Table Of Content

Ask your child the following questions: ore Career Awareness Activities for you and ·Would you like to work alone or in a group? your Child. ·Would you rather work inside or outside? ·Would you prefer working during the day or during the night? There are many activities that you can do at ·Would you mind wearing a uniform? home to help increase your child's awareness of ·Would you like to make things or to sell things? careers. Help your child think about chores and ·Would you rather travel or stay close to home? how skills he or she has learned in school are ·Would you like to work with your hands? needed to complete those chores. You can use such activities as: ·Would you prefer to give directions or to follow Career Awareness directions? · Would you rather use communication skills or · Paying bills; in Elementary math skills? · Buying groceries; · Sending birthday cards and letters; School Have your child "interview" you about what you used to · Getting appliances repaired; · Shopping for clothing; and think about school and careers growing up. Here are · Organizing family activities. some sample questions for your child to ask: Ask your child to create a timeline for his or her ·What were your favorite school subjects? Help your child discover the world of school day. For example: ·What did you like to do with your free time? work from an early age. . . · What career did you think about when you were · 6:30 - Get out of bed young? · 6:35 - Eat breakfast · Did you follow the career path you dreamed about · 6:45 - Get dressed, comb hair, brush teeth when you were young? Why or why not? · 7:10 - Make it to school · What obstacles were in the way of your · 7:40 - Get organized for first class career path? · 8:00 - Science class · What did your parents want you to do? · 9:00 - Math class · Who helped you make your career decision? · 10:00 - English class · What did you learn in school that helped you the · 11:00 - Gym class most? · 12:00 - Eat lunch · What is your favorite thing about the work you do · 1:00 - Spanish class now? · 2:00 - Theatre Arts class · What do you like least about the work you do · 3:00 - Do homework now? Then ask your child to think about how his or her · What skills did you learn in elementary school that workday may be similar or different. you use in your work now? · What skills did you learn in elementary school that you use in your home life? Teachable Moments - Put names of different careers in a bowl. Each month, have your child draw the name of a Being an involved parent and encouraging your child career out of the bowl. During the month, have to think about careers from an early age will help your your child collect as much information as he or child be successful in life. she can about that career. Reward your child at This brochure was created using a grant from the Department the end of the month for collecting the of Education's Office of Vocational and Adult Education. information and discuss the career with him or her. ther Career Skills hy is it Important ow do I Start for your to get an Early Talking to my Child Elementary-Aged Start? about Careers? Child Elementary school is not too early to start teaching your One way to start talking to your elementary-aged child Elementary school is the time when your child about career awareness. It is important for your about careers is to talk about the things that interest child should start learning about child to become aware of how his or her schooling is your child. Then, point out how these items of interest responsibility, cooperation, and problem connected to a successful future. While in elementary relate to activities that adults do. solving. Here are some ways you as a parent school, you can help your child: can help your child learn these valuable skills For example: for school and for work. · Discover the variety of jobs available to him or her; · If your child likes art, discuss how adults use art You can help your child in many ways. For · Connect what he or she is learning in school to to design houses, clothing, magazine ads, movie example: real-world situations; sets and even toys. Explain that art is also used · Help your child develop a positive · Imagine himself or herself in an occupation; to draw cartoons, arrange flowers and take attitude and feel good about his or her and photos for magazines and books. life. · Develop work-readiness skills such as working · If your child likes to be outdoors,discuss how he or · Talk about what your child likes and and playing with others, making decisions, she can have a career that involves working dislikes, and explain that every person solving problems and being a leader. outside, such as landscape architecture, forestry, has different likes and dislikes. archeology, construction work, marine biology · Teach your child to accept other Many times, children choose careers based on what they and commercial fishing. children's ideas, even if they are see on television or what their parents do for a living. If · If your child is very social,discuss how people different from your child's. · Have your child think about how his you help your child learn about a broad range of who like to talk and work with people may or her behavior might affect the careers, he or she will have more information when it choose to work as a teacher, a lawyer, a feelings of other children. comes time to choose a career. customer service representative, a receptionist, · Resolve conflicts in a positive manner. a hotel manager or a convention planner. · Talk to your child about how he or she To help your child understand how his or her · If your child likes to help people, talk about is feeling, and teach your child to deal schoolwork will be used in a future career, you can different ways he or she can do that in a career, with his or her emotions in a healthy explain the skills workers use in their jobs. such as working as a nurse, doctor, athletic manner. trainer, family counselor or child care worker. · Have your family work as a team to For example: · If your child loves math,you may want to talk complete a home project. · A veterinarian uses math skills to calculate the · When your child makes a mistake, with him or her about the possibility of amount of medicine a cat will need; work to correct the mistake and to becoming an accountant, a computer · A reporter needs writing skills to compose programmer, an engineer or a statistician. You prevent the same mistake from happening again. newspaper articles; and should also remind your child that almost all · Take your child to school on time, and · A marine biologist relies on his or her careers use basic math, so it is a very important teach your child the importance of knowledge of science to study aquatic life. skill to have. punctuality. · If your child likes to keep others safe,talk to your · Involve your child in real-world By talking with your child about the link between child about a career as a police officer, a forensic examples of decision-making. Talk to school and careers, you will help your child understand scientist, a detective, an investigator, a parole your child about how his or her that school is important and that school success can officer, a security guard or a bailiff. decisions impact other people. open doors to his or her ideal career. · Explain why work is important - not only for a source of income but also as a way to contribute to society.