Understanding Your Child

Your child needs your counsel and career advice.

We know our children well and have the advantage to encourage, affirm and direct them in ways others cannot. Children need you to help them discover a career path.

You and I have the distinct opportunity to study our child over a period of years. I recommend that you Discuss careers in many casual settings.. You’ll be surprised at what you can learn when children are given the freedom to reveal their desires.

If they feel safe with you, they’ll engage at a deep level. Just remember: they need your approval and acceptance. So, when they speak of BIG dreams, listen well.

Praise their strengths, mention possible careers – but let them learn to work and seek God to open doors and direct their paths.

In high school, research together the required education for different careers and the marketability of college majors. This will allow them to schedule classes and extracurricular activities that interest them.

Encourage them to shadow professionals in their field of interest and interview students in college who are pursuing majors they are considering. Find books and podcasts by those in the field. Visit colleges, universities, or workshops to expose them to a variety of educational options. This can motivate them to earn scholarships. They need to “own” their decision, so the time you invest is critical.

Teens need time to mature. Your job is to be their biggest cheerleader.. Plant Proverbs 3:5-6 in their minds, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”

One way we’ve found to be our kids’ biggest cheerleaders is by helping them understand how God designed them with Crown’s Career Direct Assessment. Learn more at crown.org/careergift