Playmobil surveys kids ambitions

[Sylvia]

The results were quite interesting!

http://www.toynewsmag.com/news/30800/TOY-NEWS-09-Playmobil-surveys-kids-ambitions

[Martin Milner]

I wonder what age range these children were?

While it's great that children are being more imaginative with their career dreams, we don't need 51% of adults becoming Indiana Jones-like adventurers and explorers, and 24% of the population employed as firemen may be overkill, while we do need doctors, farmers and teachers.

How many lawyers we need is a matter best left undiscussed...

[cachalote]

well, it's not really a survey made directly with kids.
the text says:
"The research from toy giant, Playmobil, surveyed nearly 3,000 mums and dads on how their own past career aspirations varied from their kids."

so, maybe with the lack of communication kids and their parents have nowadays, the "real" results could vary. 

[Rasputin]

Very interesting thanks for the link .

I for one would not even have been able to tell you what my Pop did for a living when i was a kid . not that i did not want to know , we were not allowed to know  It did make for embarrassing "share " days at school back during the "Cold War"

Teacher : so what does your daddy do ¿
me:  Um, well i do not know really
Teacher : Does he go to work  ¿
me : Nope i do not know, but he does bring home these new computers made by some company called apple, their in a garage             
        and the computer is called Lisa .
Teacher : i will be right back, i need to make a little call now   

[Indianna]

Thanks for that interesting link, Sylvia!  

I think the story is being spun to persuade parents to buy toys that inspire imaginative play.  That is what the best toys already do, but if that helps Playmobil to sell more, that's fine.

Haven't kids always wanted to be explorers and firefighters and veterinarians and archeologists, etc.?  The news story says that "only 11% of parents admitted they followed their childhood  dreams" so it would be interesting to know what they wanted to be when they were children.  Before movies and TV, children were inspired by the stories and books and current events of their times.  There's lots of imaginative play in fairy tales, Robin Hood, Knights (King Arthur, etc.), 1001 Arabian nights, "cowboys and indians," Robinson Crusoe and Swiss Family Robinson, tales of actual war, gladiators and chariots (Ben Hur), real-life pirates and privateers, the list is endless.  

Few people may end up in the career that was their childhood dream but they may well be happier and better people for having had the chance to develop their imaginations and creative skills as youngsters.  

[CountBogro]

It made me wonder - so I asked my oldest son what he wanted to be. He gave replied, without blinking, that he wanted to be a farmer.  He wanted to sow and reap from the land.
I never wanted that !!! I wanted to be a pilot...

I'm wondering though - 11% of the mums and dads became what they wanted to be. So ... what did they become

Bogro

[Saskia]

I think that the age of a child is important as well. My son now want's to become a gamedisigner, but he didn't know about that possibility until a few years ago. So when he was about 5 (now 11) he had different career plans.

And sometimes you can aim for a certain carreer but phisical of mental problems can put a stop on it. Again my son as an example, he's partially colorblind (problems with red and green) so he can't become a pilot.

[Sylvia]

I wonder what age range these children were?

That question rose in my mind too. My guess is that most of them would have been from Playmobil's core target age-group. But what is that these days? Between 5 and 8 years of age, perhaps?

I think the story is being spun to persuade parents to buy toys that inspire imaginative play.  That is what the best toys already do, but if that helps Playmobil to sell more, that's fine.

Very perceptive! 

Few people may end up in the career that was their childhood dream but they may well be happier and better people for having had the chance to develop their imaginations and creative skills as youngsters.  

Again, I think you're dead right. Too many toys these days seem to sap kids imaginations by not allowing them to be creative, and I'm sure they are instilling the wrong kinds of messages while they are at very impressionable stages of development.

All I have to do is watch the difference in my own children's behaviour. When they are playing with Playmobil, they are even-tempered and happy - it's really a joy to watch. When they are playing Mario Kart on the Wii and trying to outrace a cartoon character, they become unnaturally competitive and angry. Yes, I know it is my fault as much as theirs for allowing them to have these games in the house.

[Martin Milner]

And sometimes you can aim for a certain career but phisical of mental problems can put a stop on it. Again my son as an example, he's partially colorblind (problems with red and green) so he can't become a pilot.

ditto - so electrical engineer was out as an option, I couldn't tell the wires apart.

[Jimbo]

I'm wondering though - 11% of the mums and dads became what they wanted to be. So ... what did they become

I wanted to be a sailor...joined the Navy..got into naval aviation..from there I went into
the airline kingdom..and approximately 40 years later, retired, and now I am happily
helping to maintain a 17 acre church/school facility.

Best regards

Former  swaby,
Jimbo