1st Edition

Career Exploration and Development in Childhood Perspectives from theory, practice and research

Edited By Mark Watson, Mary McMahon Copyright 2017
    232 Pages
    by Routledge

    224 Pages
    by Routledge

    Career Exploration and Development in Childhood presents chapters from leading figures in the field of childhood career exploration and development. The first substantive edited collection of its kind, this book makes an important contribution to our understanding of children’s career development. It provides cutting-edge theory, research and practice for understanding and fostering career exploration and development during childhood, across a wide spectrum of international settings.

    Divided into five sections that reflect the authors’ perspectives on critical aspects of children’s career development, chapters include relevant research, as well as the practical application of concepts, issues and strategies for career interventions with children. The book includes sequential sections on theory, research, contextual influences, assessment, and the facilitation of career exploration and development. Perspectives from both developed and developing world contexts consider traditional approaches to career education, as well as career development learning in childhood. The collaborations evident in the chapter authorship reflect the significant internationalisation of the field of child career development.

    The book synthesises key issues and presents innovative recommendations that will not only enhance our understanding of children’s career development, but will set the agenda for the future of the field. It will be of key interest to researchers, academics and postgraduate students in the fields of career development, career guidance, education, childhood, child development and counselling.

    1. Telling Stories of Childhood Career Development Part 1: Theoretical Perspectives 2. Theories of Career Development in Childhood and Early Adolescence 3. Childhood: Career Construction’s Opening Act 4. Systems and Relational Perspectives in Understanding Children’s Career Development 5. Supporting the Career Development of Children: The Concepts of Career Choice and Attainment Model 6. Children as storytellers: Constructing identity through story Part 2: Research Perspectives 7. Children’s Career Exploration and Development: Research Overview and Agenda Part 3 Contextual Perspectives 8. The Antecedents of Children’s Aspirations 9. Child Career Development in Family Contexts 10. Child Career Development in Developing World Contexts Part 4 Assessment Perspectives 11. Career Assessment of Children 12. Assessment in Child Career Development Part 5 Facilitating Career Exploration and Development 13. School-Based Approaches Promoting Children’s Career Exploration and Development 14. Targeted Career Exploration and Development Programmes 15. Career Development Learning in Childhood: Theory, research, policy and practice 16.

    Biography

    Mark Watson is Distinguished Professor in the Department of Psychology, Nelson Mandela University, South Africa.

     Mary McMahon is Senior Lecturer in the School of Education, The University of Queensland, Australia.

    ‘Career development is a lifespan process, but to date the early part of the lifespan has received little attention. This book represents a much-needed impetus to change this. Watson and McMahon have assembled a diverse group of scholars to document how childhood experiences serve as precursors of future occupational roles and identities and to review the functions of theory, research, and practice in understanding and facilitating the underlying processes. This book will expand the scope of the field and should be required reading for students of career development and career counselling.’

    Fred W. Vondracek, Professor Emeritus of Human Development at The Pennsylvania State University