January's guidance lessons will focus on setting goals, and college and career readiness. As parents and educators, our goal is to prepare our children for the future, and career education is a big part of that goal. It has been said, "If you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life." Helping children discover what they enjoy and want to become is a tough task. Always keep in mind, "There's a job for every personality!" Regardless of which career path a child chooses to pursue, having the following attributes will help your child succeed:
- communication skills
- listening skills
- reading, writing, math, science, social studies
- good reasoning skills
- decision/problem solving skills
- self-confidence
- integrity
- good work attitude
- self-control
- good social skills
- desire to never stop learning
Every child is born with unique gifts and strengths, and as they grow, those begin to influence their interests and hobbies. As adults, we can sometimes see these gifts and tell our kids what they could or should be when they become a grown up. the problem is, kids can internalize our ideas for them as something they should want too. We must allow kids the freedom to decide for themselves. Whether they want to be a teacher, a chef, a firefighter, a homemaker, an electrician, or an architect, kids can look at their unique strengths and gifts and find their own way towards a future they will love. By showing kids that their different strengths can help them become who they want to be, we give them the power and permission to dream. They then will believe that no matter how tall their dreams may be, they have what it takes to reach them!
