Dr. Bil Damon, Director of Stanford University's Center on Adolescent Development, shares nine things that parents and caretakers can do today to help our kids to cultivate their sense of purpose:

1. Listen closely for the spark, then fan the flames. Every child has a “spark” (or few) of interest. We need to listen for them then help fan the flames of potential meaning. So we need to practice ‘the conversational art of asking good questions and listening for answers”. Ask your children what they are interested in (quite simple, isn’t it?).
2. Take advantage of regular opportunities to open a dialogue. Here communication is the key – no lecturing, but open conversation (that means that a child speaks 50% of the time ). And don’t wait for a special occasion to talk about purpose and interests. Use every “micro-occasion” to ask your child about his opinion about the topic or any other question that would trigger reflection.
3. Be open-minded and supportive of the sparks of interest expressed. We can’t choose a purpose or an interest for our children. We need to embrace what fires them up (even if it seems weird for us) and support them in developing these interests (without being pushy). Damon adds: “The child’s interest should be free to take its own course, including dwindling out if that’s what is destined. Parents can never know which grass seeds are going to turn out to take deep root.”
4. Convey your own sense of purpose and the meaning you derive from your work. We should lead by example and share with our kids our own goals and a sense of purpose. So let’s talk about the value of our own work, even if the only thing we would like to do is to complain about it (that’s what loads of parents do, unfortunately)
5. Impart wisdom about the practicalities in life. Children rely on parents to help them create a vision of what’s possible and how to turn their dreams into practical action. “Parents must tell children what they know about accomplishing goals in the real world, especially the world of work.”
6. Introduce children to potential mentors. Once we see the spark of an interest in a child, we can help by introducing them to mentors who can inspire and may be able to support their mission in whatever ways they can.
7. Encourage an entrepreneurial attitude. An entrepreneurial spirit is one of the main predictors of success in life. That’s about “I can do it!” attitude and growth mindset but more on that later.
8. Nurture a positive outlook. Optimism and a positive outlook are essential for success. That’s about helping our children build a strong sense of self-confidence and understand how much control they have over the outcome. The best way to teach them is by showing them – again, be an optimism role model.
9. Instill in children a feeling of agency linked to responsibility. “Whatever you do in this world matters.” Agency is basically a sense of empowerment and a feeling that you can positively impact the world. And if we mix it with a sense of responsibility, we teach our children that they are “interesting and capable”. One of the best ways to do it is to let them do chores (note: let your child pick chores every week).