Can I help my child get that job in 20 years time? Of course you can.

One of the biggest controversies in the field of education revolves around needing to consider what skills today’s children will need in the future and teaching it accordingly. 
 
Reality is that the world is changing at a faster pace than ever.  Many job titles and skills needed to fill them simply did not exist 20 years ago.  Information is increasing at a rate of about 800% in the next 5 years, out of which 90% of it will be less than 2 years old. 
 
“As a parent, if we realise how our child’s working life in the 21st century will differ from ours, why wouldn’t we do so something to better prepare them,” said Baby and Children Education Expert Shiao-Ling Lim.
 
Ms Lim is a whole-brain education expert trained by Shichida Educational Institute based in Japan.
“With the exponential increase of available information and new technologies, work in the 21st century will demand we provide solutions to problems we never knew existed, be creative and great communicators.”
 
“Effective communications, daring to imagine, being curious and critical thinking skills will be essential competencies and habit of mind for life in the 21st century.”

Ms Lim said in order to nurture and prepare their child for the 21st century, parents can keep the following 5 points in mind:

1. Passion: Not many of us are able to say we love our jobs.  But yet we know that when we do, the sky is the limit.  Children should be encouraged and exposed to experiences so that their passion and interest can be uncovered.  As the Shichida philosophy says it ‘when you engage the heart of the child, you can engage their mind’.
 
2. Creativity and Innovation: Being imaginative is no child’s play.  It is the basis and foundation of creativity.  To solve problems that we never knew of requires out-of-the-box thinking.  Allow your child to help develop ideas or suggestions and put it into action.
 
3. Emotional quotient: Having empathy and be a good team player will be one thing that differentiates us humans from machines.  Appreciate the virtuous aspects of your child.  Praise your child when they demonstrate care and concern for others.  Talk about the values and moral aspects of a story.  Do not just read a book for literacy purposes.
 
4. Entrepreneurship: Encourage some responsible risk taking in a safe environment.  Making mistakes and learning from them is great.  Have your child understand that “giving it a go” is more important than getting it right
 
5. Memory, numeracy, literacy and critical thinking skills will be considered basic and essential survival skills:  Realise that it is not just the knowledge but the skill to learn how to learn and learning how to apply the knowledge - that will be as important.  Relate your child’s learning journey to their interest and passion.
 
Ms Lim said, “As the saying goes – give a man a fish, you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish, you feed him for lifetime.  Even more so now, in preparation for the 21st century - if we can help our children learn how to learn, that will be one of the best thing we can give to them.”
 
 
Ms Lim runs the Shichida playschools in Melbourne and Sydney which provides age-appropriate whole brain training curriculum that revolves around exercising and maximising the strength of both hemispheres of our brain. 

More information can be found on www.shichida.com.au.

Ends

Media Contact:
Name: Shiao-Ling Lim
Phone numbers: 03-9888-6886
Email:  shiaoling.lim@shichida.com.au
Website: www.shichida.com.au

Contact Information

Shiaoling Lim

Director

Shichida Australia Pty Ltd

Contact via E-mail