So, let's do some brainstorming (careers that involve working with kids)...

[James81]

So, as I've said a few times before, I have a myriad of things that I'd like to do with my life beyond what I am currently doing (which is wildly unfulfilling but makes a decent living).

In the process of trying to figure out which direction I want to go in, I ALWAYS, and I mean for years, come back to two core elements that seem to have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember:

1. Writing
2. Children

Well, of course, the obvious solution to my issue then would be to write for children, right?

But, on the flip side, I am interested in what other careers out there could involve working with children.

Thus far, I have the obvious stuff:

Teacher/Counsellor
Developmental Psychologist (psychology seems to be interest I've had for a long time now)
Party Planner
Running a restaurant like Chuck E Cheese

So, now I look to you guys for more careers in the hopes that something one of you says will strike a chord and resonate with me.

What other types of things could one do to work with children?

[ssandra]

Hi,

By children I am assuming you mean age group 2 - 10 or something like that? Or also teenagers?

Anyway, here are some brainstorming ideas:

Reading group for children

Writers course for children

Babysitting

Day-care where you actually help the children develop creative skills (writing, "free" music, dancing, painting etc.)

Day-care where you teach children personal development (on their level of course)

hmmm that is about it for now... enjoy!

[KazeCraven]

Right now I'm headed into Cognitive Studies, and I'll be a part of the Peabody College of Education and Human Development within the week. Many of the things within that college are centered around opportunities for children, so I'll probably be able to give you some feedback if you still need it in a week or two.

I'm also interested in writing, literature, and poetry, so I might be able to come up with more options in that as well, as my college education picks up.

Being a psychology junkie, I'd suggest you consider looking at your personality type and trying on different professions that not only fit your interests of working with children and writing, but also don't clash with your personality type. The quick and easy way to do that is to take the MBTI, but if you are really interested in looking at personality, know that the best online tests have only about ~50% chance of getting your personality right, and the official test only has ~70% accuracy. I'd invite you also to look at temperament and interaction styles as well as cognitive processes. While you are at it, maybe some of the suggested (or even not suggested) career options will jump out at you?

Resources:
Understanding Berens' Interaction Styles
4temperaments.com -- Understanding Temperament Theory
Understanding the Eight Jungian Cognitive Processes / Eight Functions Attitudes

and Personality Test and Types (Jungian Psychological Typology) for what I believe is the best online test out there. Note that since you already know what you want to do, I acknowledge that it is counterproductive to choose career options that fit your 'type' but don't deal with writing or children.

[James81]

Thanks, man.

I took the personality test and came up with an interesting result:

ENFP - The "Advocate"

I used to take these tests and I'd always come up with "INFJ". But this is pretty reflective of the changes I've made in the past year, I think. (Both ENFP and INFJ fall under the "Visionary" section, though, which I thought was interesting)

But this was educational for me. Especially when I see the career lists under the type. Thanks.

[drakecatz]

I saw this post a couple of days ago and went, wow! The very first psychic reading I had in the eighties I was told I should be working with children, writing, or in the arts. My astrological chart is all about working with kids, or writing!

I have worked in the arts all my life. I would really like to work with or around kids and have been looking in that area. I would like to get an administration job at one of the high schools. I think teens are great!

Have you ever thought about teaching? Just from your photo I could see you as a coach. Or maybe a psychology teacher?

Have you considered going back to school to get a teaching degree? Another great thing about teaching is you can do it anywhere. It would insure that you could always live near your kids, (if you wanted,) if they moved for some reason.

Just some thoughts. Good luck in finding your path, and with finding a great new job!

[Dreamline]

You could teach creative writing to children, in groups. Like in a tutoring scenario or more of a "summer camp" scenario.

Jennifer

[ellie]

It's funny a while back (I posted about this) I was sure I found my destiny, which was to be a kindergarten teacher. I had never been so sure of it, that I just on a whim decided to find work in a kinder or a childcare centre, to make sure this is what I wanted to do, before I went on and did an extra year of study.

Well one thing I learnt was when I was totally committed to something I can get it. Pretty much I wrote from the heart a few letters (literally two) that I had no experience but would someone like to give me a chance. Basically the first job I applied for I got. It's an awesome place, the kids are gorgeous the people I work with are lovely.

I have been working in the kinder for a year now (I do this once a week) and I am so glad I took the job. First I learnt I didn't really want to become a kinder teacher - ha ha!
I love working with children, but realistically I would get bored working with children in a kindergarten setting everyday. I have a technical/design background and that still is something that challenges me a bit more than just purely working with kids in a kinder.

Working with children though has made me realise that I really do enjoy working with children, but that I need to include more technical/creative things to keep happy.

So now I am embarking on developing an online children's site, focusing on interactive books and games.

It's really handy working in the kinder because I have seen what is lacking creatively and technically for kindergarten teachers. I also see what kids like and dislike. Plus there are some great little characters in the kinder to base ideas around.

So I would highly recommend immersing yourself around children (not in a bad way ), to see if you in fact really do want to work with children. You might find if you do it this way, you can sort fine-tune your area of interest.

When I was younger there was a kind of shop I suppose/story telling place. All I remember is the shop interior was like a forest, with all these amazing sets. The shops was filled with all these amazing life size puppets (sort like Jim Henson puppets) and bascially there were a whole lot of puppertiers/story tellers putting a show together for a group of children. I thought this was a fantastic idea, and something that I could imagine enjoy doing. The company (and franchises) went belly up like 10 years ago, but it was an awesome idea at the time.

I've also seen shop fronts where kids can do creative crafts for an hour or so, while mum goes out shopping.

[James81]

Originally Posted by ellie

So I would highly recommend immersing yourself around children (not in a bad way ), to see if you in fact really do want to work with children. You might find if you do it this way, you can sort fine-tune your area of interest.

Thanks for your post ellie. Very insightful.

In my case, though, I've been a leader of sorts to children all my life. Starting when I was about 10 years old, I was sort of the leader of the group of kids (like 3-6 years old) in my neighborhood. At 17 years old I taught a Sunday School class for like a year and I loved it. Now I have my own kids and a niece and a nephew and I'm always doing something with them. And suddenly, within the past couple of weeks, there are kids in my neighborhood around my house who come around to play with my kids in the alley behind my house and they are all sort of drawn to me.

So, I am constantly manifesting kids in my life, even when I was a kid myself. So I assume that my life purpose will probably revolve around them in some way.

But it's insightful to know that perhaps teaching may not be the avenue that I should be pursuing.

[amj]

I have worked with kids for a long time. Here are a few career possibilities I have considered at one time or another:

-basketball or sports coach
-non-profit organization helping kids. You can decide which group of kids you
want your business to target
-social worker. From my experience, many social workers out there are bad
-child therapist
-run a group home
-become a foster parent. If you really have a passion for helping kids this will be goo for you. From my experience, many kids have terrible, TERRIBLE foster parents who are only in it for the money. This is definitely something that needs to be changed.
-principal of a school

*you could also volunteer at a place that interests you and see if you like it

There's plenty of other things you can do. It all depends on what type of kids you want to target, what type of position you want to assume (manager, owner, employee), and what you expect to gain from working with them.