According to a survey carried out by education savings expert Universitas Financial, 20% of children aged 6 to 16 years aspire to a job in the field of healthcare and social services when they grow up. Professional occupations (lawyer, teacher, engineer) come second with 13%, while 12% would rather become artists (singer, actor) and another 11% showed interest in the field of science and technology (biologist, computer scientist).
Proud parents, a motivation
While the parents surveyed were extremely proud of their children’s ambitions, many wondered how to support them so as to teach them perseverance. Here are what they thought were the five best ways to encourage their kids to achieve their dreams:
- Recognize their achievements and help them overcome difficulties.
- Be involved in their education: help with homework, attend parent-teacher meetings and ask questions, etc.
- Mention how important education is when starting your career.
- Ensure they find a balance between academics and extracurricular activities.
- Save for their education so they can pursue the studies of their choice.
Give them the means to succeed
Again among the parents surveyed, most believed that their children’s education would cost them between $15,000 and $25,000 when, in reality, it currently costs close to $100,000 to complete two years of CEGEP and three years of university in Quebec, including housing expenses. However, thanks to the generous government grants offered when contributing to a registered education savings plan, parents can be ready to help their children pay for their school-related expenses when the time comes.
To conclude, we have found some expert advice on what are the keys to school perseverance. Here they are:
- Show interest in what your children are passionate about and encourage them every day to pursue their dreams. Remember that success and perseverance should not be limited to academics; kids should achieve goals in every aspect of their lives, whether when practicing sports or during their cultural or extracurricular activities.
- Be a part of your children’s education by helping them do their homework, reaching out to their teachers, and asking for help when they are facing difficulties to which you don’t have the answer; there are many resources out there, such as School Success, to help and support struggling students every step of the way.
- Focus on their strengths and help them overcome difficulties on their own; don’t concentrate on their struggles, or else they will become discouraged.
- Congratulate them on their efforts as much as their successes.
Sources:
- Survey: Métiers de rêve des enfants québécois de 6-16 ans (December 4 to 26, 2013, online survey using a Web panel which included 1,000 Quebec parents)
- Fédération des comités de parents du Québec : Soutenir mon enfant. Guide des parents. Pour mieux suivre mon enfant à l’école. Premier cycle du primaire.
- Naître et grandir: Persévérance scolaire (http://naitreetgrandir.com/fr/etape/5-8-ans/ecole/fiche.aspx?doc=perseverance-scolaire#_Toc452134441)
- Survey: Indice REEE Universitas (2016).
- http://www.alloprof.qc.ca/
- Cost to complete two years of CEGEP and three years of university in Quebec, housing included. Yearly increase of 1.7%. Sources: Ministère de l’Éducation, du Loisir et du Sport, Ministère de la Famille du Québec, Statistics Canada and CMHC
