keishakae

[keishakae]

Career Development for Children

Career development is a continuous process that usually begins early and continues throughout a person's life span even after retirement.  It involves understanding oneself, exploring career options, developing new skills, and making strategic decisions to achieve long-term goals. 

For children, it's about identifying interests and building foundational skills, as they navigate diverse career options, career transitions, and through learning and experiences will acquire new skills in choosing viable careers based on several factors, such trending careers, emerging careers, careers that are prestigious, careers that pay well and competitive. 

Children tend to explore various professions through books, games, and field trip visits, and now more popular television to encourage their creativity and problem-solving as it relates to careers.

Parents and teachers Help children develop a positive self-image and explore different possibilities for their future through career day expo, field trips, assignments, and positive role modeling.

As the children grow older their interests are more profound as they become more affirmative in their career exploration and options. Particularly because they are more informed.

The role of a career counsellor is vital at all stages of a person’s career development to provide guidance, advice, options, exploring different qualifications and requirements for the career options and discover strengths and weaknesses of the child for the career choice.

Peremptorily, not all careers are for all people. A career test is also critical to assess people.  Career tests are vital to help individuals explore their interests, skills, values, and personality traits to make informed career choices.

The Career Development Practitioner

The Career Development Practitioner or Career Counsellor primary focus is toHelp students connect their interests to potential career paths and make informed decisions about their education and future. 

Parents

Parents can be a positive influence on their child's career choices, equally teachers, and their community at large. These formative years of children’s lives are the backdrop of their career exploration, which is quite popular at this stage in their career development.

More need to be done in Jamaica as we engage our children to make informed career decisions and as the career’s changes overtime.

Career exploration can be unique as different thing, experiences, socio-cultural backgrounds, nature-nature impact different children to choose career paths based on their reality. As well as plan happenstance, and emerging jobs. Like now several children are into animations, robotics ect

And of course, social media is a hot career path now.  Sometimes based on what is happening both locally and internationally as career options shift, become obsolete and also emerges, so will our children’s choices, interest and options.

For career day now, we see not only the traditional career paths trending more like fewer than usual turn out.  But the emerging ones are quite popular such as Youtuber/Blogger/Vlogger/Influencer.

As we transform the world is also evolving and so are career options for our inquisitive minds, our little explorers are not going to be left behind, they too will be advancing to new and emerging career paths. Traders, Application Creator, Robotics Engineer, Gaming Engineer ect.

Career Development Theorists

Donald Super- Developmental Self-Concept Theory

John Holland- individuals are drawn to work environments that align with their personality types (Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional).

Donald Savickas- Career Exploration- suggests that individuals construct their own career paths through a process of reflection, exploration, and adaptation. It emphasizes the importance of storytelling, self-narratives, and individual agency in shaping career development.

John Krumboltz,- Planned Happenstance- career development is influenced by both planned and unplanned events. John Krumboltz's planned happenstance theory makes it OK to not always plan, because unplanned events could lead to good careers.

Ginzberg's Developmental Theory- proposes that career development progresses through three stages: fantasy, tentative, and realistic. Each stage is characterized by different approaches to career exploration and decision-making.

Frank Parsons- developed the idea of matching careers to talents, skills and personality and integrated approach to career.

[keishakae]

Family Need to Support Family

As a stickler for family, the only problem is, I am not from a very supportive family. This is evidence on both my maternal and paternal sides.

There are several family members abroad, locally and even close to where I grew up. The support was never there, I struggled to grow up and I struggled to raise my own children and apart from my mom, the support has been limited. Just imagine if I had my maternal and paternal family supporting me, all I could do and what I would have become. No regret, but I wish my family would step up and support each other.

While I am cognizant that the family you make is your family, I strongly believe that your lineage should be supportive in some sort of way, even if they are not affluent, support comes in diverse forms. Sometime a person just needs a little support from their relatives, even a word of encouragement, a piece of yam, a school bag, inviting you out ect.

Key aspects of family support:

Basic Needs: Providing food, shelter, clothing, and other essential items. 

Safety and Health: Ensuring the physical and emotional well-being of family members. 

Emotional Support: Offering encouragement, empathy, and understanding during challenging times. 

Guidance and Direction: Helping family members navigate life's challenges and make decisions. 

Open Communication: Fostering a safe space for family members to express their thoughts and feelings. 

Quality Time: Spending time together and engaging in meaningful activities. 

Boundaries: Setting and respecting boundaries to maintain a healthy family dynamic. 

External Support: Connecting with community resources and organizations that can offer additional assistance

Examples of providing family support:

Offering childcare or babysitting services: Allowing parents to take a break or attend appointments. 

Coordinating meal trains for new parents or families in need: Providing a regular supply of nutritious meals. 

Organizing block parties or community events: Facilitating connections and social interaction among families. 

Providing transportation assistance: Helping families access important appointments or activities. 

Being a listening ear: Offering emotional support and a safe space to talk. 

Advocating for families' needs: Standing up for their rights and accessing resources. 

Providing financial assistance: Helping with bills or other financial challenges. 

It is imperative for families to offer support to their family members whether they are struggling or flourishing.  Basic support can help with flexibility to deal with planned or unforeseen events. As well as giving you time to do things that can build your brand and help the same families that are supporting you.

Karen Mc Farlane

[keishakae]

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMYytVHaN/

[keishakae]

#career development