
Paint a room in a house.
Pay bills on time. Set up automatic payments.
Tie basic knots.
Pack a lunch.
Walk a dog. Clean up after it.
Remove snow, whether by shovelling or snow-blowing. Cut grass. Rake leaves. Perform basic lawn care and garden maintenance.
Read a challenging book, cover to cover.
Recognize a straw-man argument. Debate without getting overly emotional.
Write a professional email.
Get on a plane, train, or bus, and go somewhere on their own.
Understand the link between education and income.
Listen attentively when others are speaking. Not pull out a phone mid-conversation.
Ride a bicycle.
Learn the basics of investing and how credit works. Build a credit score.
Read a paper map. Orient oneself geographically. Ask for directions and recommendations from locals when travelling.
Wash house windows.
Fill out a form. Sign a form with proper signature (in cursive). Scan and send documents using an app or email.
Make an appointment by phone or online.
Address an envelope.
Pack a suitcase efficiently, taking no more than necessary.
Bake a cake.
Clean up broken glass safely.
Perform basic house maintenance, like changing lightbulbs, changing batteries in a smoke detector, replacing furnace or A/C filters.
Use a kitchen knife safely. Sharpen it properly as needed.
Deposit a check, send an online payment, transfer funds between bank accounts.
Buy thoughtful gifts when required. Wrap presents nicely.
Mail a parcel. Buy and use stamps.
Use a grill, including cleaning it afterward. Swap out a propane tank.
Take appropriate over-the-counter medications when needed, in proper doses. Fill and refill prescriptions.
Trim trees and bushes. Identify weeds.
Deal with unexpected expenses.
Make a bed properly. Fold a fitted sheet. Know how and when to change bedsheets.
Read nutrition labels and ingredient lists.
Get a stain out of a garment or fabric.
Jumpstart a car with jumper cables.
Accept social invitations promptly and commit to showing up.
Consume alcohol safely. Help a friend who has had too much to drink.
Deal with customer service and government agency representatives.
Cut up a whole chicken into pieces. Clean a fish. Understand basic cuts of meat.
Recognize what can and cannot go in a dishwasher, microwave, oven, washing machine, etc.
Order from a menu with confidence. Tip appropriately.
Cook eggs in a variety of ways.
Take public transportation and use ride-sharing apps.
Clean and wash a car, inside and out.
Memorize social insurance/security number, credit card number, and student ID number.
Turn off all plumbing and electrical breakers. Set up and terminate utilities when moving into a new home.
Eat leftovers and/or incorporate into new meals to avoid waste. Store food safely.
Manage subscription services.
Handle unexpected power outages and severe weather emergencies without panicking.
Do some basic gardening. Grow herbs, vegetables, or flowers in a pot.
Live harmoniously with strangers, whether in shared housing or a host family.
Prepare when pulled over by police. Deal with a car accident.
Use a fire extinguisher.
Recognize and remember important dates in their own life and in others’.
Understand insurance—automotive, renters, health, dental, travel, etc.
Replace a stolen or lost credit card. Renew important documents like health card, driver’s license, and passport.
Entertain guests at home. Host a small dinner party or birthday celebration.
Schedule regular dental and medical visits. Talk to doctor about health concerns and advocate for oneself.
Recognize fraud when it occurs by email, phone, or on social media.
Save money on textbooks, clothes, food. Seek out sales, recognize deals, use coupons when appropriate.
Stay on top of basic grooming, like haircuts, shaving, nails, moisturizing, managing body odour, etc.
Make new friends. Maintain friendships. Repair struggling relationships. End them when necessary.
Navigate an airport efficiently.
Be organized. Have a filing system for important documents. Use a calendar to schedule appointments.
Lift weights safely. Use a gym. Do basic cardio exercises.
Cope if a phone breaks, runs out of charge, gets lost or stolen.
Be punctual. Be early when necessary. Notify a host when running late.
Do simple mental math. Calculate change and gratuities without relying on a calculator.
Prepare adequately for interviews, tests, and exams.
New Podcast Interview:
I did an interview a couple weeks ago for the ShiftED podcast with Chris Colley. Over the course of our 25-minute conversation, we covered lots of territory, from how I grew up in a remote, tech-free setting, to why parents need to rethink their concept of safety, to practical tips on curbing excessive screen time. Please listen here!
Agree in theory. In practice, most people won’t acquire these skills until they’re 30.
I must admit I'm sniggering a little in Eastern European. 😅 But to be honest, kids grow up in the culture and timeline they belong to. I could make a fishing rod, catch a fish and gut it before I was 10, because that was a children's game for us. My 15 year old can't do that, but he can code and do other things I can't. Also, I think it's unhelpful to mix up character traits with skills. There will always be people who are uncomfortable in social situations. I'm 42 and I struggle to make phone calls and respond to invitations and things like that. I don't think I can "learn" to be good at that. The thing is, a list like this is good to make a mental check sometimes, but cultivating a mindset of self-reliance is way more important. Having that, people will adapt and develop skills according to the actual need not because the skill is good on its own somehow.