Planting Seeds to Help our Children Make Good Career Choices

what do you want to be when you grow up?

Updated March 29, 2023

What do you want to be when you grow up?

The age-old question every kid loves to answer. The BT dozen have a lot of ideas. A soccer player. An architect. A dentist. A ballerina. A pilot...and a dinosaur, to name just a few.

Introduce Job Factors To Consider

While it might be a fun question when you’re five, one day kids will actually have to choose a path for their future. Our job as parents is to prep them to make smart choices by introducing some of the factors that grown-ups consider when they ultimately choose their career path.

Some of the things people think about when they choose their first job:

• Field of work

• Salary

• Hours/lifestyle

• Level of education/training required

• Available opportunity

• Interests/passions

Think Critically About Their Career Options

There is no right answer and no perfect formula to making a career choice. The best we can do is teach kids to think critically about their options.

Parents can talk about the highs and lows of a wide range of professions, as well as the qualifications needed, expected compensation and lifestyle implications. What’s more, different people put an emphasis on different factors - some might focus on earning a lot of money, while others might prioritize making a difference in the world (not to say these factors are mutually exclusive!).

Nothing Is Forever. Opportunities (and Interests) Evolve!

Parents should also make sure that their kids realize one important caveat to the career discussion. Most career paths are far from linear. There are inevitably ups and downs and twists and turns along the way. By no means should children think that their first job will be their last job, as even grown-ups are constantly evolving with their interests and opportunities.

The Takeaway

Ultimately, we want our children to choose a profession that taps into their inherent strengths, supports their lifestyle and makes them feel fulfilled. By introducing them to a wide range of different career choices and talking through some of the advantages and disadvantages of different options, kids will be better prepared for the working world.

In order to become a [insert child’s job of choice!] when you grow up, what will you need to do to prepare?