Your child’s future ‘dream jobs’ and the best way parents can support them

Any parent will tell you, kids have big dreams – and rightly so. One week they’re determined to become a vet, the next they want to be a footballer, or a YouTuber or an astronaut!

And it can sometimes be difficult to know how seriously to take these ambitions. Should you encourage them and help them pursue ambitions of greatness? Or is it better to gently steer them towards something that feels more realistic?

The truth is, changing your mind about what you want to be when you grow up is a normal part of childhood. Here, Ed Kim, VP of Education at Code Ninjas, explains why changing ambitions is usually a positive sign – and what parents should focus on instead of getting bogged down in the job title.

Why changing their mind is a good thing:

Children aren’t supposed to have their future mapped out at a young age. In fact, research suggests it’s far more common for them to change their aspirations than stick with the same one. A recent study found that around 60% of children between the ages of 7 and 11 changed their career ambitions over a three-year period.

When you think about it, that makes perfect sense. Children are constantly discovering new interests and ideas, meeting new people – with new jobs – and learning more about the world around them. What excites them today may be completely different six months from now.

At Code Ninjas, we see this regularly. Some children join because they love video games, others are fascinated by robots or technology. As they explore new skills and experiences, those interests often evolve, and this is something we actively encourage.

What should parents focus on instead?

Employers and education experts consistently point towards qualities that can be applied in almost any role. The ability to solve problems, communicate ideas, work with others and adapt when things don’t go to plan will remain valuable whether a child becomes a teacher, engineer, designer or something that doesn’t even exist yet.

The good news is these skills don’t need to be taught through career planning. They develop naturally when children tackle challenges, when they build things, as they learn new skills, start to work in teams and persevere when something doesn’t work first time. Leaning into these life skills is the best possible approach to building strong foundations for future success.

What is your child really telling you?

When a child announces they want to be a vet, a footballer or a YouTuber or even an astronaut, they’re often telling you less about their future career plans and more about what lights them up and makes them feel good.

A child who wants to be a vet may simply love animals. A future footballer might be drawn to competition, teamwork or achievement. The child who dreams of becoming a YouTuber may actually be interested in storytelling, self-expression and sharing things they care about with others. The aspiring astronaut may be fascinated by discovery, adventure or understanding how the world works.

Next time you ask, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” listen to the answer and then talk about what appeals to them about that role, rather than focusing on the job itself.

How to encourage ambition without adding pressure:

It’s perfectly possible to encourage ambition without expecting children to have all the answers.

Instead of focusing on outcomes, focus on rewarding effort and enthusiasm.

A child who wants to be an astronaut doesn’t need a five-year plan! You could certainly discuss some of the academic skills required for certain roles but, more than a feeling of perceived expectation, children need encouragement to stay curious, an environment in which they feel safe to ask questions and support to explore the things they enjoy.

This could look like trying out clubs and groups where your child can be with enthusiastic children of a similar age or seeking out experiences as a family where there are opportunities to see or even participate in the action.

What should you say when the dream changes again next week?

When children announce a new dream job, the instinct can be to judge whether it’s realistic. A more useful approach is often to explore what’s behind the idea. These conversations help children think more deeply about their interests without feeling pressured to commit. Children do not need to decide what they want to be for the rest of their lives. After all, even most adults don’t stick to one career.

Most adults change careers too:

Perhaps the most reassuring thing for parents to remember is that many adults don’t stay in the same profession for life either. Research suggests people now move through multiple careers during their working lives – anywhere between three and seven on

average. Retraining, changing industries and developing new skills has become increasingly common and is often to be celebrated.

If adults don’t always know exactly what they want to do long term, expecting a child to settle on a future profession at eight or nine years old is setting a much higher standard than we apply to ourselves. The careers they aspire to may change. The confidence to learn, adapt and try new things is what we should encourage them to keep hold of.

For more information about Code Ninjas, visit www.codeninjas.co.uk