The Differences and Stability of Children’s Career Expectations

Abstract

Each child has different career expectations, which offers different opportunities in deciding future careers. The study aims to explore the differences and stability of children’s career expectations. The participants were kindergarten children and sixth-grade elementary school children. The data was analyzed by using percentage and average analysis as well as regression analysis to investigate the relation between the parents’ occupation and the children’s career expectations. Among the categories of careers, police officer, painter, doctor, teacher and entrepreneurs were the most popular careers from the children’s aspirations. Further, there is a significant gender difference in the children’s career expectations. In addition, children show stable development in career expectations. Moreover, the parents’ careers are often related to their children’s career expectations. The parents’ career are highly related with the children’s career expectations.