In the previous post , we talked about what parents should do to help and encourage children towards making right career choices. In Part II of this series, we discuss the things that parents should consciously avoid while handholding their child through the career development process.
What should they not be doing-
parents can be an important and positive influence in decisions affecting a young person's vocational development.
Parents should not do the following -
· Be over-involved or excessively controlling in the decision-making process, as it can undermine parental effects as a positive source of influence.
· Parents should be cautioned against imposing their own goals on to their children or seeing their child’s accomplishments as a reflection on themselves.
· Parents should show genuine interest and support for their adolescents‘ career plans, they must allow adolescents to discover who they are on their own.
· Some teenagers fear the disapproval of their parents if they pursue a career in art/drama/music as opposed to a practical high-earning occupation such as law or medicine. If parents make it clear that they have no specific expectations for their child’s career, he/she will feel free to explore a greater variety of professions, choosing one based on their own preferences rather than those of their parents.
· It is important to stay positive otherwise it can become a stressful time for all involved. Parents unwittingly can make the past seem perfect and the future terrifying.
· Parents should guard against shooting down ideas their children may have about their future careers. If they react negatively, it may shut down the whole exploration process.