Parenting Tweens

Remember when you asked your daughter at age 3 what she wanted to be when she grew up? Did she say a ballerina or a teacher? How about the boys out there at age 3. If they are like mine, they wanted to be a fireman or an army soldier.

Obviously things change as kids get older, and so do their tastes in jobs. Some of this is because they realize just how dangerous some jobs really are, or how hard it is to make a dream a reality. For whatever reason, your child may go through 10 to 20 different occupations before graduating from high school.

Just for fun, here is a list of careers that are popular among the tween set these days, taken by a neighborhood poll. While some of these occupations seem sensible, don't fret when your child changes his mind to something different in a year or two (or a month or two!).

Girls

• Actress
• Singer
• Veterinarian
• Teacher
• Model/Fashion Designer

Boys

• Chef
• Web Designer
• Professional Sports Player
• Mechanic
• Business Owner
• Artist

It is interesting to note that most tweens choose career interests based on what their parents do, or by learning about something cool someone else they know is doing (an uncle/aunt, cousin, etc.). Another thing that catches a tween's interest in a job is what he is good at doing, i.e., sports, navigating a computer, etc.

As a parent, it is important to encourage your tween's creativity and ambitions, even when they change. If you can get them involved in their interests through classes or programs, go for it! My advice is to not give them unrealistic encouragement, but rather gentle and loving support, and just enjoy where they are now with what they want to be later.