Kids of most abilities can have goals to reach for in life. And parents, families, teachers, and the extended family of community can have a hand in nurturing the strong points in each child to reach those goals.

If a child is limited because of a learning or physical disability in one area, they may be stronger in other areas. For instance, a kid that has trouble with academics may excel in some aspect of motor skills, the arts, or a technical field.

By building on kids' strong skills you are helping them toward a viable career path as an adult. After all, there are jobs in sports and athletics that are not directly competitive, but which a kid or teen may become interested in just because that is an area of interest. In other words, a related skill or job opportunity may open up from being exposed to certain areas of interest in childhood and the teen years.

Another example from the arts is that a kid who is into dancing could be encouraged in this way by providing them lessons. I recommend offering a variety of classes such as tap, modern, and ballet to the young person to get a well-rounded background. Then later the kid can specialize in a one or a couple of disciplines.

As an adult, jobs in the dance world related to dancing include teaching, working backstage in theater production, stage lighting, building sets for productions, costume making - all spinning off the first love of dancing.

The same is true with music. Trying out a couple of instruments, choosing one, working hard at practice, joining a band or orchestra in school - all can lead to a lifetime and jobs around the music field in the same way as dance.

If the talent and interest lie with computers or another technical field there is a wide range of related jobs. The computer and technical fields are expanding in our modern age with jobs in the range of using a computer in the office, all the way to programming. Where the talent and interest lie will success also, for those who work at it.

I believe every kid has one or several unique talents, whether it's in academics, the arts, sports, computer, technical fields, that when uncovered and nurtured at home, in school, in the community, can lead to a successful job as an adult!

Article by Susan Kramer

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