Parents ought to let their children pick the kind of career they want, but if they dream of becoming engineers in the future, they will need some help realizing that dream. Even though it’s a high-paying field, engineering requires creative and technical skills, many of which can be instilled at an early age.

The challenge is helping them hone these skills and develop a greater appreciation for the kind of work that engineers do. It looks complicated on the surface, but when your child shows an interest in the field, it’s only best that you support them on their journey. Here are five tips to help you raise future engineers.

1. Don’t force the dream

Nothing good ever comes out of forcing your child to like engineering. Pushing them will only cause them to drift away from the field. Instead, focus on treating engineering as a personal passion.

Don’t make it a goal to have them graduate college with a degree in civil engineering and get a job at a large firm. Your main focus is to make sure they reach this personal goal one step at a time. Success becomes more likely when you give them the freedom to go on this journey on their own; they will reach their destination eventually.

2. Share in the enthusiasm

The fact that your child shows an enthusiasm for building skyscrapers from blocks or designing bridges using twigs speaks volumes. Show them that you value their passion by helping them in whatever small project they’re doing.

Show your approval by giving them toys to tinker with that will stimulate their creativity. You can also let them watch shows or child-friendly documentaries about engineering. Doing all this tells your child that you’re eager to support their career choice.

3. Help them hone their mathematics skills

In addition to building, engineering requires a well-rooted background in mathematics to pull off. For this reason, you must equip your child with everything they need to become good with numbers. If you’re confident with your skills, you can always have a tutor guide your child.

You can also have your child take up math online test prep courses when they’re about to graduate from high school. These courses can prepare them for competitive entrance exams for engineering programs in the universities they like.

4. Celebrate their wins, support them during losses

Every milestone is worth celebrating. If your child wins a math olympiad or receives an acceptance letter from their preferred engineering school, celebrate these wins by treating them to their favorite food or just finding opportunities to spend quality time.

In the same way, you should be there to comfort them when the opposite of their expectations happens. Defeats could be demoralizing, so it pays to let your child know that you will always support their engineering dream no matter what happens along the way. That will only fuel their desire to do better without having to feel ashamed or pressured.

Endnote

Does your child show an inclination to build high rises or develop helpful software? Never let this potential die. Support it by becoming the best parent any budding engineer could feel proud of!