Your child’s career future can be a worry, especially if they are not academically minded, have additional needs or are particularly sensitive or shy. It’s easy to spend time worrying (and sometimes over thinking) about something that at first, seems a long way away, but there are things we can do as parents to help guide our children sensitively to ultimately help to get them on the right path.
How can you help guide your child in planning ahead for their future career so that they will be both secure and happy.
Listen To What They Like
First, you can listen to what kind of things they like. If they haven’t decided on a career path, that’s okay, there is no rush. If you ask younger children what they want to be, this is likely to change by the time they are in secondary school anyway. You can always give them suggestions and ideas based on the things that they like, without actually pushing them to do something they don’t want to. You need to be there to suggest and to guide, but you can’t make any choices for them, or try to push them towards the one that you think is best. It’s not up to you.
Support Them With What They Choose
Support is key, whatever they do in life. It’s their path to walk, and you have got to be there for the ride. Adult children sometimes find it difficult to process not being supported by their parents, or feeling like they are a disappointment. As parents, it can be easy to be swayed into what society thinks is a good choice rather than what would be good for your child. You never want to make your children feel like this. If you push them into something that supports your ideas, they may end up unhappy and resentful. They are not you, and you don’t have to understand their choice, but you do have to respect it. Show your children how important they are by supporting them whether they choose a teacher job, or to be an astronaut after all, the world does need astronauts and for some children who grow up to follow their dreams, it certainly pays off!
Consider Plan B’s together
Children at the moment are often fixated on becoming influencers or artists or actors which are all fantastic career choices but it’s always worth considering a plan b ‘just in case’. Encourage children not to give up on academic study if it is not needed for their chosen field. Having some sort of qualification it always useful when looking for any sort of work
See if you can find out more
Is there a YouTube channel or podcast you can both follow about their career ideas? Is there some work experience or voluntary work that could be undertaken? All these things help get a well rounded view of the profession as often on the surface, we only notice the good bits!
Teach Them Essential Skills
Finally, you should be teaching them essential skills in general life. For example, basic business skills and how to handle money. They can then transfer these to their career when the time comes, but at least you know that they know how to handle and take care of themselves. Furthermore, children who have a good level of social and emotional skills automatically stand out against peers in interviews as these are the skills employers need so that their employees can have good levels of wellbeing and work well as part of a team. If you focus on these foundations, they will really help your child become a resilient and well-rounded individual who can navigate life much more easily in general.