With another school year creeping up on us this summer, it’s never too early to start preparing your kids for college and careers. Trust us when we say the sooner you start, the better. This is especially true when they become teenagers and usually the “critical life advice” goes in one ear and out the other. With that being said, here are six tips that will help you adequately prepare your kids for college and careers:
6 Tips for Preparing Your Kids For College & Careers
Help them develop a strong work ethic. Your children need to learn how to work hard and be responsible. They will need these skills when they go to college or start their careers in whatever they choose. Consider these ideas for helping your children develop a strong work ethic:
- Encourage them to get a part-time job during high school and teach them to budget their time and money. If they’re more of the entrepreneurial type, even better! Check out some tips to encourage entrepreneurship in your children HERE.
- Teach them to be responsible by giving them chores to do around the house. Implementing a family economy in your home can benefit everyone.
- Lead by example. Show them how hard work and dedication can pay off.
Encourage them to get involved in extracurricular activities. Extracurricular activities are an excellent way for your children to explore their interests and develop new skills. They can also help your children stand out when applying to colleges or jobs.
- There are many extracurricular activities your kids can get involved in, such as sports, clubs, and community service projects. Help them find an activity they’re passionate about and encourage them to stick with it.
- Lead by example and take part in sports, volunteering, and craft projects.
- Not sure what they’re interested in or where to start? Check out our video HERE that talks all about getting on your children’s level and connecting with their interests! We promise these tips will create a much stronger relationship between you and your children.
Teach them how to manage their time and money wisely. They will need these skills when they go to college or start their careers.
- Encourage them to budget their time and money. Teach them how to set goals and make a plan to achieve those goals.
- Teach them financial literacy by encouraging them to save and invest their money wisely.
- We go even more in-depth on teaching kids financial literacy, entrepreneurship, running a business, and more with our Futurepreneur program HERE!
Help them identify their strengths and weaknesses. It will help them choose the right college major and career path for themselves.
- Encourage them to take aptitude tests. Help them assess their skills and interests.
- Taking part in extracurricular activities will also help them identify their strengths, weaknesses, and passions.
Teach them the importance of networking.
- Networking is an essential skill for your children to learn. In addition, knowing your trust relationships within your family and utilizing these relationships is just as important!
- Our Start Young, Go Far Guide teaches kids all about the value equation and how to choose networks that work in their favor HERE. Highlight the value of networking by encouraging them to attend college fairs and job fairs to meet people in their field of interest. A few more ideas include:
- Encourage them to stay in touch with their teachers and mentors. Help them build a strong network of professional contacts.
Enroll them in pre-college courses and workshops. Pre-college courses are an excellent way for your children to prepare for college. These courses can help them improve their study skills, time-management skills, and assessment skills.
- Pre-college courses include life-skills courses, time-management courses, assessment-skills courses, and college-prep workshops. Also, encourage resume-building classes and cover-letter workshops.
- Most colleges and universities offer these courses. You can also use online resources to help build essential skills for your child’s future.
- We highly encourage you to learn more about our Futurepreneur program, which is all about teaching kids life skills they might not learn in school. For more information, click HERE!
As a parent, feel confident in preparing your children for college and their future careers by registering for our FREE Masterclass: Start Young, Go Far!
