tell me about your 10 years old who have already decided what they want to do in future

[mom17]

I met couple of kids who are already very clear with what they want to do and all big big things like medical in Oxford, science/Engi @ standford etc. and my DS has no idea what he wants to do? Seeing UCAS point system and Ivy leagues requirements, seems we should plan since Yr1-Yr2 around. Tell me your child story if they also have similar vision for their future and what are they doing to achieve this and how you as a parent, are helping it ?

[mom17]

sorry for typos, can't edit now.

[Clonakilty]

Why are you worried about this? Things are likely to change several times before your child reaches 18. You cannot decide how your child will spend half a century of her/his working life.

[schbittery]

I think what 10y olds say and do and what 17y olds actually do are often 2 very different things.

I personally dont think there is anyway you really know you want to be, say a doctor, when you're still in primary school and haven't even done proper human biology yet, don't know what organic chemistry is and have no experience of labs etc. I know a lot of kids who say they want to be doctors or lawyers because their parents are, maybe, but they can't really want it for themselves until secondary school I think.

I tend to concentrate on getting them up to the next stage - eg primary school to good secondary - then let them worry about secondary - uni/work as, really, it's up to them by then surely.

[redskytonight]

My 10 year old wants to be a writer.

Whilst her writing is good, I have strong suspicions that reality will kick in during her teenage years, if not earlier.

As far as I can tell (unless your child wants to be a professional musician or something that needs specific input) nothing she is likely to do until post 16 will influence what she can or can't do in later life. (assuming she doesn't fail all her exams or something that is)

[LadyMonicaBaddingham]

DS2 can't decide between builder, doctor, teacher or farmer.

DS1 wants to be a game designer. Or a pelican

[BakewellSliceAgain]

Most 10 year olds have no clue. Many choose something and change later.

I think following up on interests is a good idea.

But my biggest job as I see it is to give my children background knowledge of the world ( to the best of my limited ability ) and encourage them to take up their own particular path. This means I have forced some history on my 11 year old this summer though I've been told it's all boring..

My eldest is about to go off and study the "family subject" as it were and I fear it is not the right choice but one borne of familiarity. We shall see and I hope I am wrong!

[Balletgirlmum]

Dd knew what she wanted to do at age 10. She had a plan as to how to achieve it which included attending a normal academic school but lots of extra curricular.

However a last minute change of mind led to her attending a specialist school.

[HarrietVane99]

My 10 year old wants to be a writer.

I knew that I wanted to be a writer when I was younger than ten.

But that's an ambition that can be pursued at the same time as school, work, etc. Read a lot, write a lot, get lots of varied RL experience, especially interacting with people, and don't expect instant success.

It might have to take a backseat for a while when things like exams take precedence, it might take decades, but if she wants it badly enough, she'll get there eventually.

[InNeedOfABatcave3]

My ten year old wants to be an astronaut. She does very well in science maths in school so I see no reason why she can't. I'm quite happy to encourage it because I think girls doing stem subjects needs to happen more. She's very determined so good luck to her.

I on the other hand didn't have a clue what I wanted to be until now. It's so hard to decide what to do with the rest of your life when you don't know who you are.

[Stillunexpected]

Seriously? Chill. I find it difficult to believe that many 10 year olds in this country even know where Stanford is! You only ever seem to post about your child's education, extracurriculars etc all in an effort to push them forwards. Ten year olds don't need to know what they are going to do in life, they just need a good all-round education and support in whatever outside activities they enjoy - be it sport, music, drama or something else. Seriously, if your DS decided he wanted to be a doctor right now, what extra do you need to do to support him right now? Send him to Medical summer school? Start dissections on the kitchen table?

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

Ds2 has been obsessed with all things Japanese since he was about 8. It started with an interest in manga and anime. Now at 18 he's (grades permitting, should be ok) off to study Japanese at uni in September, and at presenr he's certain he wants to live in Japan.

DS1 wanted to be a pro footballer at 6, and is still on that course at 20.

Ds3 (15) not a scooby what he wants to do. No interests and no idea. I think that's more common tbh.

[BakewellSliceAgain]

For the would be astronaut get joining a scout group and later cadet force. But she probably knows that!

[AnotherUsernameBitesTheDust]

Calm down!

When one of my DTs was 10 he wanted to go to a boarding school, study physics at Oxford and then work for the European Space Agency. He had it all planned out.

He's 12 now, at a state secondary and has no idea what he wants to do other than something science based.

They change their minds all the time.

My 17 yo was going to be an archaeologist or geologist for years. Now he's certain he doesn't want to go to uni, so will be looking for a job next year.

My other 3 don't have a clue what they want to do.

[TeaBelle]

I 'knew' at age 10 that I wanted to be a special needs teacher until I worked in a school as a ta for 2 years. All I would advise is that you encourage any child to take a breadth of options when they can choose their subjects, so that they aren't limiting their options too much

[gillybeanz]

My dd has known since she was 3 what she wants to do, she is 12 years old now and already specialising in what she wants to do.
There has been a lot of work, some aspects have had to wait a few years for growth, maturity etc but she is on her way.
She is known to professionals and professors in the industry and has several high profile names supporting her career. She is considered a Prodigy and is exceptionally gifted.

Our other 2 had no idea what they wanted to do and as grown ups now, have steady normal jobs. Neither are particularly gifted, but as a mum obviously I can see their individual talents, strengths and love them just as much as the gifted one.

[gillybeanz]

Sorry, I missed your questions.
To support this we allow her to attend a specialist school and board. We don't have much money but she receives bursaries and soon, hopefully, a sponsorship deal.
There is absolutely no chance of her changing her mind, she is driven, determined and very motivated.
Please don't think I'm boasting though as our other 2 were/ are quite normal and had a normal childhood. dd has been anything but normal.
All had same encouragement, support and upbringing.

[tribpot]

My ds has wanted to be a volcanologist since he was about 5. He's now 11. One of his friends wants to study rugby at university :)

[CeciCC]

I have 2 DDs, DD1 has know since she is 7 what she wants to be and she has been working toward getting her goal. She is 15 now and she knows what university she wants to go to study for her chosen career. I have been very supportive of her vision, taking her to workshops which allow her to learn more and get more experiences. At the moment, is all I can do. Her chosen career is very creative which worries me, as it will depend on if people like it or not that she is successful, so I try to teach her to be strong and accept people criticism and other points of view, which for a 15 year old sometimes that is an impossible task.
Youngest DD is 11 and is worried that she doesn't know yet as her older sister has known for years. I keep telling her not to worry, that her sister is not the norm, and a lot of people don't know what they want to be age 11.

[gillybeanz]

CeciCC

I totally agree with you it isn't the norm and others shouldn't worry if they don't know.
Our eldest is almost 25 and has only just decided the career path he wants to take after having numerous low skilled jobs since leaving uni.
His path is completely unrelated to his degree. Ds2 works in a call centre and atm it suits him fine, he is 21.
We were lucky that we found the school that fits dd needs, as close as can be and all the other children are exactly the same as hr and reaching for the same dreams and ambitions.
I find people presume that dd has been pushed, that we are tiger parents.
Usually until I tell them about her older siblings.

[ImperialBlether]

At my son's first parents' evening at secondary school, I asked his music teacher which degree he'd taken. Music was the only thing my son really loved in school. He told us all about it and seven years later my son was on the same course. He'd only applied for one on UCAS (drove his teachers mad.) He's like that, though - he gets obsessive and luckily, so far, it's paid off.

[schbittery]

My 11y old hasnt got a clue either - he does, however, know what he wants to do in his gap year and has it all mapped out already :)

[LunaLoveg00d]

You really don't need to be worrying about this now.

My eldest who is 13 is definitely headed for a science/maths/computing type career but has no idea what sort of degree he wants to do. In the next couple of years he'll start refining his choices of subjects at school and thinking more in depth about what he'd like to do.

My daughter is 10 and has a vague idea that she'd like to be a Primary school teacher but we are definitely NOT putting on the pressure about UCAS at this stage.

[welliesandwine]

My 10 yr old DD wants to be a waitress ...and has done since she was 6 😁

[Jasonandyawegunorts]

I wanted to drive around in a van all day solving mysteries with some friends and a dog... i was dead set on doing it too.

....I haven't got a van, friends or a dog.... and i've never unmasked anyone counterfitting money in an old funfair...

....
.... thanks OP you've made me realise I've not lived up to any of my childhood dreams.