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

[EllieMumsnet]

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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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My children are 7 and 4 so it’s too early for a real conversation about future careers. Normally if they say they want to be a certain thing when they’re older, I encourage them to think why they might like that job..would it be fun etc..

I don’t! Let them dream of their own accord.

We always advised them in conjunction with the teachers, but one was dead set on I.T. right from the start. The other said he was going to join an army band, as "when there's a war on, they don't send in the trumpet-player first"!

I don't make a big deal of it. Occasionally we will play a game where I pretend to be a child and say what I want to be when I grow up and then say 'your turn'

I think children change their minds about what career they will embark upon when they start thinking about A levels , my daughter has changed her mind three times and is still unsure I never interfere just provide some guidance

I talk to my children about what they could be when they're older based on what they like doing and say things like does that sound like something you would enjoy?

As they get older I think it's important that they think about it more in terms of choices at GCSE and A levels/college courses and part time jobs.

I always stress that they should enjoy what they're doing as I know too many people who hate their job!

Don't - plenty of time for that later, let kids be kids x

I just let them pursue anything that interests them, if it turns into a career good for them, at least they will enjoy their jobs :)

They have not expressed what they want to be. But key to their future careers im going to make sure they are competent in coding by using online tools like blocky.

I make sure that my son has as many experiences as possible.....from visits out to activities and play materials and roles available. If he wants to discuss anything, we do.

They’re very creative already but I think it’s ok to encourage anything

When they express an interest in something, I simply say things like 'maybe you'd like to work with computers/animals/planes etc when you grow up' and leave it at that.

We regularly visit a national children's museum (you know the one). There are so many role play activities and places of the world to visit. We love the area where you can see the layers of the earth, the the fossils that have been unearthed. This has made an enquiring mind ask more, want to find out, read and explore, we looked at dinosaur fossils, books and videos, he was enthralled, so he want to be a Paleontologist.

Let them see people working and explain what they are doing whenever possible.

I think that these things are talked about during playing at first. Role playing games often involve the child acting out various grown up jobs. Also I think praising a child for what they're good at can offer some opportunity for discussing how that might be a good skill in the future.

We let them know anything is possible if you work hard. They have different talents which we encourage.
They’ve always had a range of toys and we encouraged investigative play from when they were really small. Children get a good understanding of cause and effect by being able to explore/play. To me that is early science. They always had their own space to play and were able to make a “mess” without it being a problem.

dont even need to think about it when young, when it comes to choosing GCSE subjects, need to start the conversations, so that they make subject choices that doesnt restrict career choices later on

We visit loads of places and meet people who do various jobs in and outside the family - a vet, policeman, fireman, forces, etc., etc., also we visited schools, and sports organisations. Also careful choice of subjects at school. A love of nature and careful protection of our planet talks have helped also

Hearing about what people do and their training/ path to get there is interesting in its own right and makes children aware of possibilities.

My son has brought up several things he want's to do when grown up, from lego designer, artist, vet and farmer. I encourage him by saying he can be any of these things, and we would casually discuss what he want's to do knowing that it would probably change in the future!

I don't think I've ever tried to encourage them to think about it. They do regularly tell me what they're going to be but that changes all the time. I don't think they need to worry about it till they're in their teens and choosing subjects.

i encourage them to explore all different careers but i also believe that no pressure should ever be applied to children they should be allowed to freely explore all avenues.

We discuss the different jobs of people they encounter or in books...but we don't specifically focus on what they want to be. We do role play different jobs...but again just naturally through play.

My daughter has always wanted to work with special needs children. She has high functioning autism and is very aware of others needs due to her own. We have never really had to discuss other careers.

My daughter changes her mind every other week so I just leave her to it, she's only 8. Once she starts secondary school I'll have more discussions about what she wants to be/do when she's older.