Help Your Child Identify Interests, Explore Careers, and Develop Plans for the Future Family Involvement = Future Success

Transcription

1 Help Your Child Identify Interests, Explore Careers, and Develop Plans for the Future Family Involvement = Future Success Delaware Department of Labor Office of Occupational & Labor Market Information Delaware Career Resource Network

2 Why should you be involved in your child s education and career planning?

3 Because Research shows that YOU have the greatest influence on your child s career choices As a parent or family member, YOU have the best knowledge of your child s interests and abilities YOU have more interest than anyone else in your child s well-being and success YOU know that your child s future is too important to be left to luck or chance

4 When families are involved, children: have higher grades and test scores have higher graduation rates have better attendance at school and get more homework done have fewer placements in special education are more likely to enroll in postsecondary education show more positive attitudes and behavior Source: Henderson, A. (1994) A New Generation of Evidence: The Family is Critical to Student Achievement. National Committee for Citizens in Education, Washington, DC.

5 Elementary School: Career Awareness In elementary school, your children can learn to: identify their personal interests, likes, and dislikes identify their abilities, strengths, skills, and talents identify positive personal characteristics (e.g., honesty, dependability, responsibility, integrity, and loyalty) interact with others in a fair, helpful, and respectful way Source: National Career Development Guidelines

6 Elementary School: Career Awareness Your children can also learn to: demonstrate study skills and good learning habits recognize the importance of educational achievement and performance to the attainment of personal and career goals recognize that they should accept responsibility for their behavior recognize that they should have knowledge about, respect for, be open to, and appreciate all kinds of human diversity Source: National Career Development Guidelines

7 Middle School: Career Exploration In middle school, your children can learn to: demonstrate behaviors and decisions that reflect their interests, likes, and dislikes demonstrate use of their abilities, strengths, skills, and talents. give examples of when they demonstrated positive personal characteristics (e.g., honesty, dependability, responsibility, integrity, and loyalty) demonstrate educational achievement and performance levels needed to attain their personal and career goals Source: National Career Development Guidelines

8 Middle School: Career Exploration Your children can also learn to: demonstrate that they accept responsibility for their behavior show an appreciation for the similarities and differences among people demonstrate effective skills in working with others identify strategies for managing personal finances describe skills needed in a variety of occupations Source: National Career Development Guidelines

9 High School: Career Preparation In high school, your children can learn to: evaluate their use of effective communication skills assess the degree to which they interact with others in a way that is honest, fair, helpful, and respectful. assess the degree to which they accept personal responsibility for their behavior Source: National Career Development Guidelines

10 High School: Career Preparation Your children can also learn to: analyze the impact of their ability to interact positively with diverse groups of people on their job (future job) assess the consequences of appropriate or inappropriate behavior in specific school, social, and work situations evaluate how well they have attained educational achievement and performance levels needed to reach their personal and career goals Source: National Career Development Guidelines

11 Discuss Your Child s Interests Ask Your Child: What are your favorite school subjects? What extracurricular activities do you enjoy most? What are your favorite hobbies? What do you like to do with your friends? What special skills do you think you possess? What have you done that you are most proud of? What do you like to do with your free time? What interests you the most?

12 Nurture Your Child s Interests If your child has an interest in animals, he or she might like to: Elementary School feed and care for a family pet care for the classroom pet for the weekend visit a zoo or a farm or an aquarium Middle School join a 4-H Club walk or care for a neighbor s dog High School volunteer at a local veterinary clinic, animal shelter, or zoo

13 Nurture Your Child s Interests If your child has an interest in art, he or she might like to: Elementary School make birthday or holiday cards for relatives and friends learn to use a camera Middle School create graphics for the school newsletter design invitations for a special event High School design a personal or school website learn graphic design software

14 Nurture Your Child s Interests If your child likes to help people, he or she might like to: Elementary School join a Girl Scout or Boy Scout club Middle School teach a younger child to read volunteer to read to nursing home residents High School be a summer or vacation camp counselor assist at a day care center

15 Nurture Your Child s Interests If your child likes to build or repair things, he or she might like to: Elementary School build with Legos or wooden blocks Middle School build a radio or computer from a kit take apart an old appliance and put it back together High School design and build a robot or a piece of furniture help repair or remodel things in your home learn about car repair

16 Nurture Your Child s Interests If your child likes sports, he or she might like to: Elementary School play on a sports team go to the park Middle School assist a coach take a fitness class High School umpire or referee community games coach a youth sports team prepare sports stories for the school radio station

17 Nurture Your Child s Interests If your child likes science, he or she might like to: Elementary School participate in Take Your Child to Work Day to learn about the work of a scientist go to science museums Middle School join a science club participate in science summer programs High School meet community members whose work relates to science enter a science fair or research competition

18 What If My Child s Interests Change? If your child has been exploring interests, and he or she decides that interests have changed hurray! It is just as important for your child to know what he or she does not want to do as it is to know what he or she does want to do. Exploration is the key to helping make informed decisions. Nurture your child s new interests.

19 Help Your Child Explore Careers To help your child with career exploration: encourage your child to make independent decisions involve yourself in your child s future planning encourage exploration of all kinds of post-high school educational opportunities give your child economic responsibilities encourage job awareness be flexible as the decision-making process evolves

20 Help Your Child Navigate the Road Ahead You ll be glad you did.

21 Career Exploration Resources America s Career InfoNet - Occupational Outlook Handbook - O*NET OnLine - Office of Occupational & Labor Market Information - Your local library has career information books and publications, as well as computers with Internet access to explore careers online