Getting Millennial's Out of the Basement

Sometimes, Millenials spend the majority of their time in their parent's basements, both literally and figuratively! Millenials are young adults, age 18-29, often fail to launch into independence from their parents. Expanding on this now too common trend in lengthening the road to adulthood, Patti Murphy, Educational Consultant, Certified Educational Planner, shared with Lon Woodbury and his co-host Liz McGhee just how common this failure to launch is for young adults now.

Things have definitely changed in the last 30-50 years. "It was very common back then for young adults fresh out of high school, to get a job and leave the nest or go on to college. They paid for their own tuition with part time jobs, or they got drafted or even married," explained Patti. "All these avenues led to providing for a family and being financially reliant." The normal now is young people stalling a bit in their development. They are now given (or are taking) the opportunity to explore who they are and what they want to do. Growing up is now fun, not a trial and error type of experience. "We are leaving them up to their own devices of what course they should take."

Parents also see the world as a scarier place now and tend to be much more overprotective; therefore their kids constantly have a safety net under them. The reality is it is comfortable at home, and sometimes even too comfortable. Parents are making it too cushy for their kids, so, why in the world would they want to leave the nest? The negative flip side is kids are not settling into adult roles, but rather trying them on. This hinders them in both work and personal relationships. It further delays the movement into adulthood.

There has been a shift in how parents view their role and a lack confidence in their own skills as a parent. Parents often feel unprepared to help kids through this transition stage. As a result, parents rely on outside information, from the Internet or professionals, rather than instinct. Signs that parents can watch for that should send up red flags that their kids are falling off course include: excessive video gaming, cell phone and other technology over use; substance use (to cope with boredom), school avoidance or failure, dropping out of school, not working, depending on the parents for money and/ or living accommodations, and they are not willing to do much helping at home.

To listen to the full interview, go to Getting Millenials Out of the Basement on LATalkRadio.
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Lon Woodbury is the owner/founder of Woodbury Reports, Inc. and www.strugglingteens.com. He has worked with families and struggling teens since 1984 and is the host of Parent Choices for Struggling Teens and The Woodbury Reports.

Elizabeth McGhee is the Director of Admissions and Referral Relations at Sandhill Child Development Center and has over 19 years' of clinical, consulting and referral relations experience to her position and is the co-host.

Patti Murphy, a certified educational planner, a member of IECA and NATSAP and the founder of Patricia Murphy and Associates, in addition to being the President and founder of Academic Access- USA, which specializes in school placement of adolescents and young adults with academic, emotional, social and behavioral issues.

If you know somebody (including yourself) who would make a good guest on our show and might be interested,

Contact Lon at lonwoodbury@gmail.com or 208-267-5550

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The following books are available on Amazon.com:

Part 1 - The Introduction to the Parent Empowerment Handbook

Part 2 - Single Sex Schools

Part 3 - Wilderness Therapy and Outdoor Education

Part 4 - Pre-Teens & Young Adults