Stuff You Should Know Before You Grow Up is a practical life skills guide created to help teens understand the everyday things adults often expect them to know—but may never have actually explained.

Written in clear, relatable language, this guide covers real-world topics teens can use now and as they become more independent. From personal hygiene, school organization, communication, relationships, and digital safety to money, first jobs, cooking, laundry, driving, scams, and basic adult responsibilities, the book gives teens straightforward guidance they can actually apply.

Rather than simply telling teens what they “should” know, this book explains what to do, why it matters, common mistakes to avoid, and what real-life situations can look like.

Inside, teens will find practical guidance on:

Personal hygiene and healthy daily routines
Time management, studying, and organization
Communication, boundaries, conflict, and relationships
Online safety, scams, passwords, social media, and digital footprints
Checking and savings accounts, debit cards, credit, saving, and first paychecks
Finding a first job, resumes, interviews, and workplace expectations
Laundry, cooking, grocery basics, and everyday independence
Driving and passenger safety
Civics, measurements, percentages, emergency information, and other useful knowledge
Quick-reference charts, checklists, examples, and visual guides for easy review

The book was inspired in part by everyday conversations with teens and young adults that revealed a common gap: there are many things adults assume young people already know, even when no one has ever taken the time to teach them.

Stuff You Should Know Before You Grow Up is designed to help fill those gaps without lectures, judgment, or unnecessary complication.

Perfect for teens, parents, grandparents, homeschool families, counselors, educators, and anyone looking for a useful resource to help a young person prepare for greater independence.

Digital Product Details:
This listing includes the complete digital PDF edition of Stuff You Should Know Before You Grow Up: The Practical Quick-Reference Guide for Teens by Alyssa K. Gordon.

Instant digital download. No physical product will be shipped.

preparing teens for adulthood

Stuff You Should Know Before You Grow Up – Practical Life Skills Guide for Teens (Digital PDF)