As the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exam approaches, students are nervously preparing, and parents are likely concerned about their children's further education and career paths. When children face uncertainties about their educational paths, how can parents ease their worries? First, we can understand our role in career planning and then provide ample support, allowing our children to shine on their own stage.
Becoming Attentive Listeners: Encouraging Children to Share Their Thoughts
Career planning is a process of self-awareness, enabling children to continuously understand and develop their abilities, interests, and aspirations. There is no standard answer for everyone’s future, and perspectives can change over time, influenced by circumstances and personal experiences. Therefore, ongoing positive interaction between parents and children is more important than reaching conclusions. Parents can effectively use "active listening" techniques, such as nodding to show interest in the conversation, making children feel understood. They can also ask open-ended questions like, "What do you want to become in five years?" and "Why have you set these life goals?" to gain insights into their children's views on the future. Both parties may not find answers immediately, but parents should remember that attentive listening and respectful discussion are crucial for building lasting positive interactions.
Letting Go at the Right Time: Allowing Children to Explore Diverse Interests
Among the many interest classes and activities available, parents can let their children explore different possibilities, while also observing and discovering their strengths. If teenagers wish to turn their interests into careers and pursue their ideals, parents should accept this as a normal desire. For instance, if a child wants to pursue a career in video production, some parents might have already planned a different path for them, leading to a gap between parental expectations and the child’s aspirations. Additionally, young people seek recognition during their growth; if parents dismiss their ideas early on, it may affect their relationship. Parents should consider giving children opportunities, such as setting a timeframe for them to learn and hone their filming skills, regularly reflecting on the learning process together, and discussing the viability of pursuing video production as a career. At the right moment, parents can revisit the idea of making that interest a profession. By then, both parties will likely have a better understanding of the interest and the child's development, increasing the chances of reaching a consensus.
Walking Together with Children: Preparing for the Future
The key to grasping further education and employment information lies in walking alongside children. If parents unilaterally convey information to their children, it may create pressure; conversely, if parents allow children to gather information on their own, they might feel lost without direction. Many online platforms provide rich resources on career planning, further education, and employment information, such as the Life Planning Information Websiteestablished by the Education Bureau. Parents might consider exploring the latest educational pathways and career options with their children to prepare for the future.
By reading relevant books, children can gain more information, and parental involvement in sharing insights can help them plan their careers more systematically. Parents can recommend good books on career planning from Hong Kong Reading City.