Are you a teen parent worrying that you haven’t prepared your son or daughter enough for the real world? Are you racking your brain thinking of everything you’ll need to teach them before they graduate, go to college or become a fully functioning member of society?
You can make this transition a little bit easier with Michigan State University Extension’s Adulting 101 Courses. These courses are online and can be accessed anytime since they’re recorded. The best part: they’re free! All you have to do is register for the course and you’ll be able to receive access.
We spoke with MSU Extension Educator, Kathy Jamieson about this growing program that is great for all Michigan high school students (and even parents, too).
What are the Adulting 101 Programs offered?
“Michigan State University Extension’s Adulting 101 programs help teenagers and young adults demystify the obscure reality of being an ‘adult’ through engaging educational sessions,” says Jamieson. “Each free session is packed full of important life skills and tools necessary to live independently.”
The upcoming 2025 programs are as follows:
- Stay Safe Out There – Thursday, May 15 at 6 p.m.
- International Travel on a Budget – Monday, June 2 at 6:30 p.m.
- Mastering Meal Planning – Wednesday, July 9 at 4 p.m.
- Navigating Life: Addressing and Handling Peer Pressure – Monday, Aug. 18 at 6 p.m.
- Professionalism: Communicate, Dress and Deliver with Confidence – Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 6:30 p.m.
- Enjoy your Holidays on a Budget – Thursday, Oct. 23 at 5 p.m.
- Navigating Tough Talks: Conflict Resolution & Civil Discourse – Thursday, Nov. 13 at 6:30 p.m.
“All sessions take place on Zoom and last approximately an hour so it’s not a huge time commitment,” she says. “There is a short evaluation afterward to get their input. We’re always looking for new topics that students will want to learn about.”
You can also access the classes after the allotted time because all of the sessions are recorded. Once you register, you will receive an email with the zoom link to your email address that you provided.
The archived programs are:
- Decreasing Stress with Mindfulness (January program)
- Medical Insurance – (February program)
- Get it Together: Time and Organization Tips to Thrive – (March program)
- Wealth Building – (April program)
How parents can get involved
Do you have what it takes to teach an online session? Or perhaps you know someone who would be great at it? Contact Kathy Jamieson at 586-469-6093 or email at jamies13@msu.edu.
“We try to find things that aren’t necessarily found in schools or things that students would necessarily take,” says Jamieson.
For more information on living and learning in Macomb County, visit Make Macomb Your Home. Find more articles like this at Metro Parent’s A Family Guide to Macomb County.
 can enjoy monthly educational courses on real-world topics they’ll need once they graduate.){kind=link}