Talking to Children about Careers

What's the best way to talk to children about careers? - Want to be Helpful
Answer: One reason many children, especially older children, do well in school is because they think of school as preparation for a career. They realize that many of the courses they are taking today are the beginning steps in training for their future careers, and they are motivated to do well in them. Encourage your children to talk about careers they might like to pursue.
Preschool and Kindergarten: Plan trips that will let your young children see people working at their jobs. Have fun visiting such places as a farm, fire station, library, zoo, bank or grocery store. Then, go to the library and check out books describing careers associated with these places so you can read them together.
Elementary School: Talk to your children about your career and exactly what you do at work. Explain what skills are needed to handle your job. If possible, show your children where you work. Also, have them talk to close relatives and friends about their careers.
Middle School and Beyond: One of the best ways for children to get a solid idea of what a specific career is like is by having them visit the workplace, and having them observe carefully what someone's job is. Try to give your children this opportunity. These visits to a workplace are far more meaningful if you talk about the job before and after the visit.