Encourage open communication.
As a parent, it can be difficult to know when and how to talk about your kids' future. But the sooner you start the conversation, the more prepared they'll be for their next step in life. Encourage open communication by asking questions like: What do you want to do after high school? Where do you see yourself living? Who do you want to be friends with? Do any of these questions make you uncomfortable or nervous--and why?
How does this relate back to our earlier point about talking about money with your kids? Well…it's important because if there is no money available for college or other educational pursuits (like trade schools), then this will affect how they view their future!
Help Your Child Set Goals
You can help your child set goals by:
Encouraging them to set short-term and long-term goals.
Breaking the goal down into manageable steps. For example, if they want to learn how to ride a bike, they might break this down into smaller parts like learning how to balance on two wheels or pedaling with one foot on the ground at first.
Monitoring their progress as they work toward their goal, and celebrating small successes along the way!
Teach Your Child About Finances
Teach your child about budgeting.
Explain the importance of savings and investing.
Talk about credit scores, and how they can affect your child's future financial well-being.
Discuss responsible spending habits with your children so they understand that money is a finite resource and should be spent wisely.
Encourage Education
When you talk with your children about their future, be sure to emphasize the importance of education. They should know that it's not enough to simply go to college and get a degree--they need to take advantage of all the opportunities available at school, such as internships and extracurricular activities.
Encourage them to explore different career paths so that they can find out which one is right for them. Also explain how networking is important when looking for jobs; many employers will look at an applicant's social media profiles before deciding whether or not they want him or her as an employee!
Teach Your Child About Healthy Habits
When you talk with your kids about their future, it's important to teach them the importance of healthy habits.
Discuss the importance of good nutrition. Show them how eating well can help them stay strong and healthy.
Explain how getting enough sleep can help them feel better in school and at home.
Encourage regular physical activity by taking walks together or playing sports as a family (if they're interested).
Be a Good Role Model
A good role model is one who sets a positive example for their children. Be the parent that your child can look up to and learn from, and they'll be more likely to follow in your footsteps.
One way you can lead by example is by handling stress in healthy ways. If you're stressed out about something, try not to take it out on others or make them feel bad about themselves just because they aren't as successful as someone else might be right now. Instead of yelling at them when they make a mistake or get an F on their test paper (which will only make them feel worse), explain why it's important for them not only academically but also socially if they want friends later down the road!
Provide Resources and Support
Help your child find mentors. If you know someone in your community who works in a field that interests your child, ask them to meet with him or her. This could be a family friend, neighbor or even someone at church or school who has experience working in the field that interests your child.
Offer resources to help your child explore different career paths. There are many websites out there that can help you learn more about different careers and what they entail--from salary information to job requirements and educational requirements needed for entry into certain fields (like nursing).
Encourage your child to take advantage of internships and job shadowing opportunities. These experiences allow students an opportunity to get hands-on experience with real-world situations before committing themselves fully into pursuing any particular career path as an adult!
Help Your Child Develop Self-Confidence
Help your child identify their strengths and weaknesses.
Encourage your child to take risks.
Celebrate your child's successes, even if they are small ones!
Prepare Your Child for Challenges
You can prepare your child for challenges by teaching them problem-solving skills and helping them develop resilience. One way to do this is by talking about how other people have faced similar problems in the past, and how they overcame those challenges. For example, if your child has trouble with math, talk about how someone else might have felt when they were learning math as well. Then share some strategies that person used that helped them succeed at solving equations or fractions or whatever it was that was giving them trouble.
Another way to help kids develop resilience is by teaching them how to handle failure: "I know it's hard when things don't go our way," we say sympathetically after they've had an argument with a friend; "Everyone makes mistakes sometimes," we tell our daughter when she drops her ice cream cone on the sidewalk; "It's okay not knowing everything right away--we all learn at different speeds," we reassure our son when he struggles with his homework assignment for two hours before finally giving up because he couldn't figure out what 2x+4 equals (and then going outside).