What Your Child Wants to Be When They Grow Up Reveals More Than You Think

Big Dreams Start Small

Think back to the last time your child answered the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” 

Maybe they said “astronaut,” “teacher,” “chef,” or something completely unexpected like “ice cream taste-tester.”

At first, these answers might sound silly or unrealistic.

But here’s the thing: each answer is a clue.

When your child says astronaut, they might be telling you they’re curious about space, adventure, and discovery. When they say teacher, it could be about helping others and explaining things clearly. Even ice cream taste-tester reveals a love for joy, fun, and maybe even creativity in food.

Why this matters:

• Childhood dreams are less about the final job title and more about uncovering what excites them.

• Encouraging your child’s “out there” ideas shows them that their imagination is valid, which builds confidence and a willingness to dream bigger.

• Research shows kids who are given room to dream freely develop stronger problem-solving skills, because they learn to connect creativity with real-world thinking.

So the next time your child answers, “I want to be a…” lean in. Ask follow-up questions: “What about that sounds fun to you?” or “What would you do first if you had that job?” Their answers may surprise you and give you valuable insight into what lights them up inside.

And here’s the best part: even if your child never becomes a paleontologist or a pop star, the curiosity and imagination fueling those dreams are the very qualities that will carry them into the jobs of the future… even the ones not invented yet.

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Skills That Outlast Any Job Title

Jobs come and go. Technology evolves. AI is already taking over tasks we once thought only humans could do. But no matter how much the workplace shifts, there are certain human skills that never go out of style: curiosity, resilience, adaptability, and empathy.

The good news? Parents can help their kids practice these skills long before resumes and job interviews ever come into play.

Elementary Years: Planting Curiosity

• Encourage exploration through play and variety. Let them dabble in sports, art, coding, building blocks, or baking.

• Ask open-ended questions: “What do you think will happen if…?” to spark problem-solving.

• Don’t rush to correct mistakes. Instead, treat errors as experiments that fuel learning.

💡Tip: Give your child “unstructured time.” A bored brain often turns into a creative one, which is exactly the skill kids need to adapt to a world where AI handles the routine tasks.

Middle School Years: Building Resilience & Critical Thinking

• Encourage persistence when things get tough. Remind them that learning something new - from math to soccer to piano - takes time.

• Practice critical thinking by playing strategy games, discussing books, or asking them to explain how they solved a problem.

• Encourage teamwork through group projects, sports, or community activities. Collaboration is a skill robots can’t replicate.

💡Tip: When your child struggles, avoid jumping in to “fix it.” Instead, ask: “What’s one thing you could try differently?” This builds problem-solving muscles.

High School Years: Exploring the Real World

• Push beyond the classroom with summer jobs, internships, or volunteering. Real-world experiences help teens discover what energizes them and what drains them.

• Shadow professionals or talk to family friends about their careers. Even short conversations can open their eyes to what’s possible.

• Teach adaptability by helping them manage time, juggle responsibilities, and learn to prioritize.

💡Tip: Frame each new experience as an experiment, not a final decision. “Try this out and see what you learn about yourself.” That mindset takes pressure off and encourages growth.

AI may reshape the job market, but kids with strong curiosity, resilience, and people skills will always find ways to thrive.

As a parent, you don’t have to prepare them for a single career. You’re preparing them for a lifetime of learning and adapting.

From High School to College to Careers

When kids are little, it’s easy to smile at their answer to “What do you want to be when you grow up?” But by high school, the question feels heavier… and more real. Suddenly, there are applications, majors, career fairs, and well-meaning relatives asking, “So, what’s next?”

Here’s the truth: the world your teen is stepping into looks nothing like the one you entered. According to the World Economic Forum, 65% of children in school today will end up working in jobs that don’t even exist yet. AI, automation, and technology are reshaping industries faster than schools and universities can update their curricula. Fields such as data science, renewable energy, robotics, and AI ethics are among the fastest-growing areas of opportunity.

But here’s the flip side: this uncertainty is also an opportunity. 

Teens don’t need to have it all figured out. What they need is exposure, experiences, and conversations that help them connect who they are with how they can contribute.

Here’s how you can help:

• Encourage exploration. Teens can explore their future paths through online courses or micro-credentials that let them test-drive fields like coding, psychology, or design. Connecting with mentors for informational interviews, trying out job-simulation platforms like Forage, or even participating in cultural exchanges and community service projects can all provide a fresh perspective. With AI reshaping the job market, tools that help teens match their strengths to emerging careers can also open doors to opportunities that didn’t exist just a few years ago.

• Talk about skills, not just job titles. Instead of focusing on “doctor” or “engineer,” help your teen identify transferable skills: problem-solving, creativity, leadership, and communication. These skills will carry across multiple careers.

• Normalize the nonlinear path. Most adults today don’t stick with one career. In fact, research shows the average worker will have 12 different jobs over their lifetime. Remind your teen that pivoting and adapting is not only okay… it’s expected.

Here are some guiding questions to ask your teen:

• What problems in the world do you want to help solve?

• What skills or activities make you feel most alive?

• How do you want to make a difference (big or small) in people’s lives?

These questions shift the focus from “choosing the right job” to “finding meaningful ways to grow, contribute, and thrive.”

As a parent, your role isn’t to hand them a map with a single route. It’s to remind them that the road will twist and turn, and that’s okay. The world may be changing, but the constant will always be their ability to learn, adapt, and bring their unique gifts into whatever comes next.

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Last week we asked parents: At what age is it appropriate for a child to have their own phone or smartwatch? 

Here’s what you said:

• Before 10: 8%

• 10–12: 17%

• 13–15: 25%

• 16 or older: 50%

• Depends on the child: 8%

One thoughtful parent shared:

"In middle school, especially if they’re involved in sports, phones are a way for parents to check in. For kids in the care of a nanny while parents work long hours, a call watch or tracker can even make sense in elementary school."

It’s clear there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, and timing often depends on your child’s maturity, activities, and your family’s needs!

We’re asking parents like you to share their thoughts on topics that matter each week! Cast your vote and see what others think! We’ll chat more about the results next week. 👀

For Younger Kids (2–8)

1. Pok Pok – Imaginative, open-ended games that build creativity and problem-solving.

2. Osmo Monster – Combines drawing with digital play to spark creativity and learning.

For Upper Elementary & Middle School (8–13)

3. STEM Buddies – Hands-on science and STEM challenges to explore real-world problem solving.

For Teens (14+)

5. Career Explorer – Career aptitude tests and exploration tools to help teens match interests with possible future careers.

6. Khan Academy Careers & Life Skills – Free courses exploring coding, entrepreneurship, and career skills.

Until Next Week…

Every “I want to be a…” is more than a passing thought.

It’s a spark of curiosity.

By nurturing those sparks, encouraging skill-building, and keeping an open mind about new opportunities (yes, even the ones powered by AI), we help kids grow into adaptable, confident humans ready to take on whatever the future holds.

Thanks for joining us in raising kind, capable, and confident humans. We’re so glad you’re here.

❤️ Loved this issue? Have thoughts, questions, or topic ideas?

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