THE ROLE OF PARENTS IN THE CAREER DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHILD

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.

BASIC ASSUMPTION OF THE STUDY

During the cause of thorough research on the role of parents in the career development of the child, the following assumptions were made;

Most parents who choose career for their children or ward actually do so to suit their selfish interest.     Some parents choose career for their children based on the financial acquaintance of the career.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The scope of this study covered five primary schools in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area and it examines how the relationship between parents and children, the psychology of the parents and the educational background of the parents determines the role they play in their child’s career development process.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Guardian: Somebody who is legally entrusted with the duty of managing somebody else affairs, especially a minor.

Examine: To inspect or study somebody or something in details

Experimentation: Process of doing something new in order to see what happens.

Artificial: Unnatural

Barriers: Structures that prevent access or keeps one place separate from another

Relationship: Behaviour or feeling towards somebody else

Psychology: characteristics mental make up

Journal: A magazine or periodical published by a specialist containing contributions relevant to their area of activity.

Congruence: Appropriate in a particular situation.

Strata: A class in a society

Dedication: The hard work or effort that somebody puts into an activity because they think it is important.

Deteriorate: To become worse

Dismal: Sadness

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