Career Education — Information for Parents

Career Education at Home

Have you ever asked your children what they want to be when they grow up? Have you ever observed them role playing, assuming adult work roles as part of their play?

Children from a very young age usually have some idea of the sort of work role that appeals to them. Just because their career dreams are coloured by their age does not invalidate them. In those dreams are the beginnings of self-understanding. The commonly expressed wish of young children to be a fireman or a policeman may indicate a desire to help others, to contribute to their community, to be brave, to have adventures... depending on how they view that role.

Research shows, and most parents and teachers will agree, that children up until the early teens often express career ambitions that we perceive as fantasy. They will say they want to play professional sport, be a singer with their own video clip, be a pilot or a millionaire business person. Sadly we all know that these fantasies will not always come true, but that doesn’t mean the dreams should be squashed. Give your child lots of opportunities to learn about the huge variety of occupations that are available, and when they need to start thinking seriously about what they are going to do with their lives they will have the advantage of many years of observation.

It is up to us, as the adults in their lives, to give our children the chance to develop the attitudes, knowledge and skills that will lead them towards self-fulfillment.

The child who gets dropped off at school by a parent saying how much they hate going to work, then is taught all day by a teacher who wishes they were anywhere but there, who goes home to a parent complaining about work, then views the world of work according to Homer Simpson on television is being set up for a miserable life!

Let’s face it, most of our children will have to work for a significant proportion of their lives and they will have a far better chance of a content and productive life if they have a positive attitude.

How can you help your children?

Help them recognise the relevance of school to their future lives

• Maths and reading are important no matter what you do in life.
• Clear written and spoken communication are basic skills in life.
• Learning should be continuous throughout your life.
• School is where you practice the life skills that you will always need.

Expect and encourage productive work habits in your children

• Being at school on time
• Being organized with what they need for the day at school
• Finishing work tasks on time
• Knowing they are expected to do their best. This does not mean being the best at everything. It means trying to the best of their personal ability at that time.
• Co-operating with others in team efforts
• Participating in problem solving and creative thinking
• Listening properly and following directions
• Taking responsibility for their own actions and their own learning
• Speaking in a positive way about their school work and their own skills and successes.

Make your home a work place

• Demonstrate positive work attitudes.
• Encourage a strong work ethic.
• Give children age-appropriate chores and home responsibilities….and expect them to do this.
• Let them be part of special projects around the home. They can’t do too much damage with a paint brush under supervision!
• Teach them to do jobs well, and expect that they will do so (without unrealistic expectations for their age).

Encourage them to know themselves

• Talk with them about their interests, skills, talents, dislikes, personal challenges, and whatever they really enjoy. This should be an ongoing discussion throughout their childhood.
• Really listen to them. Listening deeply is one of the greatest gifts you can give your children.

Eight free career exploration activities to do with your child

• Take your child to see where you work
• Tell them about what you do. Tell them why it is important. Tell them who relies on you and why.
• Discuss work roles that are in the books your children read.
• Encourage your children to ask family and friends about the work they do.
• Demonstrate that you value the work of people who are not in the paid work force.
• Play career games on long car journeys e.g. “I spy” occupations; List as many occupations as you can think of; Describe what someone does and let them guess their occupation.
• Discuss the occupational roles that you encounter when you go out with your child. Help them to understand that the most menial of tasks has value and should be respected.
• If they express an interest in a particular occupation, explore that with them. Discuss the personal characteristics that would be important, the interests that might make a person good at the work etc.

Would your school and parent group like to know more about career education? Presentations for parent groups can be organised.

CALL NOW - 0413 602096 - or EMAIL jenni@careerclarity.com.au