When did your child first begin learning about careers?
Those very first steps on their career journey might have started with an adorable board book you read together, or a visit—followed by many more visits—to Richard Scarry’s Busytown with books, games and puzzles. Perhaps it was a fun discussion about what makes each of the PAW Patrol pups unique or which dressed-for-success Barbie doll to choose.
By the time children are moving through their first years in elementary school, they have already become acquainted with many different professions. These often-familiar jobs—doctor, nurse, firefighter, plumber—form a set of building blocks they use to begin paving their own path.
But at this point, kids aren’t considering careers seriously. They’re curious about the world of work (and everything else), and the sky’s the limit—literally, for aspiring airline pilots and astronauts!
This is a period often called the “fantasy” or “growth” stage, when kids experiment through play. They take risks, try new things and simply have fun, unaware that they are also:
• Building thinking and problem-solving skills (“Let’s pretend we’re police officers—what can we use for
our uniforms?”)
• Practicing social skills (“You’ll be the teacher and we’ll be the students!”)
• Putting basic academics into context (“We’re selling paintings for $1 each—how many will you buy?”)
Over time, elementary schoolers move from imagination to investigation, typically with some guidance from family members, caregivers and educators. Inquisitive children ask lots of questions, offering ideal openings for adults and older kids not only to answer but to give a thought-provoking nudge.
Child: “Does the guy who plays Spiderman actually climb up a building?”
Adult: “It might be the actor for some scenes, but a stuntman probably does the more dangerous stunts. I think they have computer graphics artists as well. Which of those jobs sounds like the most fun to you?”
In addition to these spontaneous (and sometimes hilarious) conversations, elementary school students benefit from more intentional, and even targeted, learning opportunities. They might participate in a school-based career day, community career fair or some other fun, career-focused event, or discover different professions at science centers, museums and sporting events.
With exposure and exploration, that initial set of building blocks will keep growing: more industries, more professions, and sometimes more specificity. “I want to be a teacher” may become “I want to be a math (or art or kindergarten) teacher.” Or “I love to draw” could evolve into “I’m going to be an artist (or animator or fashion designer).”
Fantasy increasingly intermingles with fact now, as older elementary school students not only learn about different jobs but also ask themselves important
questions like:
• What activities do I like or dislike?
• How do I want to spend my time?
• What problems do I want to solve?
This is an exceptional time to embrace entrepreneurship, as kids are often independent enough to put their own plans into action, with a little support from helpful adults. They might launch a lemonade stand (timeless!) or participate in an organized children’s business fair.
Whether they—and you—realize it or not, young children are already setting out on their career paths. Think of building blocks rather than roadblocks and help them move along on that exciting journey!
Help Your Kids Discover
Go to the library. Besides the many nonfiction books about jobs, there are even more where the fictional character’s profession is a key part of the story. Read and discuss!
Go online. From Career OneStop’s video library (careeronestop.org/Videos/CareerVideos/career-videos.aspx) to more specialized sites for different professions, there’s a wealth of quality information online.
Go on site. Thursday, April 25, is the next Take Your Child to Work Day, but you don’t have to wait until the spring to show your child where you work or consider the different workplaces you visit. From hotels to shopping centers to medical facilities, pretty much everywhere you go, someone is working!
