Who Do You Want to Be?
Helping Your Child Imagine Their Future Self
Have you ever asked your child what they want to be when they grow up? Chances are you’ve heard answers like an astronaut, a doctor, a firefighter, or a professional basketball player. These answers are wonderful, but they describe what your child will be doing in their “perfect” future.
Now, try asking a different question:
Who do you want to be?
This question goes deeper. It isn’t about careers or achievements. It’s about identity, character, and the kind of person your child wants to grow into. And the exciting part is this: they don’t have to wait for the future. They can begin becoming that person right now.
How to Help Your Child Discover Their “Future You”
Invite your child to close their eyes and picture themselves in a perfect world. Then guide them with questions like:
How would you act?
What would you do?
How would you feel?
They might imagine being:
The kid who makes friends easily.
A confident person who stays calm under pressure.
Someone who always makes others laugh and feel comfortable.
A student who knows the answers and feels proud of their effort.
Once they create that image, explain: “That’s your Future You.”
Stepping Into the Future Self
Next, ask: What would your Future You do right now?
For example:
Would the friendly, confident “Future You” avoid eye contact in the hallway? Or would they smile and say hello?
Would the Future You give up after a mistake? Or would they try again with determination?
You can even share a fun secret: smiles are contagious. When you smile, it’s like a boomerang—one almost always comes back to you.
Guiding Questions for Future You
The clearer your child’s picture of their Future Self, the easier it becomes to practice living into it. Try asking:
How does the Future You treat others?
How does the Future You handle stress?
How does the Future You start the morning?
What does the Future You eat to stay healthy and strong?
How does the Future You talk to adults?
What does the Future You believe about themself?
Encourage your child to write a character sketch of their Future You—almost like describing a character in a book. They can revisit it anytime they feel out of alignment.
Becoming the Future You
The secret is practice. Every day, encourage your child to ask: “What would my Future Self do right now?”
If invited to a party, would Future You say yes with confidence?
If not invited, would Future You feel crushed—or remind themselves they already have great friends and more fun ahead?
Over time, this practice becomes natural. With repetition, your child won’t just be imagining their Future You—they will be living it.
Helping your child think about “who” instead of just “what” empowers them to shape their identity, build resilience, and step into their best self today—not someday in the distant future.
Challenge: Play the “Meet Your Future You” game with your child
Close your eyes and imagine the kind of person you want to be.
Kind?
Confident?
Brave?
A great friend?
2. Draw or write a short description of your Future You. (Think of it like creating a character in a story—your story!)
3. For the rest of today, ask yourself:
“What would my Future Me do right now?”
Maybe your Future You would smile at someone in the hallway, try again after making a mistake, or speak up when you have a good idea.
Every time you act like your Future You, you’re leveling up—and before long, you’ll notice that you are that person already.
Becoming your Future Self is less about waiting and more about practicing—until imagination turns into identity.