A new CERIC-funded study by Memorial University researchers will examine the influence that parents and teachers have on the career development process of young children.

Understanding Young Children’s Career Development as a Developmental/Relational Process: Engaging Parents, Schools, and Community focuses on the roles that parents and teachers play in the career and educational development of young children, preschool to grade 3. Much of the existing research explores the career development of youth and young adults; more study is warranted on young children’s career development, which is what this study strives to accomplish.

A main goal of this study is to empower and engage parents and teachers to become more aware of young children’s career development and teach them how to employ dynamic and interactional career development strategies. The study also aims to:

  • Examine young children’s career development, particularly similarities and differences among children from diverse contexts, including Aboriginal children
  • Explore the role of intentionality in parents’ day-to-day interactions with their children and how this may effect career development; and
  • Understand the dynamics and interactional patterns of family, school and media, and the possible implications for children’s career development.

Knowledge from this project will be disseminated among researchers, practitioners and parents and will include the development of a guidebook for parents and teachers.

CERIC provides funding for research as well as learning projects in career development. Understanding Young Children’s Career Development as a Developmental/Relational Process supports research in one of CERIC’s key Practical & Academic Research areas – early intervention to assist children’s career decision-making.

The lead researchers on this project are Dr Mildred Cahill and Dr Edith Furey. Dr Cahill is a Full Professor in Counselling Psychology at the Faculty of Education at Memorial University of Newfoundland. She has conducted several research projects and has presented her findings widely at presentations, workshops and as a keynote speaker. Dr Furey is an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education at Memorial University of Newfoundland. She is an experienced K-12-practising educator with 28 years of experience in various capacities, including special education, school administration and school district director/CEO.

The research project will run until April 2016.