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Learnings from a
Parents Journey:
Sudha Kumar, with a
daughter in Grade 11
Reassure your children that its fine to be
unsure: Some children are sure about what
they want to do while others are not. At this
stage, children can become anxious, especially
if their peers have clarity and they themselves
dont. As parents, we need to assure them that
they still have time to make up their minds,
and it is more important to focus on doing well
at school at this stage.
Be open about the choices your children
make: The idea is to help your children explore
options. So, as wild as their choice may seem
to you, do not dismiss it offhand. Keep an
open mind and try and understand why they
are thinking about a particular area. A few
discussions can lend clarity to both the child
and you. She may either outgrow the idea or
identify new areas to explore; alternately she
may convince you on its merits!
Take outside help: As I knew next to nothing
about my childs area of interest, I spoke to a
few people and set up a couple of meetings for
my daughter. This helped to give her a realistic
picture of what she could expect from her career.
Think of ways to ascertain interest: Many
children do not have the exposure to really
decide whether they are passionate about a
subject while they are in high school. So they
often simply pick subjects they do well in. No
harm in that, but it may also be good to explore
further by organising internships with friends/
family or asking the child to do a summer project
by choosing a topic from the area of interest.
Do your own research: One of the challenges
that parents face today is a lack of understanding
of the choices available. As your child approaches
high school, become well-informed yourself by
talking to people and reading a lot. Assimilate
what is before you so that when the time comes
you can actually facilitate the process.
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