93% of South East parents fear their teens aren’t ready for independent life

The skill that most parents in the South East want is for their children before they leave home is “to be able to cook” (80 percent), a new survey reveals. They also value a solid work ethic (65 percent), alongside other important life lessons such as kindness, resilience, and a lifelong love of learning.

Nine in ten parents in the region (91 percent) believe it is important to teach practical and life skills in preparation for when they leave home. Yet a similar number (93 percent) admit they are concerned about how their children will cope when they do. Parents in Oxford are the most concerned that their teenagers won’t be able to look after themselves (58 percent).

The research was commissioned to mark the launch of Skills4Life, a new PGL Beyond programme which helps young people develop essential life skills through real-world, challenge-based experiences.

Nearly two thirds (64 percent) of mums and dads say that if their kids respect their elders, have confidence (60 percent), are kind (62 percent and show themselves respect (57 percent) they’ve done a good job.

Respecting other people’s views (54 percent), being able to stand up for yourself (54 percent), having empathy (52 percent), having the ability to problem-solve (50 percent) and being able to prioritise your mental health (48 percent) also made the list of skills parents surveyed hope their kids will leave home with.

Practical tasks such as keeping a tidy house (57 percent), making sure to keep physically fit (48 percent) were also important to parents in the South East, as were basic life skills like using a washing machine (46 percent) and changing bedsheets (40 percent).

Almost half (49 percent) would like their teen to forgo doom scrolling for real life experiences, while over half in the South East would like them to learn to live within their means (61 percent).

When asked why it was important for their teen to learn a range of skills, mums and dads said they were vital to be able to raise their own children, to find the right partner, to maintain friendships and to get a job.

In fact, these skills are so important that eight in ten UK parents (79 percent) think that practical and life skills should be taught in schools.

More than half (52 percent) say they have tried to teach their child practical as well as life skills but to no avail, admitting that their kids don’t have all the skills they need for when they leave home. So much so that 66 percent in the South East believe they are currently unprepared for life outside the family home. Half (49 percent) worry that their children won’t be able to manage money.

Anthony Jones, CEO of PGL Beyond, the UK’s leading provider of education outside the classroom said: “The research shows that parents are working hard to prepare their children for life outside the family home. Making the leap from education into the world of work is a defining milestone for young people, so it’s vital to develop life skills alongside academic learning.

“Independence, confidence and empathy are essential qualities that will equip anyone to better deal with life’s inevitable challenges. These behaviours are best learnt through meaningful experiences which give young people the freedom to try, fail and succeed for themselves. Delivered through the power of outdoor adventure. our Skills4Life programme is designed to help young people learn lessons, that that will be remembered for years to come.”

85 percent surveyed wish they had let their child do more and learn on their own as they were growing up, so much so that 96 percent believe that learning through trial and error is the best way to stand on your own two feet.

TOP 30 SKILLS PARENTS MOST WANT THEIR TEENS TO POSSESS…
To cook a meal – 78%
To have a good work ethic – 66%
To respect their elders – 64%
To have confidence – 64%
To be kind – 62%
To make healthy food choices – 61%
To live within their means – 59%
To respect themselves – 58%
To be able to manage their money wisely – 58%
To keep a tidy room/house – 57%
To respect other people’s views – 54%
To stand up for themselves – 54%
To be polite and courteous – 53%
To have empathy – 52%
To keep learning – 52%
To be able to think for themselves – 52%
To be able to solve problems by themselves – 50%
To spend time away from their phone – 49%
To be physically fit – 49%
To be able to work with others – 48%
To prioritise mental health – 48%
To be able to listen to others – 47%
To be able to speak confidently – 47%
To be on time – 46%
To use the washing machine – 45%
To choose a partner wisely – 43%
To care about the planet – 42%
To be resilient – 42%
To change the bed sheets – 42%
To enjoy reading – 36%