Your Kids

Prepare Your Child Today For Tomorrow’s Careers

Posted: 10/15/2010

Middle school is not too soon for kids to consider their future careers.

(NAPSI) - If you think your children are too young to prepare for life after college, it may be wise to think again. Now may be the right time to explore careers and lay the academic foundation needed to be successful in any professional or technical field.

While your children may change their minds several times before declaring a college major, they can benefit from early goal setting, which is what will help them narrow their focus. Education specialist Dr. Mary Mokris, of Kumon Math and Reading Centers, says students who are proficient or advanced in subjects such as math and reading have a greater chance of getting hired for jobs in a global economy.

“The job opportunities available now and years from now will require strong comprehension and computation skills as well as the ability to write persuasively and analyze information,” Dr. Mokris added. “Our world is getting smaller, and worldwide competition is greater. Corporations and organizations are looking for leaders in the workforce and those with the skills to be contributing members of society.”

Need help figuring out where or how to begin exploring the possibilities for your children? Consider the following tips to engage youth in the career-planning process:

• Set aside time to research potential careers. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes its “Occupational Outlook Handbook,” which provides updated information every two years to individuals making decisions about their future work lives.

• Contact a business or organization in your child’s industry of interest to schedule a job shadow, or recommend your child attend a career day at his or her school.

• High school students should check with their school counselors about internship opportunities. Many schools have partnerships with corporations where high school juniors and seniors get on-the-job training for a semester. A steady minimum-wage job can also offer valuable workplace lessons.

• Encourage your child to volunteer with a community organization. Volunteering helps build character in students in addition to providing them with real-world experience, which they can include in their college portfolio or on their résumé.

Preparing your child for a potential career through goal setting, researching and getting hands-on experience can help instill the necessary skills needed to compete in a global job market. If you feel your child needs extra practice or craves additional challenges in math or reading, consider researching after-school enrichment programs such as Kumon Math and Reading Centers. For more information, visit www.kumon.com or call (800) ABC-MATH.

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