Career Exploration: Elementary-Aged Children
Let's talk about helping your elementary children start to learn about different careers. It is great to start early, knowing they will change their minds quite often. According to the state of Wisconsin academic standards, career awareness at the elementary grade levels, includes developing an understanding of the following:
Why people work.
The kinds of conditions under which people work.
The levels of training and education needed for work.
Common expectations for employees in the workplace.
How expectations at school are related to expectations in the world of work.
As parents, we can help our children with each of these. You want to help your child think about each by asking questions and talking about them.
Why people work.
This can include money, sharing talents, helping others, and more. It can also include the type of work. You can share why you and your spouse work and what you receive by working. Ask your children why they think someone does their job. Many children are fascinated by construction workers. You can ask what they might like about their job. Ask your friends and neighbors to share as well.
The kinds of conditions under which people work.
Sharing your own experience is a great way to begin this talk. A great way to approach this subject is to ask your children how different jobs work. For example, if your child is fascinated by construction, talk about how construction workers work in all kinds of weather. You can talk about your own jobs as well.
The levels of training and education needed for work.
This is an important part of any career. You should share the training and education for your own work. When the Service Member has to attend training, explain how it ties to their job. Children can learn that a construction worker will have to have special training on how to operate different equipment. You can ask them what they think that worker needs to know.
Common expectations for employees in the workplace.
This is so important. I hear stories from employers about new employees not knowing some basics such as showing up on time, working while on the clock, following directions, and using appropriate language. Young children can learn and understand that there are different expectations based on situations. For example your child can learn about quite voice at the library or church, waiting their turn on the playground, etc.
How expectations at school are related to expectations in the world of work.
Do you remember thinking how dumb some of the rules in school were? Our children feel the same, It can help to tie the school expectations into what you need to be able to do at work. For example listening to the teacher is like listening to the boss.
Exposing your children to these concepts at an early age can help them think about possibilities. It is common for young children to want to have careers like firefighter, garbage man, astronaut, and superhero. A great way to help your children explore careers is to talk about the concepts above for these jobs.
If you want to know more, the Career Education and Research Institute for Counselors (CERIC) created a book for parents, The Early Years: A book for parents. This book provides specific ways to introduce your children to career related activities. It can be as easy as sharing about a job or taking them to the doctor to talk about what the various people in the doctor's office do. It can be having them ask questions with professionals in careers. They might even job shadow or volunteer in a career area. Your job as a parent is to help them explore and learn while encouraging them to try new things and grow.
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Rose Holland has served the military community for over 30 years in a variety of roles as a volunteer and family program staff. Through this work, she has seen many inequities imposed upon military families. Her passion to assist military families is driven by her own experience as a military spouse of almost 33 years and has shaped the service she provides. Rose became an activist for military families in the area of career and employment, serving as a career counselor and providing corporate and local organizations insights into the military world and helping the community understand the hidden talent pool of military families.
Rose has a BBA in Finance from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, a Master’s in Theological Studies with a focus on pastoral care from Saint Norbert College in DePere Wisconsin, and a Doctorate in Education with a focus in Educational Sustainability at the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point. Her dissertation project focused on military spouses in federal employment and their perceptions of perceptions of federal position during the pandemic.