Skip to main content
Book cover

International Handbook of Career Guidance pp 291–304Cite as

Back to the Future: Child Career Development

Abstract

This chapter considers the need to revisit the career lifestage of childhood within the conceptualisation of career development as a lifelong process inclusive of all life stages. After an initial description of established theories of child development and child career development, the influence of psychosocial, cognitive and sociocultural child development theories on child career development theories is discussed. Two established theories of career development in childhood are presented, Super’s lifespan-lifespace theory and Gottfredson’s circumscription and compromise theory. The chapter then considers emergent theories of child career development, specifically Howard and Walsh’s Conceptions of Career Choice and Attainment model that describes three approaches to children’s reasoning and Savickas’s Career Construction Theory. A critical overview of research on child career development demonstrates the limitations of such research to date. The chapter then discusses how career development interventions can stimulate intentional career development learning in children. The lack of recursiveness between career theory, research, practice and policy in the child career development literature is identified and the chapter concludes by considering the way forward in this regard.

Keywords

  • Child career development
  • Career development learning
  • Career intervention

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-25153-6_13
  • Chapter length: 14 pages
  • Instant PDF download
  • Readable on all devices
  • Own it forever
  • Exclusive offer for individuals only
  • Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout
eBook
USD   169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • ISBN: 978-3-030-25153-6
  • Instant PDF download
  • Readable on all devices
  • Own it forever
  • Exclusive offer for individuals only
  • Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout
Softcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
Hardcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Bakshi, A. J. (2017). Child career development in developing world contexts. In M. Watson & M. McMahon (Eds.), Career exploration and development in childhood: Perspectives from theory, research and practice (pp. 114–126). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Borow, H. (1964). An integral view of occupational theory and research. In H. Borow (Ed.), Man in a world at work (pp. 364–388). Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crause, E., Watson, M., & McMahon, M. (2017). Career development learning in childhood: Theory, research, policy, and practice. In M. Watson & M. McMahon (Eds.), Career exploration and development in childhood: Perspectives from theory, research and practice (pp. 186–198). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erikson, E. H. (1963). Childhood in society (2nd ed.). New York: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erikson, E. H. (1993). Childhood in society: The landmark work on the significance of childhood. New York: Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flouri, E., Joshi, H., Sullivan, A., & Moulton, V. (2017). The antecedents of children’s aspirations. In M. Watson & M. McMahon (Eds.), Career exploration and development in childhood: Perspectives from theory, research and practice (pp. 89–100). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ginzberg, E., Ginsburg, S., Axelrad, S., & Herma, J. (1951). Occupational choice: An introduction to a general theory. New York: Columbia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gottfredson, L. S. (1981). Circumscription and compromise: A developmental theory of occupational aspirations. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 28, 545–579.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Gottfredson, L. S. (2005). Applying Gottfredson’s theory of circumscription and compromise in career guidance and counseling. In S. D. Brown & R. W. Lent (Eds.), Career development and counseling: Putting theory and research to work (pp. 71–100). Hoboken: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartung, P. J. (2015). Life design in childhood: Antecedents and advancement. In L. Nota & J. Rossier (Eds.), Handbook of life design: From practice to theory and from theory to practice (pp. 89–102). Göttingen: Hogrefe.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartung, P. J. (2017). Childhood: Career construction’s opening act. In M. Watson & M. McMahon (Eds.), Career exploration and development in childhood: Perspectives from theory, research and practice (pp. 24–33). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartung, P. J., Porfeli, E. J., & Vondracek, F. W. (2005). Child vocational development: A review and reconsideration. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 66, 385–419.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Hartung, P. J., Porfeli, E. J., & Vondracek, F. W. (2008). Career adaptability in childhood. The Career Development Quarterly, 57, 63–74.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Howard, K. A. S., & Walsh, M. E. (2010). Conceptions of career choice and attainment: Developmental levels in how children think about careers. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 76, 143–152.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Howard, K. A., & Walsh, M. E. (2011). Children’s conceptions of career choice and attainment: Model development. Journal of Career Development, 38, 256–271.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Howard, K. A. S., Flanagan, S., Castine, E., & Walsh, M. E. (2015). Perceived influences on the career choices of children and youth: An exploratory study. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance, 15, 99–111.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Howard, K. A. S., Castine, E., Flanagan, S., & Lee, Y. (2017). Supporting the career development of children: The concepts of career choice and attainment model. In M. Watson & M. McMahon (Eds.), Career exploration and development in childhood: Perspectives from theory, research and practice (pp. 48–59). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lapan, R. T., Bobek, B. L., & Kosciulek, J. (2017). School-based approaches promoting children’s career exploration and development. In M. Watson & M. McMahon (Eds.), Career exploration and development in childhood: Perspectives from theory, research and practice (pp. 159–171). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • McMahon, M., & Watson, M. (2008). Children’s career development: Status quo and future directions. The Career Development Quarterly, 57, 4–6.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • McMahon, M., & Watson, M. (2017). Children as storytellers: Constructing identity through story. In M. Watson & M. McMahon (Eds.), Career exploration and development in childhood: Perspectives from theory, research and practice (pp. 60–70). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliveira, I. M., Porfeli, E. J., & Taveira, M. (2017a). Children’s career exploration and development: Research overview and agenda. In M. Watson & M. McMahon (Eds.), Career exploration and development in childhood: Perspectives from theory, research and practice (pp. 73–86). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliveira, I. M., Porfeli, E. J., & Taveira, M. (2017b). The status and future directions of childhood career development: A comprehensive review of the literature. Paper presented at the symposium on Contemporary perspectives on children’s career development at the NICE Conference on Counseling and Support: Decent Work, Equity and Inclusion Passwords for the Present and the future held at the University of Padova, Italy, 5–7 October.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parsons, F. (1909). Choosing a vocation. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Piaget, J. (1977). The development of thought: Equilibration of cognitive structures. New York: Viking Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porfeli, E. J., & Lee, B. (2012). Career development during childhood and adolescence. New Directions for Youth Development, 134, 11–22.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Porfeli, E. J., Hartung, P. J., & Vondracek, F. W. (2008). Children’s vocational development: A research rationale. The Career Development Quarterly, 57, 25–37.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Porfeli, E. J., Lee, B., & Vondracek, F. W. (2013). Identity development and careers in adolescents and emerging adults: Content, process, and structure. In W. B. Walsh, M. L. Savickas, & P. J. Hartung (Eds.), Handbook of vocational psychology: Theory, research, and practice (4th ed., pp. 133–153). New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Savickas, M. L. (2002). A developmental theory of vocational behavior. In D. Brown & Associates (Ed.), Career choice and development (4th ed., pp. 149–205). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Savickas, M. L. (2005). The theory and practice of career construction. In S. D. Brown & R. W. Lent (Eds.), Career development and counseling: Putting theory and research to work (pp. 42–70). Hoboken: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schultheiss, D. E. P. (2008). Current status and future agenda for the theory, research and practice of childhood career development. The Career Development Quarterly, 57, 7–24.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Stead, G. B., Schultheiss, D. E. P., & Oliver, A. (2017). A review of assessment in child career development. In M. Watson & M. McMahon (Eds.), Career exploration and development in childhood: Perspectives from theory, research and practice (pp. 143–156). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Super, D. E. (1953). A theory of vocational development. American Psychologist, 8, 185–190.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Super, D. E. (1957). The psychology of careers. New York: Harper & Row.

    Google Scholar 

  • Super, D. E. (1990). A lifespan, lifespace approach to career development. In D. Brown & L. Brooks (Eds.), Career choice and development (2nd ed., pp. 197–261). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Super, D. E., Savickas, M., & Super, C. (1996). The life-span, life-space approach to careers. In D. Brown & L. Brooks (Eds.), Career choice and development: Applying contemporary theories to practice (3rd ed., pp. 121–178). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tiedeman, D. V., & O’Hara, R. P. (1963). Career development: Choice and adjustment. New York: College Entrance Examination Board.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tracey, T. J. G., & Sodano, S. M. (2017). Career assessment of children. In M. Watson & M. McMahon (Eds.), Career exploration and development in childhood: Perspectives from theory, research and practice (pp. 129–142). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trice, A. D., & Greer, H. W. (2017). Theories of career development in childhood and early adolescence. In M. Watson & M. McMahon (Eds.), Career exploration and development in childhood: Perspectives from theory, research and practice (pp. 11–23). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vondracek, S. I., & Kirchner, E. P. (1974). Vocational development in early childhood: An examination of young children’s expressions of vocational aspirations. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 5, 251–260.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Vygotsky, L. S. (1987). Thinking and speech. In R. W. Rieber & A. S. Carton (Eds.), The collected works of L. S. Vygotsky (Vol. 1, pp. 37–285). New York: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson, M. (2017). Contemporary challenges for the field of children’s career development. Paper presented at the symposium on Contemporary perspectives on children’s career development at the NICE conference on Decent work, equity and inclusion: Passwords for the present and the future, held at the University of Padova, Italy, 5–7 October.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson, M., & McMahon, M. (2004). Children’s career development: A metatheoretical perspective. Australian Journal of Career Development, 13, 7–12.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, M., & McMahon, M. (2005). Children’s career development: A research review from a learning perspective. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 67, 119–132.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, M., & McMahon, M. (2007). Children’s career development learning: A foundation for lifelong career development. In V. B. Skorikov & W. Patton (Eds.), Career development in childhood and adolescence (pp. 29–45). Rotterdam: Sense.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson, M., & McMahon, M. (2008). Children’s career development: Metaphorical images of theory, research and practice. The Career Development Quarterly, 57, 75–83.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, M., & McMahon, M. (2017a). Career exploration and development in childhood: Perspectives from theory, research and practice. London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson, M., & McMahon, M. (2017b). Telling stories of childhood career development. In M. Watson & M. McMahon (Eds.), Career exploration and development in childhood: Perspectives from theory, research and practice (pp. 1–8). London: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson, M. B., & Stead, G. B. (2017). An overview of career theory. In G. B. Stead & M. B. Watson (Eds.), Career psychology in the South African context (3rd ed., pp. 21–47). Pretoria: Van Schaik.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson, M., McMahon, M., & Longe, P. (2011). Occupational interests and aspirations of rural black South African children: Considerations for theory, research and practice. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 21(3), 413–420.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, M., Nota, L., & McMahon, M. (2015a). Childhood career development (special issue). International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance, 15, 95–184.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, M., Nota, L., & McMahon, M. (2015b). Evolving stories of child career development. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance, 15, 175–184.

    CrossRef  Google Scholar 

  • Watson, M., McMahon, M., & Stroud, L. (2016). Career development in children. In J. Hardman (Ed.), Child and adolescent development: A South African socio-cultural perspective (2nd ed., pp. 315–334). Cape Town: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

    Mark B. Watson

  2. The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

    Mary McMahon

Authors
  1. Mark B. Watson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mary McMahon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mark B. Watson .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Sydney, NSW, Australia

    James A. Athanasou

  2. College of Education University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, USA

    Harsha N. Perera

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Watson, M.B., McMahon, M. (2019). Back to the Future: Child Career Development. In: Athanasou, J.A., Perera, H.N. (eds) International Handbook of Career Guidance. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-25153-6_13

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-25153-6_13

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-25152-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-25153-6

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)