According to a report by the World Economic Forum, 65% of kids in primary school will find themselves later in life in fields and careers that do not currently exist. If this information seems rather startling to you, then you need to start thinking about the future and the necessary steps to prepare your children for our ever-changing world.
However, jobs will be radically different; requiring an entirely new set of skills. Therefore, your child will need a more comprehensive understanding of some subjects, even those topics that exceed the information covered in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs.
As a parent, it is our job to arm them with the right skill set needed for success. Below, are some points to consider when you are wondering how to prepare your child for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Provide Exposure
The best experience is gained through real-life situations. This holds true will all subjects, including emerging technologies. Your child will only truly understand the internal operations of such tech by engaging with it and watching it as it functions in the world. This may seem complicated, but you do not need to take your child to a large, industrial-scale factory to achieve that level of exposure.
There are many different, promising technologies and products that are available for use at home. These allow your child the freedom to interact with emerging technologies on their own time. Just make sure to inform them of the underlying concepts, and how and where they can learn more.
For, example if you get an Amazon Echo device for your home, tell your child that it is part of a broader concept called the Internet of Things (IoT). The Internet of Things is based on an interconnected system of smart machines that collaborate and function without human intervention.
This concept will eventually allow autonomous vehicles to communicate with each other. Help your child understand and develop the basics of these concepts, which they then can build on in the future.
Children are highly impressionable. When nurtured in a positive manner, they can be encouraged to further their interest in a particular field by finding a person who inspires them.
Let’s be honest, there is no shortage of influencers; from those with large followings, to individuals only known by others in their field. Countless people are striving towards redefining our futures, while inspiring others.
Allowing your child to be exposed to articles and journals about modern, innovative, and maybe eccentric entrepreneurs helps them envision their own success.
Elon Musk is an example of an eccentric inventor. Today, he owns his own rocket company – SpaceX. He fulfilled his dream of building reusable rockets, thereby redefining the field forever. Encourage your children to continue reading and dreaming about their future endeavors.
There are various fields that play a major part in the creation and refinement of future technological breakthroughs. It is vital to choose areas that genuinely interest them. Make sure that they are exposed to all aspects of their chosen field and what comprise realistic expectations. Providing them with examples that will help them understand what their career path may look like.
For example, Jackson Hedden is a world-renowned product and industrial designer who has worked with major brands like Bentley Motors, LEGO, and Gillette. One of his most famous creations is the Particleboard, a solar powered electric skateboard. An idea which fuses the conventional design of a skateboard with modern, sustainable urban transportation needs.
Use this to begin a conversation with your child. Look at Jackson Hedden’s concept, and see if they can be inspired to create something of their own. Take an ordinary product and try to give it a unique ability or look that makes it more valuable in the future.
For a child to develop an understanding of a subject or design process, it is vital to keep it simple. Nothing puts off a learner more than having to grapple with too many complicated concepts, techniques, and terms simultaneously.
To Wrap Things Up
Our children today are tomorrow’s adults. They will need to strive and succeed in a world that will require them to have a profound knowledge of futuristic concepts and methodologies that will one day become the norm. By early exposure, encouragement, and practice, children can become prepared for skills that will make sure they have secure, long-term jobs in the future.
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