PW invited parents from Amarjyoti Saraswati International School, Bhavnagar to share their thoughts on how they introduce children to diverse career options

“As parents, we carefully observed our children Anisha (class 8) and Ronit (former student of ASIS) from youngest age to identify their interests, strengths and weaknesses in scholastic and non-scholastic activities making mental notes of what our children do best. As much as we have encouraged them to excel academically, we have also ensured they develop the reading habit to learn about the fine arts, music, dance, and experience the team-building spirit of sports and games among other co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. The idea is to help them explore diverse career options.” — Chintan Parekh, businessman (Industrial Jewels)

“For 21st century learners, it is imperative to start moving towards your goals from childhood. The academic lessons our son Aviraj (class VI) has learnt from childhood coupled with moral lessons his elders have taught him are the first steps of career building. Choosing a school that provides an enabling environment also plays a significant role. I strongly believe children get a clear understanding of what interests them through participation in diverse scholastic and non-scholastic activities. Therefore, we encourage him to explore all his interests so he can set his goal for a future career.” — Niketa Acharya, assistant teacher, Smt. N.C. Gandhi School, Bhavnagar

“As parents our constant endeavour has been to transform our son Saad (class 10) into a responsible adult with a mature outlook. Without being over-indulgent, we have supported his every decision regarding future career options. We have given him the liberty, motivation, and time to discover and pursue his interests and goals as we understood early on that he needed the time and space to discover what he truly wants to pursue. We have educated him that life is about self-discovery and developing new skills and talents” — Dr. S A Chauhan, dental surgeon

“As a parent, I believe three key factors shape a child’s growth: parental effort, supportive school, and a nurturing home environment. Choosing the right school for our young son Sakanksh (5) was our first priority. Apart from providing a well-rounded education, his school also focuses on small city tours and career exploration which motivates him to discover his interests. At home, we encourage Sakanksh’s curiosity about various careers by reading aloud from relevant books and watching documentaries together.” — Subhasis Mohanty, senior engineer at Renew Pvt Ltd, Bhavnagar