Some people just naturally thrive in social situations and when in the company of others, including children so these 8 Fulfilling Careers Working with Families and Children will be of interest to you.
You can see that it just comes easy to them – they enjoy the interaction, and people of all ages feel comfortable talking and conversing with them.
Does this sound like you?
If so, maybe working alongside children and families is your calling in life.
At times, working with people can be frustrating and challenging, but the fulfilment you can get from a people-focused career way outshines these moments.
If you are considering a career working with children and families, take a look at these fulfilling and rewarding jobs that have the potential for career progression.
Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels
Table of Contents
Juvenile Justice Lawyer
It is not uncommon for young people to find themselves having to attend court, whether they have committed the crime themselves or need defending.
Juvenile justice lawyers are the people that represent these minors in court.
Cases can be emotionally challenging in regard to children, with abuse, neglect and exploitation being common themes in the courtroom.
But as a juvenile justice lawyer, you are able to make a real difference in the lives of these children.
You will have to develop a strong and trusting relationship with your clients to be able to provide the strongest defense and bring justice to their situations.
Juvenile justice lawyers are required to fulfil the same education requirements as any other lawyers, and it takes determination and hard work.
But not only is seeking justice for minors fulfilling, it’s also one of the highest paying jobs that work with children.
Child Psychologist
Unfortunately, many children experience hardship, trauma, and loss at a very young age, or develop mental illness and need help in dealing with their thoughts, feelings, and emotions.
Child psychologists focus on the study and treatment of mental, behavioral and emotional disorders and problems in children.
They work closely with their patients usually for a long period of time, developing a relationship that is professional but trusting.
Sessions can be emotionally taxing, especially in some severe cases, and it can be a long time before any real breakthroughs occur.
But the moment they do makes it entirely worth it.
You are helping children learn to deal with dark times, move through them and find the light at the end of the tunnel.
It can be challenging at times, but completely fulfilling in the long run.
Family Nurse Practitioner
An advancement from being a registered nurse, family nurse practitioners provide a wide scope of family-focused health care practices to all ages, from infants to the elderly.
They do work in hospitals, but you also find them in other health care settings like community health centers, private practices, and universities.
Providing education on prevention, treatment and health maintenance, family nurse practitioners empower patients throughout their entire lifespan, but most commonly work with families, treating parents and children.
These nurses have gone back to school to study for a Doctor in Nursing Practice and specialize their training.
Baylor University’s DNP FNP prepares registered nurses to lead the delivery of primary care to patients throughout their lifespan.
Being able to provide solutions to health issues and reduce pain are some of the many fulfilling outcomes for this role.
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Childhood is a monumental phase of development for humans.
Children grow, learn, and use new skills almost every day, but sometimes these developments aren’t as easy for some as they are for others.
Pediatric Occupational Therapists help children that are having problems with motor skills, cognitive development, and sensory integration; they help them develop the skills they need to be able to function with ease when completing necessary and daily tasks.
This can include brushing their teeth, getting dressed, bathing and feeding themselves.
They also help develop play and social skills through participation in games and crafts.
As a pediatric occupation therapist, you watch your patients grow and develop, to a stage where they no longer need your help.
This can give you a great sense of pride, purpose and fulfilment.
Speech Pathologist
People are required to visit speech therapists for different reasons.
Speech and swallowing disorders can be triggered by strokes, hearing loss, brain injuries or Parkinson’s disease, but they can also be due to the patient having a cleft palette, autism or general delayed development.
Speech is essential for communication and being able to help someone develop their speech so they can express their needs, wants, like, dislikes, and love is a gift that is irreplaceable.
They create individualized plans for their patients, which for children often incudes sound production, language fluency and overcoming stammers, stutters, or lisps.
Being able to help a child, or any patient, develop their ability to use language, speech and communicate effectively is a career that will take time and effort, but it provides a whole load of fulfilment.
Teaching
Becoming a teacher is the obvious one when it comes to working with children.
Choosing a career in teaching gives you a lot of choice and opportunity.
You can decide to work with young children at pre-school and develop their skills and learning abilities in their early years.
You can also choose to work with elementary level students and provide a basis for their educational future, or you can work in a high school, where you can play on their strengths, develop their passions and be part of shaping the future of the next generation.
Plus, there is opportunity to climb your way up the career ladder should you wish.
Everyone knows that kids can be hard work sometimes but having to deal with the challenges involved in the teach profession develops you as a person.
There aren’t a lot of careers as rewarding as becoming a teacher; seeing your students having fun, progressing, engaging, and becoming passionate about your subject is a feeling like no other.
No one is ever 100% satisfied with their job since there will always be pros and cons.
Finally, choosing one of these 8 Fulfilling Careers Working with Families and Children, and helping them in some way, be it through education, health care or justice, gives you a sense of purpose and a fulfilment that you don’t get from working that standard office job.
