How young is too young to start managing talent?
I was slightly taken aback by news this morning of government plans to start providing careers advice to children as young as seven years old. Schools Secretary Ed Balls, said school children would receive mentoring from older students, successful business people plus careers advice via Facebook, YouTube and blogs.
Such early talent spotting is common in other areas, particularly in the sporting world where youngsters are plucked into youth academies at a very young age. Indeed Manchester United made headlines in 2007 for recruiting a nine year old Australian boy into their youth academy.
So how soon should companies start identifying talented youngsters? Should they follow the example set in the sporting world?
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Who comes up with these dopey ideas?
Seven is way too young. kids should be concentrating on learning the basics well - English, mathematics, sciences, history and a language skill.
Most kids I know want to appear on X-Factor!!
I think careers advice should start at about 14-15 years old when kids start to mature.
Children need a couple of years at secondary school before they can really know what their talents are. I work in management accounting and wouldn't have had a clue what that is at 7 years of age.
Interestingly I asked my 10 year old what he thought about this idea - and he thought it was a good idea and that 7 wasn't too young. He thought that if 7 year olds wanted to be pop stars or astronauts or whatever - 'it would help them face reality'! (His words not mine!)
I think a lot would depend on how the careers guidance was given - an initial exploration of different jobs that people do could be inspirational but a detailed analysis of the most appropriate job based on skills at 7 probably wouldn't work!
My overriding concern would be to keep chidren's minds open to the possibilities rather than restrict their thinking at an early age - they can be so impressionable.
At least no-one can threaten them with working behind the counter at Woolworths if they don't do well at school!
This sounds too young. I'm generally starting with our students around ages 14 upwards. I had lots of interests at age 7 such as play football for Italy, train driver etc but would have been somewhat surprised to have been offered "proper" career's advice then!
Read a very interesting article whilst (ironically waiting for my kids somewhere) about football prodigies and academies in general.
The author concluded that the trouble with these is that when kids are accepted (at age 9 or 10) - They think they ARE footballers and don't have to give a hoot about anything else - like school work and relationships etc.
Just copy this to X factor, etc etc and we have a generation wannabes with no social (or any other.) skills
I think children should be given every support to pursue goals and ambitions and healthy hobbies but the minute you start making it a chore, they'll lose interest unless it's their choice and we need to remember there should be free will and the opportunity to choose.
However, in Scotland, 7 is the age of criminal responsibility yet in other parts of the UK children are not responsible for their actions until the age of 10 and there's been considerable debate about 10 being too low!
If 7 and / or 10 is too young to be held accountable for your own behaviour, then why is it not too young to start pushing talented youngsters into making decisions which may have implications for a good portion of their childhood and adult life?
For centuries children have explored career paths through play - dressing up as a fireman, nurse, doctor, builder, astronaut etc. In my experience we learn most when we are involved and enjoy the subject i.e. allowed to play. If children are nurtured in this 'play' and encouraged to aspire to be whatever they choose to be, given the tools along the way to help them and supported in their dreams and aspirations that would be great! My concern is that 'teaching them careers' is very unlikely to take this form. We should allow children to play, explore, learn and enjoy and recognise that having a career mapped out at 14 let alone 7 is not a necessity - I know plenty of 40 somethings who are still working out which career path to take, I also know many 16-20 year olds who did have a career mapped out and are unable to attain it in the current climate.
I think much of this is driven by, "what I would have done back then if I had known, what I know now." If I could go back in time I'd tell my younger self to practice harder at baseball, basketball, and soccer (probably could have been pretty good). I would have told myself to work harder in school. Most importantly I would have told myself to take risks, there is plenty of time to bounce back!
Feeling this way, why wouldn't I try to make sure my kid lives up to his potential? Of course, you need to find that balance between over-bearing father living vicariously through your son and genuinely wanting what's best.
We should allow kids to enjoy their brief (and getting briefer) childhood without worrying about such things.
By all means give them the tools to explore their world at their own pace and encourage them to learn. But career's advice at 7? I don't think so!
PS. I wanted to be a Fairy at 7, a Horse Vet at 10 and an Astronaut at 13. My father wanted me to be a Doctor. I'm none of these!
Ah, but are you not a professional Fairy now due to a lack of suitable career advice when you were growing up Jacqui? :)
Does seem daft though doesn't it? I saw my niece at the weekend and she's being told about solvent abuse. She's 9 years old. Apparently they're not to sniff glue or drink nail varnish (duh). I don't suppose the thought had even entered their heads until then.
I guess as a Business Consultant, some of my customers may think I'm a professional Fairy! :))