Launch Readiness Checklist: Life Skills by 18-25

A launch readiness checklist lists the everyday skills a young person needs before living independently: running a household, handling money, managing health appointments, holding a job, keeping up with school, staying safe and knowing where key documents are kept. Rate each skill as not yet, with help or on my own, then pick two or three to work on each month.

Print this page or save it as a PDF from your browser’s print menu.

This checklist is meant for teens in their last years of high school, college students and young adults up to about 25. It works for a parent and young adult to fill out together, for a school counselor to hand out, or for a young person to use alone.

How to use this checklist

Rate each line honestly. Mark it N for not yet, H for with help, or O for on my own. On my own means you have done it more than once without anyone reminding or stepping in.
Compare notes. If a parent and young adult both fill it out, look at where your ratings differ. Those gaps are usually the most useful conversation.
Pick two or three skills. Choose the ones that would matter most in the next few months, not the hardest ones.
Practice for real. Do the task with support once, then alone. Reading about a skill is not the same as doing it.
Re-rate every month or two. Moving a line from H to O is the goal. Date each copy so you can see progress.

Nobody is expected to have every line at O by 18. Many people are still building these skills well into their twenties, which is normal. Our guide to adulting skills explains how to teach them without nagging.

The checklist

Daily living

Wake up on time with my own alarm, without being woken by someone else.
Do a full load of laundry: sort, wash, dry, fold and put away.
Plan and cook at least five simple meals.
Make a grocery list and shop within a set amount.
Keep my room or space clean enough to find what I need.
Clean a kitchen and a bathroom properly.
Keep a calendar or planner and check it daily.

Money

Open and use a checking and savings account.
Check my balance and recent transactions at least weekly.
Build and follow a simple monthly budget.
Pay a bill on time, and set up autopay where it makes sense.
Understand how a credit card works, including interest and minimum payments.
Read a pay stub and know what the deductions are for.
Spot a common scam text, email or call and know not to respond.
Save toward something specific and reach it.

For more on this section, see budgeting for young adults and credit score basics.

Health and appointments

Schedule, reschedule and cancel my own doctor or dentist appointment.
Carry my health insurance card and know what it is for.
Fill out a basic medical intake form with my own history.
Know which medications I take, what they are for and how to request a refill before I run out.
Know the difference between urgent care, an emergency room and a regular appointment.
Keep a basic first aid kit and know what is in it.
Keep a regular sleep schedule most days of the week.

Work

Write a simple resume and keep it updated.
Fill out a job application and follow up on it.
Prepare for an interview and show up early.
Communicate with a manager about schedule changes or sick days.
Show up reliably for every scheduled shift.
Read and understand my schedule, pay and basic workplace rules.

School

Track my own assignments and deadlines without reminders.
Email a teacher or professor clearly and politely.
Ask for help before I am behind, not after.
Know where to find academic support and how to sign up for it.
Register for classes or complete required forms on my own.

Home and car

Know how to shut off the water and find the breaker box.
Unclog a drain and plunge a toilet.
Report a maintenance problem to a landlord or building manager.
Read a lease before signing and know what I am agreeing to.
Pump gas, check tire pressure and add washer fluid.
Know what to do after a minor car accident.
Use public transit or plan a route without a car.

Moving out soon? Pair this section with the first apartment checklist.

Relationships and communication

Make a phone call to a business or office without a script from someone else.
Say no politely and hold to it.
Work out a disagreement with a roommate, coworker or friend.
Keep in touch with family and friends on my own initiative.
Ask an adult I trust for advice when I am stuck.
Apologize and repair things after a mistake.

Safety and documents

Know where my birth certificate, Social Security card, passport and insurance information are kept, and who to ask if something is missing.
Carry a valid photo ID.
Keep important phone numbers saved somewhere other than my phone.
Use strong, separate passwords and turn on two-step login for email and banking.
Know what to do if I lose my wallet or phone.
Have a plan for getting home safely late at night.

Reading your results

Mostly O: the foundation is there. Focus on consistency and any one weak section.
Mostly H: very common, especially for teens and new college students. Move a few lines from H to O each month.
Mostly N: start small. Pick one skill in daily living and one in money, and practice each until it feels routine.

If a teen is still in high school, how much independence to give a teenager can help you decide what to hand over first.

Where a mentor helps

A checklist shows the gaps. Closing them takes repetition, and that is often hard between a parent and young adult because every reminder feels like criticism. A mentor works one-on-one, picks the skills that matter most right now, turns them into weekly steps and checks in by text or phone between sessions. With permission, the mentor shares progress with the family. Learn more about money and life skills mentoring or the young adult transition program.

Common questions

At what age should someone be able to do everything on this list?

There is no single age. Most people have many lines at “with help” in their late teens and move them to “on my own” through their early twenties. Progress matters more than the timeline.

Should parents fill this out or the young adult?

Both, separately, if possible. The places where your ratings differ are the best starting points for a calm conversation.

Can a school counselor use this with a group?

Yes. It is free to print and share. Students can rate themselves privately and pick two skills to work on before the next check-in.

What if my young adult refuses to fill it out?

Do not force it. Ask them to pick just one section that matters to them, such as money or work, and start there.

Get started

Want help turning this checklist into a plan? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.

Launch Readiness Checklist: Life Skills Before 18 to 25