As a parent, you’ve most likely asked your child: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” But, are all parents aware of how important this question is and how it can actually shape their child’s future career path? As a matter of fact, no. Childrens’ career aspirations are often more than not, dismissed and not taken very seriously. The reason is allegedly because their grasp on reality isn’t developed enough.
However, your child’s downright alarming career fantasies, are actually just a reflection of something or someone they have probably seen coincidentally. So, for example, if your child suddenly decides that they want to become a singer, that’s mainly because they got exposed to this kind of profession on TV for instance. But isn’t this what we all do, even as adults? We look at someone and wish we can one day become like them?
Paying attention to your child’s career ambitions is very critical. There a couple of things that you can do to guide your child to uncover their talents and get in touch with what they really want to be:
Emphasize their Strengths
via readingrockets.org
All of us have strengths in certain areas and these are often signs of what would make us happy and what areas we’re most likely to succeed in. Aim to build a sense of acknowledgment within your family and take note of the special skills your children may have. This will help them get more comfortable with themselves and more importantly, embrace their talents and edges.
According to Barbara Kreisman, Associate Dean of the University of Denver Daniels College of Business, you can also reinforce your childrens’ strong points by enrolling them in school activities, summer training courses or other opportunities that are designed to unfold their skills and talents.
Pay Attention to What They Get Exposed to
via Techno FAQ
Keep an eye on what your child gets exposed to because as mentioned before, children easily pick up on whatever comes their way. Doing so, will make it easier for you to make sense of the reasons behind their choices.
Encourage Inquisitiveness
via MindChamps Allied Care
Don’t disdain a suggested career path but instead push your child to search and dig deep into what it requires and how far they can go in it. By doing so, you’re opening the door for them to discover more opportunities, that could even be different from what they were initially looking for.
Dispense House Responsibilities
via Money
We all know that any job in the world entails two things: responsibility and hard work. Assign your child household and monetary responsibilities in order for them to get a better understanding of how much things cost, how being responsible works and how their decisions affect their lives.
Before wrapping up, there’s something I wish all parents would try doing. Always remember to listen to your children as they explore their purpose in life. Be there to guide and support them as they grow. You have to understand that their choices might not be similar to yours and that’s alright. When you’re a parent, you usually want to step in and put your long acquired experience on the table. But at a certain point in time, you have to step back, be supportive and let them find their purpose in life. You don’t need to give them the world, you just need to raise them right and let the world give back to them.
