Many teenagers dream of making it big once they’re old enough to start working. If you ask your teen, they’ll probably tell you about their desire to earn a six-digit paycheck, live in a nice neighborhood, and afford a comfortable lifestyle somewhere in the future. However, they may be hit with a reality check once they realize that they lack the right skills to thrive in the workplace. According to UNICEF, about 3 in 4 young people aged 15 to 24 in 92 countries are off-track to acquire the necessary skills needed for employment opportunities or entrepreneurship. Fortunately, there are solutions to address this problem, such as taking on an apprenticeship.

An apprenticeship can help your teen get hands-on experience and develop marketable skills, which could open pathways towards various job opportunities. But did you know that it can also help your child to acquire personal skills which may prevent them from being bullied? There’s something about knowing how to do certain things that can make teens feel better about themselves and their outlook in life. So if you want to set your child up for success and prevent them from being targeted by bullies, here’s what you need to know about apprenticeships and how they can help to empower your teenager.

Apprenticeships can Boost Self-Confidence
It’s a fact that anyone can be a bullying target, as even popular and successful kids, such as athletes or straight-A students, can be picked on by their peers. However, evidence shows that some kids are more likely to be bullied than others. Some experts believe that children with self-esteem issues may attract bullies. What’s more, those who are introverted and engage in people-pleasing are more likely to be targeted. Bullies see them as an easy mark since they’re less likely to defend themselves or fight back.

If your teen has self-confidence issues, encourage them to take on an apprenticeship in a profession or trade that they’re interested in. Apprenticeships can boost self-confidence as they enable young adults to learn a set of different skills. Mastering these skills can help your child have a better sense of self, which gives them the mental strength to become more assertive and overcome their fear of standing up to a bully. According to life and wellness coach Dennis Buttimer, engaging in a new skill can help to thicken the brain’s prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for fear modulation and emotion regulation. “As you develop a new skill, you’ll gain courage and confidence, which helps you override fear and anxiety.”

When looking for hands-on training opportunities, be flexible and open-minded since not everyone will want a corporate apprenticeship. Some kids may prefer to take on a traditional manual trade, such as carpentry, plumbing, automotive repair and maintenance, or electrical repair, among others. These jobs pay well and are constantly in demand, so your child can look forward to having a long and lucrative career. What’s more, your teen will learn valuable skills that they can use in their daily life, so whether your child wants to be a tailor, an electrician, or a mechanic, be sure to support their choices right from the get-go.

Broadens Their Horizons and Enhances Communication Skills

Those who are bullied often struggle to express themselves since they find it difficult to tell a friend or loved one what’s going on in their life. They often choose to stay silent, and after a while, they may isolate themselves from everyone and refuse to see or talk to anyone at all. Doing so may eventually have a negative effect on their communication skills, so if your child is having difficulties expressing themselves, allow them to take on an apprenticeship that enables them to work and train with a diverse workforce.

Collaborating and communicating with people of different genders, ages, religions, sexual orientations, languages, and educational backgrounds will let your teen know that there’s a bigger world out there that’s vastly different from their school. What bullies deem to be important within the four walls of their campus will suddenly seem pointless and irrelevant while your child works and engages with other folks during their apprenticeship. This may help to curb their people-pleasing tendencies, and they’ll know that it’s alright to be themselves, just the way they are. This can also help them develop active listening and verbal articulation skills, as well as empathy and conflict resolution, which are good skills to have when dealing with a bully.

Where to Sign Up for an Apprenticeship?

Your teenager has various options if they want to take on an apprenticeship. For instance, the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration (ETA) has programs that include Apprenticeship, Job Corps, and Youth Build for youth ages 16 to 24. Some private companies, such as Nestle and Accenture, also offer paid apprenticeships, but your child has to be at least 18 to qualify. You can also search for apprenticeship opportunities on platforms like Apprenticeship.gov to see if there are any promising ones within your area.

Apprenticeships can help to broaden your child’s horizons, develop your child’s communication skills, and boost their self-confidence so they can take on life’s challenges and thwart bullying attempts. Allow your teenager to take on some hands-on training so they can learn to stand up for themselves while laying the foundation for a successful and satisfying career.