Christian-Parent.com

by Denise L Jackson

Well, it’s official. This was one of the worst summers for teens who wanted a job. According to the Labor Market the teen unemployment rate was 25.9% the highest since the World War II. Yes, our economy is suffering, and so many groups of people are looking for work. The teens are competing with retirees (remember they lost their savings), displaced workers, college graduates, transitional workers and the rising of the minimum wage. Obviously teens will suffer the most because of lack of skills or experience. But there is something a teen can do. They can enhance their skills.

Employers are looking for Professionalism, Work Ethics, Oral and Written Communications, Teamwork, Collaborations, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving. Here’s how a teen can begin to put in place a way to honing these skills.

1. Professionalism – Business Etiquette and Protocol, Dressing for Business

Having great manners goes a long way in business. If you know what fork or spoon to use at a business dinner or if you know not adding emoticons at the end of an email address to the Vice President, you are already one step ahead of the game. Your wardrobe can make or break the initial interview, so read up on what to wear to an interview.

2. Oral – Public Speaking

Talking in front of a live audience is something everyone will get to experience at least once in their life time, whether a church function, wedding, family reunion, job, Home Association Meeting, Organization, etc. Practice with your family and friends with 2 to 3 minute little speeches and then let them critique how well or how bad you were. Listen to some great speeches and see why they were great.

3. Problem Solving – Leadership

Do you know every employer would love to hire a person who has a take charge mentality without stepping on anyone toes of authority? Managers love to see employers tackled a problem without constantly asking them what to do. Read about famous leaders and books on leadership.

4. Teamwork-Diversity – Relationship

You must understand how important it is to get along with co-workers, vendors and clients. You must embrace and welcome differences in the workplace. If you have a problem with other people religion, color, creed then chances of you staying on at a job will great decrease.

5. Servitude – Volunteerism

Begin to volunteer at your local charities, schools and church. Employers want to see how you feel about other people; they want to know they are not hiring someone that only thinks about themselves. There are so many places that need your help. You should never have a problem finding a place to volunteer. Also the work you do volunteering counts as solid work experience!

6. Collaboration – Time Management, Multi-tasking

Can you do several things at one time? Can you talk on the phone, while typing? A person with great time management skills makes a manager very happy. They understand that deadline driven work will be taken care of and they do not have that feeling of checking up because they know you have everything under control. What a great feeling! You can practice your time management skills at home. Can you do the laundry, cook and dust all at the same time?

7. Customer Service Skills

Customer service skills are simply techniques on how you treat others in a business environment. Every job entails having excellent customer service. Answering the phone in a place of business is usually the first impression a potential customer hears. If you answer the phone with a smile (although they can not see it but it makes a difference) pick up after two rings, say the name of the company and how you can help shows a favorably side of the company.

8. Salesmanship

Every business is in business to make money. You can not make money without a transaction. You need to know how to close the deal. If you can close the deal, or know how to convince a client, customer or vendor that whatever you have is the best, brightest, longest, shortest, fastest, slowest, etc and they buy the product or service you are a salesman. When you convince your best friend to go to the movies with you on a school night you are a salesman!

Denise L. Jackson is a Certified Life/Career Coach and a Certified Green Consultant. She has worked in the banking and finance industry for more than 15 years training interns and new graduates. She decided to embark on a new career coaching teens and young adults and soon started Enhance My Skills, an e-mentoring/e-coaching online company preparing teens and young adults for the marketplace. Quickly afterwards she created Mo-Active Learning Series which is a series of workbooks that combines motivation, activation and skill building for the marketplace. Denise will be releasing a series of workbooks titled Vampires and Super Heroes seem Prepared, shouldn’t you? You can visit us at http://www.enhancemyskills.com or email deniseljackson@enhancemyskills.com.

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by Beverly Frank

Bath time can be a fight for a mom or dad with a stubborn toddler. However, there are some things you can do to make it fun so that you can both get through it without feeling frustrated by the end. The very most important thing is to make sure the temperature is correct. If a toddler has ever been put into a tub that is too hot or too cold, they may resist getting into the tub from there on out. So, every time, have them check the water with their hand, and you stick your elbow in, before you put them in. This will help eliminate the fear, and let them get on to the fun.

Bath toys. Bath toys are a great way to make bath time more exciting. You can get boats, rubber ducks, basketball hoops that suction to the tub wall, and all kinds of other toys. Just remember that too many toys can be overwhelming, and kids get bored. So rotate the bath toys so that they do not have to use the same ones every time they get in the tub.

Bath crayons. Crayola has created a line of bath crayons, that are washable crayons you can write on the sides of the tub with. Kids have a lot of fun expressing their creativity with these colorful crayons. Even a stubborn toddler may let you wash their hair and behind their ears if it means they get to draw on the tub. Just be sure they know not to do it with real crayons or markers, as they won’t wash off as easily.

Fun soap. These days you can get all kinds of soaps, bubble baths, and lathers for kids to make bath time more fun. You can get a soap in their favorite character bottle. You can get soap in different scents, colors, foaming, or not foaming, etc. Help them have fun washing up with soap that is user friendly. They may want a presoaped washcloth to scrub their toes clean, and be more willing to get clean if the soap is fun.

Bath songs. Next, make it interactive. Toddlers, even stubborn ones, will get into the fun of things if you sing a song about washing them up as you do so. Either make up a song, or look up “bath time songs” online for a list of ideas to help you progress through the various stages of cleaning your child with tunes.

Most kids do not want to take a bath if it is going to be boring, so make sure that they feel like they are involved, and get to make some of the decisions. Let them pick their towel before you put them in, and help them look forward to this one on one time together.

Beverly Frank is a stay-at-home mom and writer. For more parenting tips, visit http://www.surfnetparents.com.

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