Doctor. Lawyer. Teacher. Veterinarian.
Chances are, you have a lot of dreams for
your child's future. Maybe you hope he'll become an astronaut like he wanted to
as a small child. Maybe you want him to take over the family business and be
like you. Maybe you even hope your child will simply find a career path that he
loves.
No matter how old your child is, it's
natural for you to feel concerned over his future job. Whether he asked you for
advice or not, there are a few ways you, as a parent, can help him make a
career decision he'll love.
Never
Undermine Your Child’s Skills
First off, never undermine your child's
skills.
If he tells you that he wants to be a
baseball player, for example, consider helping him find a way to make it a
reality. Could you sign him up for lessons? Maybe you could arrange for him to
practice one-on-one with a baseball coach. Additionally, you could help your
child look at colleges with strong baseball teams.
Even if you think your child's dream is
silly or unattainable, it's important for you to realize that your child needs
your support. He'll get enough negative feedback from his peers that he doesn't
need it from you, as well. Even if you don't think your child is good enough to
make it in his chosen career path, keep those negative thoughts to yourself and
try to find ways to help your
child succeed.
Conduct
Research
It's also important that you help your
child conduct research into the best degrees or training programs in his field.
If your child wants to be a chef, for instance you could help him look at
different culinary schools and colleges with strong baking programs. While you
shouldn't do all of your child's research for him, it's important that you help
guide him during this time. What type of cooking does he want to do? How much do these programs cost? How soon does he want to enter the work
force? Answering these questions will help your child find the right program
for his goals.
Meet
With the Professionals
For kids who have no idea what they want
to do, consider meeting with your friends, relatives, or even professionals you
know to talk with your child about career options. Your family doctor could
chat with your child about going in the medical field, what it takes to survive
medical school, and what steps he should be taking now to prepare for such a
career.
Additionally, your friends and relatives
can talk about their chosen career fields and whether or not they'd recommend
such a job choice. If you don't know anyone with professional careers your
child is interested in, consider
attending a job fair or career day program together to learn more about
different jobs.
Remember that no matter what your little
one decides to be when he grows up, he'll need your guidance and support along
the way. While you can't make all of your child's decisions for him, you can
make an effort to help him succeed in whatever he decides to do.
About
the Author
Stephanie is a freelance writer who
resides in Gilbert, Arizona. Aside from
writing, she also enjoys the outdoors, testing new restaurants and spending
time with her family. You can check out
her part-time side project at Howmuchisit.
