I am not quite sure when it happened, but my daughter grew up! Instead of a bouncy, trouncy little girl in barrettes and sundresses, I see before me a beautiful young woman getting ready to make her mark on the world. In these 16 years, I wonder if I have done enough to prepare her to meet the world confidently and wisely. I know she understands geography and algebra. I am sure she has good writing skills. However, will she know how to make wise financial decisions? Will she be at the mercy of financial sharks? Will she make her mark on the world, or will the world make its mark on her?

These same questions plagued author Barbara Frank when her daughter turned 16, and she was prompted to create Life Prep for Homeschooled Teenagers. Life Prep consists of two components: The Reading List and The Project List. Each of these components is then divided into activities and readings appropriate for college-bound teens and work-bound teens. The Project List, which includes The Car Project, The Credit Card Project, The Health Insurance Project, and The Budgeting Project, is full of hands-on activities that will guide the student through making good decisions in each of these areas.

The Reading List has recommended reading and required reading from great authors such as Dr. James Dobson, Marc Eisenson, Susan Schaeffer Macaulay, and Dale Carnegie. Reading through these books and completing the projects will surely give the student a good understanding of basic life skills that are so often overlooked in the educational process of our young people.

The book is not glitzy and dazzling, but it is certainly very user-friendly and creates a simple, yet effective approach for teaching life skills. The only negative thing I have to say about this book is the title. I think this course would be effective for ALL teens, and if put in the hands of our public schooled friends and relatives as well as the homeschooled ones, we may be able to protect many of these kids from the financial mistakes many of us made.

I highly recommend this book for anyone with older children. While I am now doing this with my daughter at age 16, it would certainly be a beneficial study for 14 and 15-year-olds as well. Actually, I'm hoping I might learn something.



-- Product Review by: Terri Miller, Staff Writer, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine