All parents want the best for their children. That might sound cliche, but that’s only because it’s true. If you are a parent, your children’s future is your utmost priority. You want to see your kids grow into the best person they could be.
But it’s also worth mentioning that parenting is not an easy job. Even parents with the best of intentions make mistakes. But because you adore your kids enough, you keep persevering, hoping you get better at raising them as you go along. And for that alone, you deserve all the kudos.
Dear parents, remember that your children won’t stay children for long. The time will come when you will have to let them go. One day, your kids will have to pursue their chosen profession. Here are some recommendations to prepare them for a fulfilling career.
Support your kids’ hobbies and interests
Early in your kids’ lives, they will already manifest their specific interests. Your boy who likes pretending to take your temperature whenever you’re under the weather could be a doctor in the making. Your girl who likes assembling forts with boxes might be a budding engineer or licensed contractor. Your queer little one who enjoys playing dress-up with your curtains could be the next drag superstar like RuPaul. In any way you can, nurture your children’s interests. Your support will communicate to them that they are free to dream. And that’s the first step to becoming a dreamer.
Enroll your kids in summer camp
Communication skills are vital to virtually every profession there is. Those go hand in hand with people skills. Your children will learn these two skill sets in summer camp. So whenever possible, send your children to one.
In summer camp, your children will be amongst all sorts of personalities. That will teach them how to be well-adjusted individuals. Their ability to effectively communicate will be enhanced through interactions with other kids and camp counselors.
Encourage your children to champion social causes
Teach your children social consciousness early on. No, you do not have to tell your seven-year-old that kids her or his age are dying of hunger in Africa. But you can at least discuss with them a non-traumatic primer on world hunger.
And it’s not enough that they know about social issues. You must nurture your kids’ ability for empathy that will allow them to passionately pursue causes close to their hearts any way they can. Once they join the workforce, they’ll have something interesting to talk about at the interview.
Choose the best preparatory schools for your children
This is crucial. Remember that as unfortunate as it is, not all schools are created equal. Some are way better than others. And you should do everything in your power to get your kids in those schools. Just make sure you stay within the bounds of the law so that you do not end up like Felicity Huffman.
Here your chosen place of residence matters. Some areas have better preparatory schools than others. That’s an important consideration you have to make when buying a real estate property for your family. Enrolling your children in an excellent preparatory grade and high school will better prepare them for their college application, which, in turn, will have a direct impact on the variety of jobs they’ll be privy to after graduation.
Inspire your kids to be academically active
You do not have to be tyrannical about your kids’ grades. The better approach is to develop in them a thirst for learning. Once your children begin to appreciate the wonder of discovery and education, they will become better students as a result.
Encourage open communication at home. From time to time, check what your children are up to, academic-wise. What essays are they writing? Which classes are they struggling in? Offer help when necessary.
Moreover, encourage your children to participate in extra-curricular activities. Their college application will be unmissable if on top of excellent grades they are also active members of interesting school groups.
Your kids deserve all the best in the world. Now that your children are still, well, children, under your control and supervision, make sure to be as hands-on as you can be on aspects that will have a direct or indirect impact on their future. Yes, it’s a tall order. But it’s certainly doable. Surround yourself with a strong support system. You do not have to do it alone. As they say, it takes a village to raise a child.
