Most people are aware of what they want as a career and what they want to do for the rest of their lives. For some, this comes at an early age; others discover it as they keep on with life while others never get around it, unfortunately.

According to My future, a page that provides career guidance to students, positive parental influence can boost your child’s confidence when making career choices. 

The earliest, most powerful, learning about careers is shaped by the adults in a child’s life. Children also respond to career-related images on television and in other media. In daily life, you will find many opportunities to help your young child or teenager prepare for a great future.

How to go about it

Ellie Muhorakeye a parent and substitute teacher of French and English says that to get a child interested in any career is not obligating them to do what a parent thinks they should be doing.

 It is rather helping a child know about all careers and providing advice but also letting them choose on their own.

"Some parents want their child to have interest in careers of their choice that they forget that it is a decision that is going to be a part of their whole life,” she says.

Having your child interested in careers is letting them know what the world of work is and letting them discover themselves, a parent can occasionally provide advice when they see that their child is stuck somewhere but also give them the space to explore everything, according to Muhorakeye.

Adam Muhumuriza who works for a corporate company as an assistant secretary agrees with Muhorakeye saying that the decision is for the child to go for what they are interested in, and not what the parent wants them to be.

"A child might want to be a doctor but because the parent wanted a pilot in the family, they will pressure the child to be interested in that. And spending your life doing what you are not interested in is also a waste of life and time. Yes, providing ideas and occasionally taking them to experience different kinds of careers, is great but pressuring them into a specific career will also confuse a child,” he says.

Our system, however, asks much younger people to make decisions based on knowing who they are and what they want to achieve in life. They have to select subjects, elective choices, and vocational study opportunities. There is a wealth of information about possible choices. People can feel overwhelmed, unable to decide, or lose interest in the whole ‘careers thing’, My future notes.

"For children who have a hard time figuring out what they are interested in, parents can always start with an observation at home about their child, and know that something the child spends their most time doing unknowingly. What is that something they are always going for or they are good at, and they can start from there with helping them know what their interests are,” says Evans Mugisha, a student at Mount Kenya.

How to make your child interested

My future provides activities for each growing stage of a child:

Teenage activities:

Activity 1: Recording your career story

You can help your child by taking time out to think about the ways your own career has developed. It can be fun to reminisce, and it will help you understand the events and people that have influenced your career. 

Activity 2: Exploring and developing career awareness through movie watching

Watch a movie together. Think about what implications these might have for work and lifestyle choices.

Activity 3: Decision-making

Decision-making is a critical part of career planning. Just like any other skill, it needs time and practice to master.

Primary school students’ activities:

Activity 1: Awareness of occupations

You could build a Lego neighbourhood or a town with houses, shops, garages, and recreational spaces. In the process, talk about the different roles that people perform.

Activity 2: Occupations out and about

Next time you visit a museum, local park or sport, science or environmental centre, talk about the work that people do there. 

Activity 3: Alphabet careers

On a long car journey or walk together, pass the time by playing a variation of the alphabet game. This game could enhance your child’s occupation awareness.