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Is it wise to try and push your child towards a career path as early as 8? It seems people who are successful knew exactly what they wanted to do when they were young.
I'd like to help my daughter figure out a career path now. I've asked her to name 5 jobs/careers she'd like to have. Here's what she chose:
With this info I plan on focusing completely on these 5 with classes, events, playing with her, camps, etc. Do you recommend focusing her on these 5 or exposing her to other possibilities as well? I don't want to mess with her focus.
It is never wise to push a child to determine their future. The push, if it's meant to be, should come from her. Yes, let her be a child, exposed to limitless possibilities.
Your daughter isn't trying to pick a career. Your daughter is trying to become famous.
I think that while it's always been normal for kids to want to be a celebrity -- movie star, sports hero, astronaut, or whatever -- I always get the feeling that nowadays kids don't want to be famous for doing anything significant, but just for the sake of being famous. All the reality show are full of absolute nobodies, losers and misfits and the next day everybody the kid knows, including his family, is talking about them. Not because they're famous for actually doing anything important, but because they're boorish, untalented, and obnoxious in front of millions of people and can parlay it into a fortune. It's why I hate reality shows with a passion. Most of them set the horrible example for kids that being famous is a desirable end in itself.
But to answer your question: don't limit your daughter to those five things. That way she'll have a chance to discover other stuff she's good at and that she enjoys when it dawns on her that she may not be the next Venus Williams or Simone Biles or Dona Karan. Remember that for every successful celebrity who says "I knew I wanted to do this since I was 5 years old!" there are many many successful people in all walks of life who didn't hit their stride until their 40s, 50s, or even later.
Is it wise to try and push your child towards a career path as early as 8? It seems people who are successful knew exactly what they wanted to do when they were young.
I'd like to help my daughter figure out a career path now. I've asked her to name 5 jobs/careers she'd like to have. Here's what she chose:
To give a more serious and helpful answer, kids do not need to be pushed into a career unless the have the skills of a budding Mozart.
All of the areas you mention can be developed as hobbies. We bought a grand-daughter a narrow mat that lays on the floor that is the size of a gymnastic balance beam. She pranced around on it for a week and it has not been seen since. She does love to dance and sing to music on the TV and play pretend with her friends.
A tennis racket and some balls can be found at a sporting goods recycle store to see if your daughter is up for it.
Good luck.
I'm not saying I'm going to push her and force her to do something. What I'm saying is, if she has a particular passion, I'd like to help her focus on it from a young age. That's it.
My goal is to find a few things she's interested in and keep her involved in those areas on a consistent basis, rather than having her try various different activities.
Relax people.
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