THE ROLE OF PARENTS IN THE CAREER DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHILD

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this research work is to examine the role of parents in the career development of the child. The research was carried out based on three research questions formulated by the researcher. The researcher then used questionnaire which was evenly distributed between five (5) primary schools in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of Edo State to elicit the views of various respondents. The data collected was tabulated and analyzed appropriately with the use of simple percentage method of data analysis and at the end it was discovered that parents really do not have a specific to play in the career development of the child since the role of parents would vary from time to time depending on the child’s decision to accept assistance or not. In this regards, all the parents needs to do is to be the child’s career counselor.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

According to the Oxford Advanced Learners dictionary (7th edition) career is the period of time that you spend in your life working or doing a particular thing while on the other hand development is the gradual growth of something so that it becomes more advanced, stronger etc. from the concept of the definition of both career and development, one would be quick to conclude that career development is the change, growth or improvement over a period of time in a job that someone spends most of his or her life working at. In order to achieve a successful career development process, it is important that the child’s personality or point of interest comes to congruence, with the chosen career, that is why Holland (1959) said, career development congruence, the most extensively studied topic in career development is how well an individual’s interest match with their career goals. In Holland’s theory, congruence is the agreement between an individual’s personality (i.e. their level of interest in either realistic, investigative, social, conventional, enterprising or artistic realms) and their occupational goals. Holland went further to say that when an individual’s personality is congruent with their occupational goal, there is little or nothing that can be done to influence their career choice and if otherwise, this might lead to lack of dedication in execution of career duty.

Another factor that can also contribute to the successful career development process in the child is the parent. Parents are the single most influential factors in the career development of their children, yet most parents are not adequately informed about how to help. Parents need to know how to use career information, how to assist in exploration, how to support development of interests and abilities and how to challenge the stereotypes facing their children.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

It has been seen that many parents across the strata of the society form the habit of choosing career for their children and from close observation, it was observed that the level of performance, dedication and seriousness to work of some of those people who had their career chosen for them by their parents deteriorates by the day and as such ends up in a dismal state. If not properly addressed, the problem of ending in the wrong profession may lead to lack of fulfillment in life, non-achievement of personal futuristic goals and sometimes underachievement in career life. It is against this backdrop that the researcher intends to examine the role of parents in the career development of the child.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

In order to guide this study, the following research questions will be considered. How does the relationship between the parents and the children determine the role of parents in the career development of the child? How does the psychology of the parents determine the role parents play in their child’s career development?How does the educational background of the parents determine the role they play in their child’s career development?

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The purpose of this study is to examine in details the role of parents in the career development of the child, how parents can assist their children in career development. This study will also help parents to understand how to help the child create many opportunities for experimentation and how to help the child to tear down artificial limits or barriers to career development.