Nature versus nurture is a question we always grapple with as humans. When it comes to your child’s career, this question certainly plays its part. How can your nature your children toward careers they’re well suited to and will enjoy whilst allowing them to develop their passions naturally?
There’s a balance to be found, and these tips can help you guide your children towards their ideal career.
Let them lead
You’ve got to let your children explore their interests and learn as much as possible about themselves. Some kids find things they love at an early age, whereas others take much longer to find their calling (many people are still searching).
The answer is not in pushing your children towards the things you think they should be good at or should enjoy, but giving them the help they need to explore every option. It’s not the end of the world; if a kid doesn’t know what they want to do, everyone has their own path, and they will eventually work their way towards their ideal career.
It might be frustrating, but kids will learn to understand their talents with time, and you’ve got to let them be in charge of this process.
Partake in Their Interests
One of the ways you can be with your children on their voyage of discovery is by involving yourself in their interests. We’re all uniquely different, so your child might be interested in very different things to you, but it can mean a lot to them if you make an effort to share their interests.
You don’t need to be the pushy parent who wants to be there in the exam room with your kid or out on the field, but simply taking an interest can make a big difference. As with anything, there’s a balance to be struck, but you’ll soon figure it out when you learn to enjoy your kids’ interests.
Maintain a Rounded Education
Just because a child shows an aptitude for a certain skill or gets great enjoyment from it shouldn’t mean you focus solely on that. Kids change quickly, and their interests can change just as fast.
While you must encourage kids to keep up the things they enjoy, you don’t want to cut them off from other activities that enrich their education. The majority of careers draw upon the same basic skills, so it’s not a bad thing if your child has a change of mind, as long as you’re maintaining that well-rounded education.
Encourage Them to Think Big
There’s no limit to what you can achieve, and there’s certainly no limit to what a young child can achieve. Any career should be in reach when you’re a young child, and you should be encouraging them to think big.
Children are very attuned to their parents’ beliefs and what they say, so if you express doubt or suggest they can’t do something, it can have a big impact. Always keep doors open to them by reminding them that they can do anything if they put their mind to it. When it comes to careers, this is absolutely true, and if they work hard, the sky’s the limit.
Take Your Biases Out of it
We all have preconceived ideas about certain occupations; it’s a natural part of life. However, it’s important you don’t let your biases influence your child’s decisions. Instead, you’ve got to present them with unbiased facts that will help inform their decision.
Everyone has hopes and dreams for their kids, but sometimes, children just want to take their own path, which is completely ok. When you take your biases out of the equation, then it’s much easier to support your child on their path.
Impartial yet nurturing is the perfect balance to strike, and this will help guide your child in the right direction.
Encourage Them to Work/Volunteer
When your children become old enough, it’s a great idea to encourage them to get a part-time job or to volunteer.
As much as you might research a certain profession, there’s nothing like getting involved with the industry yourself, and there are lots of opportunities to do this. There might not be part-time jobs that are perfectly aligned to your child’s career goals, but they will learn many of the skills that can serve them well in the future.
For example, a child who dreams of being of becoming a holistic primary care nurse probably won’t land that job but could perhaps have a part-time position in a hospital or volunteer in a nursing home. There are lots of ways to get vital pieces of experience and build out their resumes.
Help Them Think About their Ideal Career Path
It’s one thing knowing where you want to get to, but understanding the path you need to take can be much more complicated.
As an adult, you have the experience to help your child understand the steps they need to take to achieve their goals. For example, if they’re interested in nursing, then encourage them to look at resources like this site.
A strong career isn’t just about the destination, it’s about the journey too, and you can help your children with this path.
Save for their Education
It’s never too early to start saving for your child’s education.
While a university degree isn’t necessary for all careers, it’s something where you can really help your child by starting a college saving plan. With further education being such a big investment, you can help make sure your child comes out of university with less debt and in a good position to start their desired career.
Any savings you make can make a big difference to your child further down the line, so it’s a great idea to start putting a little bit of money away each month. Through these savings, you can make it much easier for your child to pursue their career path.