As parents, all we want for our children is to see them grow up the right way. Because of this, we tend to always get in their business just to make sure that they are headed in the direction they’re supposed to. However, as much as we want to ensure that their future is bright, sometimes they may get a little comfortable with us meddling in their business. This is why it’s important to understand that your children have boundaries too, but this is not so to say that you should not provide proper guidance. Helping your kids choose their career path can be a tough task since it involves not only patience and understanding on your part but you also have to make them feel comfortable with how you can help them. While it may not be an easy thing to do, as time goes by and as both of you thoroughly understand your role in each other’s life, somehow the challenging part of it all gets bearable. Until the day, your child finally finds their purpose in life and the career path they want to delve into. But, of course, there are certain tips you need to make this task slightly easier for you. Here are ways how you can help your kid choose their career path.
1. Give opportunities on how they can find their strengths
When it comes to finding the right career path for you, it takes forethought and assessing your strengths and weaknesses. Most people don’t have the foresight of what they want in the future simply because they also don’t know the qualities in them that prepare them for the future. It may be hard for them to discover these strengths, especially when there are no opportunities to highlight them. As a parent, it is a good idea for you to give these opportunities to them in the best way you can. You may schedule them with a career counselor and have them take an aptitude test. At the same time, you can support them in their hobbies or what they like to do in their free time maybe he likes doing arts and crafts so maybe they will likely be into the arts and stuff professions or maybe he is good at managing people and his or her time then maybe he or she has a future as a government official like maybe the next city mayor or DPWH Secretary, time can only tell. If you see them always reaching out for books then it may be a sign for you to go purchase some more as this may signify what their career will be in the future. During summer, when there’s not much to do, you can sign them up for whatever summer classes they want. Whether it be swimming or dancing or singing lessons. These don’t only showcase their talents and skills but also help them discover their willingness and determination for something. You can expose them to different types of activities and from there, they can find out what interests them the most.
2. Provide a mentor
If you see your child showing interest in a certain field, if possible, it is good to find them a mentor that will bring out their best skills. This hones their skills to the best of their abilities making it easier for them to get into grips with what they really want in life. Having a mentor can also inspire them to do great things since they are being influenced by that certain person. This then leads to them fueling their aspirations in life and exerting their very all in the field that they choose. It becomes a strong role model for them and encourages them in ways that will further uplift their spirit towards the career path they want.
3. Don’t forget that your Child’s career is his and not an extension of yours
A lot of parents are guilty of this since they let their children fulfill their aspirations as opposed to their children fulfilling their own dreams for themselves. Parents tend to have this idea that because they want the best for their kids, they are confused about what’s best with the dreams they were unable to achieve. Both unconscious and consciously, these unachieved dreams are passed on to their children. This becomes a toxic practice because once a child fulfills dreams that are not their own, they will never feel the sense of fulfillment they need. Basically, they will not love what they do. It won’t give them a purpose in their everyday life. Their only reason for still sticking up to this certain career is because it is what is available. In time, they’ll realize eventually that it’s not for them and will opt to go for another option that gives them drive and joy. No matter what happens, parents cannot dictate their children’s lives because they have their own intuition, direction, and aspirations. Letting your child explore their passion and nurturing their skills will eventually lead to their success, regardless if it is a plan that you wished you have done but have not. We have our own individuality as adults and that goes the same for our children.
4. Be patient
Patience is key when it comes to parenting. Now when it comes to children and their career paths, patience is also what you need the most. There are times when your child can also be confused about what they want. They may want to switch interests or the things they want to do from time to time. It can be frustrating, that’s for sure. You have to remind yourself that as parents and as an individual who has also gone through this phase, it is far from easy. This means that being completely indecisive is normal and should not be condemned. Choosing a career path can be a headache and putting that on top of school, relationships, and other issues, only get more challenging and more challenging. What our kids need from us the most is our full support and understanding. There can also be times when they may be hard to understand, but same as always, we still need to understand and stay collected. When we are patient, somehow we are lifting weights on our kids’ shoulders. In a way, we are helping them by not being a burden but an asset at this point of their lives where everything is filled with confusion and doubt.
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