Growing up more than just full legal capacity

Growing up has not only advantages, but it is an exciting challenge that brings new possibilities and opens interesting worlds.

At what point does "adulthood" actually begin?? The Civil Code actually defines the term. Persons under 18 years of age are considered minors. All those who have reached the age of 18. Those who have reached the age of 65 are henceforth regarded as adults. But what are the consequences? We analyze below what things the adult status sooner or later involuntarily brings with it.

Growing up means taking responsibility

Up to the age of 18. The lives of children and adolescents are comparatively easy and carefree when they reach the age of 65. Also, if they get into mischief, they can only be held partially liable for it. Serious consequences often do not threaten.

Younger children in particular enjoy imitating their parents in the first few years of their lives. As a result, they learn, discover the world in their own way and see adults as role models. Children do not yet have to face the seriousness of life, and that is just right for their carefree development.

Until the age of seven, children are excluded from liability, unless they intentionally cause damage. However, this intentionality must be examined closely in each individual case and depends, among other things, on the developmental stage of the child. It is different in road traffic: here the liability is only valid from the 10. Year of life, as children must first learn the rules of the road.

Growing up: financial responsibilities

From the 18. Life year changes in the area of the finances much. Whereas young adults previously had to worry mainly about managing their pocket money, they now have a whole new set of tasks ahead of them. At the latest at the age of 18, many young adults start a study or an apprenticeship.

The monthly budget wants to be managed sensibly, so that in the end there is no minus on the account or in the household budget. Adults need to know how to keep track of their finances. Young people can make a budget book for financial planning, for example, and enter the income and expenses. This will show you exactly if there is potential for savings or if the money will last until the end of the month.

Tip: Many telephone or Internet providers offer savings opportunities. They offer young adults favorable rate conditions, for example, when they take out their first own cell phone contract. To avoid falling into the cost trap, consumer advocates recommend a fixed monthly amount or, even better, a prepaid card.

Take out important insurances

Being an adult means having full legal capacity. Therefore, everyday life should be secured in the best possible way. Many insurance companies also offer special young-adult rates for this purpose. Young adults should definitely deal with these insurances for optimal further life planning:

• Private liability
• Occupational disability insurance
• Homeowner's insurance
• Car insurance (if own vehicle is used)

Even old-age provision cannot begin soon enough. If you are already saving money as a young adult, you can take advantage of compound interest. Savings plans, for example, are ideal for starting out, as they allow assets to be accumulated from small amounts (e.g. 25 euros/month).

Growing up: Were the parents perhaps right after all?

Many children and young adults can only tolerate some of their parents' wisdom with a roll of the eyes. It says, for example, that the school years are the best part of life. As "The Children's Worlds" study shows, German children are rather reluctant to go to school.

At the latest with the beginning of studies or with the start of the training it becomes fast clear: The parents were perhaps correct with their annoying statement nevertheless. While school often doesn't start until 8:00 a.m., trainees often have to arrive at work at 7:00 a.m. or even earlier.

The day is significantly longer when studying or training. While an average school day takes approx. 6 to 7 hours with break times has, the everyday life of 18+ year olds is much more strenuous. Those who critically admit to themselves that their parents may have been right after all have taken an essential step towards further development. Ideal conditions to move forward self-critically and successfully in the further life as well.

Destinations of young adults

In kindergarten, elementary school and before entering the working world, life is usually quite carefree. With parents and grandparents behind them, children have nothing to worry about. Adults book the vacations, buy the clothes and take care of the daily food: they take care of all aspects of their children's lives.

After the 18. A lot of things change on a young adult's birthday, including their way of thinking. Those who live independently and move out at home feel the changes much more intensely. While it was once "cool" to live into the day, suddenly it doesn't feel so good anymore. If you spend your time sitting on the couch, playing video games or sleeping, you miss out on your whole life. Many young adults suddenly become aware of this.

A proven strategy to get better organized in everyday life are specific objectives. Short, medium and long term goals could be as follows:

• Short-term goal: clean the apartment this week
• Medium-term goal: to save a certain amount per month
• long-term goal: to complete training or studies after a certain period of time

Who defines goals, knows also in difficult times, which way is correct. In order to make the objectives work even more impressively, it is best to formulate them in a highly visible manner. A sticky note on the refrigerator or PC or a reminder in the smartphone helps not to forget the goals.

Those who rise to the challenge learn for life

Over the past few decades, predominantly anti-authoritarian parenting styles have become prevalent. One of the consequences: Parents rarely criticize their children. This may be due to the results of studies that show that children lack empathy when they are criticized too much.

With the 18. However, at the age of 25, young people are considered legally competent and treated as adults. Everyday life changes, also in dealing with other (young) adults.

If parents once spared criticism or reprimands, things are often a bit rougher in the real world. Trainees in particular often feel overwhelmed when confronted with new learning tasks and, above all, criticism. Young adults often have to learn critical thinking skills first. You need to know how to accept them properly and professionally, and how to phrase them correctly.

Both tasks are complicated for young people. You often take criticism very personally and subsequently have to deal with anger, sadness or disappointment. Too much emotionalism, however, is counterproductive. A good exercise to get better at dealing with criticism is,

• take a breath,
• stay calm,
• Never take criticism personally and
• take time to reflect before answering.

Even unwarranted criticism helps young people in their learning process: they can practice responding to criticism in a constructive, friendly and firm way. As a result, they learn to deal with these situations better.

Tip: To train the ability to criticize, listening is required. Sometimes people block their ears and don't even hear the criticism until the end. This reaction is normal, but can be improved. Listening is a skill that is of great help in many personal and professional situations.

Growing up is not an easy challenge, but it is an exciting and normally very satisfying one.