It's important for parents and guardians to take an active role in encouraging their children’s learning. This doesn’t mean deciding their paths for them, however. Instead, parents should simply ensure that their children are provided with the tools and resources they need to explore their interests and cultivate their skills.
Lifelong Learning This allows children to discover the world and develop a passion for learning, which will follow them into adulthood. Lifelong learning means constant stimulation from the world, allowing anyone to consistently find motivation and goals in life. It also means a desire to better themselves and be equipped with new skills and knowledge, to enrich their surroundings. All of this will result in a greater mind and will have a positive impact on the learner's mental health in the long run. Intrigued? Every path can foster lifelong learning, as long as the right guidance is provided. See how the varying fields below have extended learning beyond school and into careers.
Teachers and educators
In order to teach, one has to continuously learn. Teachers are responsible for educating future generations, and this means that they should be on top of developments in education. Fortunately, sharing knowledge is a two-way street, and teachers can end up learning from their students, too! Of course, being responsible for the growth of others is a huge weight. Fostering your child’s empathy and patience from a young age helps. Some schools even offer tutoring clubs, which your young learner may be interested in.
Archeologists
Archeologists unravel history and discover the once-unknown. Archeologists in Montana have been able to contextualize the lifestyle of indigenous people by the Yellowstone Lake, for example, by simply examining the evidence left behind. This is an exciting field, and one that can pique your child's interest. Providing them with related toys like handheld shovels, brushes, or clay and dig kits could be a great start. Looking into local libraries or online programs on archeology can help as well.
Museum curator
Children who display a similar interest in history can look towards becoming a museum curator. Museum curators need to be up-to-date on information because they represent the museum and exhibits in interviews, press conferences, or panel discussions.
Compared to an archeologist, however, who tends to pursue specialized degrees, many museum curators focus on their bachelors in history. That is because degrees in history can impart many key skills such as research skills, creativity, and even oral communication and people skills, which will help curators in the public-facing nature of the role.
Taking children to exhibits could help foster their appreciation for preserving and understanding the past. Many museums also offer interactive activities that are suitable for young learners, such as the afterschool Whizzard Academy and the STEAM Camps at the Children’s Museum of Montana.
Social Worker
Social work is affected by rapidly changing community needs and policies. This means that social workers need to be updated with the latest cultural, political, social, or economic data in order to help communities. Thousands of Montanans have decided to choose a career in social work to help individuals and families. If your child is compassionate, they may be interested in pursuing a degree in the field, although there's also the option for courses in sociology or psychology as well. Have a family day out volunteering at the local shelter or soup kitchen. Exposing your children to social work at a younger age will build up not just their empathy, but also emotional strength and resilience.
Writer
Stories aren't just limited by the author’s personal experiences. To make a story come alive then, one needs to do a substantial amount of research on themes, data, and much more.
This means studying and reading yourself! Expand your child’s creative horizons by supplying them with a variety of literature, and they may find the inspiration to create a story of their own.
In Closing Helping our children discover these paths doesn’t just enable them to find meaning in their careers. By allowing our kids to create and appreciate knowledge, we're also teaching them to encourage the cycle of learning in future generations as well.
Article contributed by Reena Janes
Exclusively for the
Children's Museum of Montana