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How should we prepare our children for their careers?
What do you think is the most imporant traning or experience we can provide our children to prepare them for their future careers?
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5 Answers
Years ago, I taught high school. Spent 5 years there, and to this day stay in touch with several of the (now 30-something!) students. Here's one thing a former student said last week, "Knowing that adults didn't have all the answers made it easier for me."
You see, while I taught, every other Wednesday we had what was called "Wednesday with Womack." I invited a "professional" in for lunch, and we packed the classroom with 20-40 students. I invited people to come in, talk with the students and then do Q&A with them.
Now, here's the thing: I didn't invite in the professions that the kids knew about (law, medicine, etc). Instead, I brought in private jet pilots, musicians, and even best-selling authors. I asked each adult to talk about 3 things:
What they did.
How they got there.
How they organized themselves day-to-day.
I still think back on this exercise, knowing that the value in it was letting people know just how much is out there. If I were to do it all over again, the only thing I would change: Get people to come in EVERY Wednesday!
If you have children, let them job shadow your friends as much as possible. Pull them out of school, have them travel, let them see what it's like "when they're out there" in the real world.
Honesty, directness, and a strong work ethic in the home. Parents who make their children their "friends" instead of their children, do not do their kids a favor. Teaching children about authority and hierarchy are important, although not "fun." But we are adults the rest of our lives...and I'd rather have had my parents be strict and teach me a strong work ethic, than pamper me and cater to all of my wants. We are seeing what teachers in school are dealing with, as far as the children who are allowed to run the show, and children who are taught to respect authority as well as others.
I agree with both of you. Sandy nailed it on the head that kids don't need more friends, but need parents. Having just started my career, I must say that I had quite an epiphany when I entered the work force. I never realized just how right my parents were about instilling strong work ethics and responsibility in me. I thought it would be much easier to be a 'grown up.'
It obviously wasn't fun at the time, growing up in a household where we had constant activity and pressure, but they had a reason for everything. If I had to give advice on the matter, I would say that it's important to foster a wide range of interests and skills; from sports to art to math, everything is going to help them in the future. It's not all about grades, but a well-rounded, passionate and creative person is going to have a much more successful career than someone who only knows the content of a textbook. They might resent it at first (I know I did), but by teaching your children to constantly drive to succeed, you're setting them up for a much more realistic and fulfilling work life. They'll thank you, eventually.
Excellent Sandy.
Scott, since parents have no way of knowing what future career will bring their children job success they should make sure their children are well educated so that when the child decides where to look for career success s/he will be well prepared for that decision.
To add to Sandy's comments new entrants into the workforce need to know how to be a good employee.
Instill good work ethics by having good work ethic yourself--children watch what their partent to much more closely than many parents realize.
Secondly, focus on the sciences. Make sure they are doing well in math, science and language arts--all will be critical fundamental skills for thriving in the future. Right now our (American) kids are lagging behind from a global perspective. That is why the Government is so focused on these areas. Trained as a psychologist, and with a 10-year focus on adolescent development, I suggest you make sure your youngsters have positive support and experience a sense of belonging and efficacy. All these things together make for a healthy youth with the resiliency and sense of self confidence to tackle obstacles and pursue opportunities based on their personal interests and strengths.
oh yes--don't major in the minors--choose your battles and build on your kids strenghs without getting overly concerned about their shortcomings...okay..Im letting the old therapist in me get carried away!!!
However, recent research in this area promotes this approach.
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