Essential life skills for tweens, teens, and young adults
Prepare Your Teen for a Successful Adulthood
Everything you wish you knew at their age, so they can spread
their wings and explore new horizons
As a parent, guardian, or caretaker, you’ve probably thought to yourself
Isn't my child supposed
to learn essential life
skills at school?
While some schools touch on financial literacy, goal setting, and conflict resolution, the primary focus remains core academics. The result? Many young adults lack essential life skills, making it harder to build fulfilling lives—personally and professionally
So, if you want to teach the teen or young adult you care about those essential life skills, you’ll need to look beyond the school system to help bridge the gap to real life.
Hi! I’m Maya Shine!
A passionate author and explorer dedicated to empowering tweens, teens, and young adults—
…and the adults preparing the next generation—with essential life skills for a
seamless transition into a thriving adulthood.
If you’ve ever worried about your teen navigating adulthood or wished they had
stronger skills than you did at their age, you’re in the right spot.
This is your safe space—free of judgment and full of support, understanding, and
positive vibes. We’re all parents facing our own challenges and blind spots;
sometimes, we need help and compassion.
Skills for Life: Books Designed to Empower
Guide your teen with practical skills to thrive, covering essentials like:
- Financial Literacy
- Career Development
- Emotional Intelligence
- Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving
- Communication Skills
- Understanding Neurodiversity
- Relationships and Conflict Resolution
- Time Management and Organization
- Digital Literacy
- Health and Wellness
Committed to providing you with practical, research-backed tools to
prepare your teen for lifelong success.
Let’s get started with one of the easiest ways to teach essential life skills
to teens and young adults…
Explore the Award-Winning
Guide: “Actionable Life Skills
for Teens & Young Adults
A Practical Guide to Self Improvement, Education, Healthy Habits, Scoring a Good Job, Personal Finance, Cooking, Physical & Online Safety
Equip your teen with the essentials for thriving adulthood. This must-have guide covers critical life skills—from self-discovery and goal-setting to understanding loans, taxes, and workplace success—all framed by strong moral values.
With an innovative 5WH2 framework, this book offers a customizable path for teens 15+, helping them build an action plan aligned with their aspirations and values. Comprehensive and accessible, this guide empowers teens to
step confidently into adulthood and equips parents with tools to teach the essential skills their teens need for a successful start in life.
Praise for Actionable Life Skills for
Teens & Young Adults
4.8 Review from our book reader
Must-read guide for parents and teens
Actionable Life Skills for Young Adults, by author Maya Shine, shatters the myths surrounding the challenges of adulthood. The book guides you through real-life stories, practical milestones, and thought-provoking questions. It will help your teen embrace a holistic approach to personal and professional growth
—The Stay-at-Home-Mom Survival Guide
Outstanding Information
This book is an absolute masterpiece. I think every teen, young adult, and even adults in general would benefit from this book. I am thoroughly impressed and wish I could’ve had this book when I was a teen/young adult. You can tell there was heart and thought put into this book for the benefit of others. This book should be a mandatory read before leaving high school or college. Overall, I recommend this book to any parent. Knowledge is power and this book is full of it.
— Janelle B.
Dive into Adulthood with a Wink
As I embarked on the delightful journey through this book, I quickly realized it’s like a cheat sheet for life—without, of course, the forbidden insider knowledge. Offering a treasure trove of wisdom for the young and impressionable, this tome of insights does everything short of handing you a golden ticket to the existential Hogwarts of life. You’ll find yourself nodding along like a bobblehead on a bumpy road, all the while chuckling at the author’s charming penchant for real-life analogies.
The real star of the show here is the 5WH^2 method, which is about as close to wizardry as you can get in the realm of personal
development. One might wonder if this concoction was brewed in a cauldron, given its almost magical ability to dissect life’s greatest puzzles with no mention of “game changers” or anything that could make you suspect a digital ghostwriter.
Perhaps the most captivating aspect of this read is its style—imagine being gently lectured by your favorite high school teacher who knows just how to get through to you by sprinkling in relatable anecdotes and conversational wisdom. You might even feel a nudge to consult with the adult sages around you, just to check if they’re on the same wavelength.
If you’re treading water in the sea of early adult life, this guidebook-enhanced with its sprinkle of humor and candor—could very well be your lifesaver.”
—Captainron042
Empowering Young Adult Success
An invaluable resource that offers a roadmap to adulthood,
equipping young adults with essential skills not taught in
schools. Its practical advice, real-life examples, and
customizable approach genuinely resonate, making complex
topics like financial independence and personal growth
accessible and engaging. A must-have for teens and parents
alike, fostering independence and confidence for life’s
next steps.
—Puravida
A roadmap to self-discovery
This award-winning guide for teens and young adults offers
more than just basic life skills; it’s a roadmap to
self-discovery and personal growth. Through innovative
methods like the 5WH approach, readers are empowered to
explore their goals and aspirations with the guidance of
trusted adults. With its unique focus on nurturing the
spirit and acknowledging individual authenticity, this
book stands out as a valuable resource for navigating the
exciting adventure of adulthood.
—Shawni M
A comprehensive guide for any young adult
This is a GREAT guide for any young adult transitioning into
an adult. Covers topics such as knowing yourself, self-care,
getting a job, money management, whether or not you should buy a car, etc. It’s also an easy read, like a mentor who is just
a few steps ahead, giving really relevant advice.
A Very Useful Book
I’m so glad I found this book. I have an 18yr old daughter
who read this with me and we both gathered so much useful
information and feel confident we can implement the
practices laid out in this book. If you are a young
adult or the parent of a young adult, this is a must read.
—Amy D.
A comprehensive guide for transition into independence
What sets this book apart is its structured approach, based
on the innovative 5WH framework, guiding readers through
self-discovery and goal-setting. Through relatable anecdotes
and thought-provoking questions, readers are encouraged to
shatter the myths surrounding adulthood and embrace a holistic approach to personal and professional growth.
Whether you’re a parent seeking to equip your teen with
essential life skills or a young adult eager to embark
on the journey to independence, “Actionable Life Skills
for Young Adults” is an invaluable resource that empowers
readers to navigate the challenges of adulthood with
confidence and purpose.
—Sandra W.
Handy Guide
The book kicks off with a deep dive into self-awareness and
the importance of knowing yourself, which I found super
engaging. Shine’s background as a consultant and team leader
really shows through her clear, straightforward advice. The
section on self-care was particularly eye-opening,
especially the parts about meditation and mindfulness. I
never realized how much a good night’s sleep could affect
my overall well-being.
One thing that stands out is how Shine tackles the
subject of money. The chapters on budgeting,
managing credit cards, and understanding taxes are
incredibly detailed yet easy to understand. I usually
prefer reading fiction, but I was feeling adventurous
and decided to give this a try. I’m glad I did because
now I feel more prepared to handle my finances.
—Headslapper
Essential life skills for teens and young adults have never been easier to learn
3 ways to shape your teen's success

Books
Discover a collection of self-help books designed to inspire and guide, adding valuable insights to every step of your teen’s path.

Resources
Access the resource library for free downloadable guides and tools, all crafted to support you and your teen on life’s adventure.

Blog
Dive into the blog for valuable insights and reflections, offering essential guidance to support your teen.
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Give your teen an advantage in early adulthood
You’re here because you care—but with so many questions and so little time to look for answers, let me handle the heavy lifting for you!
In collaboration with dedicated experts, I transform real-world challenges into practical, reliable resources —making your teen’s transition into adulthood smoother and your parenting journey a little easier.
I’ve got your back!