Mumsnet users share with Little Tikes how they get their child thinking about what they want to be when they grow up

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Some children are adamant they’re going to be a ballet dancer or an astronaut when they grow up, whereas others are more interested in activities such as building and putting things together. This might one day turn into a career like engineering. With more and more emphasis on the importance of STEM education (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and getting children involved in them at an early age, Little Tikes would love to know how you get your children thinking about what they want to be when they grow up and in particular get them involved in STEM subjects.

Here’s what Little Tikes have to say: “STEM learning from an early age opens children up to a world full of exciting hands-on play. Preschool-age children are perfect for this type of learning. These mini scientists are impossibly curious and love to experiment and discover! Future engineer, mathematician or chemistry teacher… for now, the fun is the learning.”

Perhaps you purchase toys that involve learning from an early age to help stimulate them? Do you have conversations with your DC about the vast array of things they can do when they grow up? When it comes to STEM subjects, do you take them on days out that have an element of STEM education involved? Maybe you encourage them to keep pursuing whatever it is they’ve shown interest in?

However you get your children thinking about what they want to be when they’re older and STEM education, let us know on thread below and you’ll be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

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We tend to talk about different jobs/professions as we see them in every day situations, like if we see a policeman walking down the street or an electrician doing some work at the school etc.

I do my best to encourage them to be open minded and to try as many things as possible. We go places, try new activities and have fun together doing as many things as we can. My children are interested in stem toys and I do buy them a wide variety but also many other types of toys as well. I hope to keep their options open for as long as possible and support them to experience the wide variety of life so they can make their own decisions when they are older. I try to teach them about standing up for themselves and others, to be kind, to have a good self-esteem and know their worth, to be independent and self sufficient so that when they do make a decision for themselves about what they want to do they have the skills as well as the education to make it happen.

We did not consciously discuss or steer our DCs in career thoughts or choices as young children. Time enough in teens to consider this. DS1 announced he wanted to be a pro wrestler when he was 7 and vet when he was 8. He is now at university and is now doing neither.

We just chat about all the different jobs that are out there but my dd changes her mind on a daily basis! But being only four I think that's fine!

It is difficult as all they want to be are footballers right now

We always talk after reading a book, discussing the jobs.
Whenever we meet new people I talk about what they do ……….. Dr, nurse, fire-person!, drivers, truck drivers, etc

If TV shows jobs ………. pilot, space pilot, vet ………..

LIFE offers so much, talking about the fun of the job, just having a hair cut, responsibilities, training and eventually tie up with school subjects and skills.

Everyone has a wonderful gift, skill …..

I think role playing games always makes them think about it at an early age and then getting older its more about experiences out in the world. So seeing what interests them and taking them to experience different aspects of life.

If I think back to my own parents- my Mum would have loved me to be a doctor- I remember her telling my science teacher that "should she go into medicine" and me thinking "eh?" I did languages and that's the area I work in now.

My child will find her own way in life, and if she hates languages and wants to do engineering, fine. The only time I can envisage me stepping in to give any kind of guidance would be if a) she wanted to chop and change at university level b) she refused to do a menial job thinking it were beneath her.

She is older now, but I remember her being very interested in science type activities when she was little- I remember scouring the internet for books age appropriate on volcanoes, earthquakes and hammerhead sharks She watched Blue Planet avidly- (thank feck, rather David A than Balamory)

Now, she doesn't particularly enjoy the STEM part of her school syllabus- I think because her science teacher in particular is nearing pension age, and whilst that's not (or shouldn't be) an impediment, unfortunately, she's not going to be doing any interactive stuff anytime soon. Over the summer we went to the Natural History museum and she said "if only our science lessons were like this then we'd all be more interested"

Mine is only 3, so doesn't really get the concept of work or a job. But I do point out different professionals and we talk about what it must be like doing that job. Partly to make her aware of the different jobs out there and partly that anyone can do any job.

My daughter wants to be a builder. She loves her tools and helping with DIY. We didn't go out of our way to think about it, she came up with it herself.

Really? Most jobs this generation's parents do didn't exist when they were children - nobody grew up thinking they'd like to work in IT, PR, HR, Risk Compliance, Robotics etc! That doesn't mean we can't encourage children to take an interest in STEM and follow their passions but I don't think it needs to be a conversation about their career paths!

i always tell my lil boy to do what he enjoys doing and what makes him smile. He loves animals so it really wouldnt surprise me if he becomes a vet when he's older

I don’t understand why anyone engaged in pre school activities would think the sort of role play and motor skill development that age group are learning has anything to do with choosing a career. It is all about developing an understanding of the world around them at that age.

Allowing children of any age the opportunity to ask questions is vital in enabling them to take advantage of stem learning opportunities later.

WRT discussing careers, I have found that it’s important to think a bit about direction before gcse options. Some children find it helpful to have an idea of what direction they would like to pursue, but like others, I have seen children pushed unhelpfully.

One young person I know was encouraged by one of his parents to think about medicine from age 10. This meant there were no further discussions about what he might want to do. He chose the relevant a levels, struggled, dropped 2, and ended up doing a whole extra 2 years of a level study with completely different subjects (that he enjoyed). It was painful. Fortunately he has now gone off to do something he likes.

But then manipulating your kids is never a great idea.

Just pointing out different jobs, and encouraging them to use their imagination with questions about what they think different jobs would be like.

I try to get my son to look up at the stars and the moon and let his imagination go wild. This leads to space travel and how it can be achieved. Watch and read books on flying machines,rockets and then ask how it happens and would he like to build and fly .

My DS decided he wanted to design and make things when he was very young and as he's got older he's decided he would like to be an architect, he thinks spending time playing minecraft helped him decide that's what he'd like to do

We talk about different jobs and what they are like, but my eldest is only just 4 and is not interested in work at the moment! If I ask her what she wants to do when she grows up she just says "play"!

We chat through play, and talk about different possibilities, so driving a car along could be a police officer driving to work, a paramedic going to help someone, a teacher driving to work etc etc. They are still pretty little so it's more about teaching than guiding at this point.

I think as a kid I wanted to be something new each week! Fun toys like science kits and tech toys are helpful for development, but in the end its more important to work out what they like and don't like generally before seriously considering careers!

No! Let them enjoy play as they see fit!....any passions as they grow older should be encouraged but at an early age play should be just that - imagination running riot :)

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I really think kids should be kids & ive never puthought pressure in them to decide what they want to be.
They played a lot of role play games & toys when they were v little. Read books watch TV. We also have a large family all with massively different jobs. At the moment my eldest wants to be a social worker like her nanna my middle a lawyer so she can argue all day without being told off & my youngest wants to work In poundland as he can have the pick n mix for lunch & people will give him lots if pounds!!!

We haven't got there yet but I will point out that you're a long time at work and it's important to enjoy it, have work life balance and earn enough to be comfortable

We talk a lot and play with toys which focus my children attention on all kind of professions. My son loves watching his dad working on his car and is eager to help him.He is very good with numbers and likes challenging play. Interactive toys from earlier age played a huge part in development of his skills. After watching tv programmes, reading books and talking with friends they have their favourite jobs they would love to pursue in life. I want them to choose freely without any influence from us parents. My advice is follow your dreams and work hard from early age.

I just encourage my kids to believe that they can do WHATEVER they want to do. Visits to museums and places of interest can help inspire them - for example mine were inspired by cadbury world and also the national space centre! I encourage them to have a go at things even if they moan they 'aren't good at it'. Finally reminding them that both girls and boys can be doctors, or nurses, or scientists or indeed anything at all that they wish to be!