5 Career-Related Games Kids Should be Playing | #gamer

The days of playing cowboys and Indians are over. It’s unrealistic to let your child pretend that he or she has a future as a cowboy or princess. At the very least, they should be playing cops and robbers to learn about law enforcement. It’s never too early to get your child on the right career path, so set them up with these five toys for early job training.

Grand Theft Auto

Image via Flickr by AXLiberty

While no parent wants their child to become a criminal, playing GTA can introduce your child to the car industry and set him up to be a car salesman or mechanic. Players learn how to customize vehicles and invest in garages to keep them safe. This places the child a similar environment that they would be in if they worked at Goodyear or Tires Plus. Furthermore, finding rare cars teaches your child about supply and demand. He or she will walk away knowing that some cars are more valuable than others and will fetch a higher price.

Pokémon

It’s never too early to instill a love of animals and curiosity about nature in your child. The problem is that nature has too many allergens, and your child can’t handle the responsibility of an actual pet. Instead, buy your child a stack of Pokémon cards while having them play the videos games and watch the shows. They will learn to categorize these “pocket monsters” by species and even learn about evolution as they try to catch ’em all. You’re probably raising a future biologist or dog-walker!

Operation

With the Obamacare rollout, need for nurse practitioners and healthcare administrators is rapidly growing. This is a field that has been around for centuries, and will stick around as long as people get sick and die. The best thing you can do for your child is interest them in a career with job security. Operation isn’t a new game, but it still teaches kids about the body. If they show an interest in the industry, they might begin to research the actual cause and symptoms of tennis elbow or brain freeze.

Words with Friends

This app can set your child up for a future in writing. The best part is that you can play with your son or daughter on both of your tablets. Challenge your child to use bigger words or face the agony of defeat. The word ‘fat’ won’t win as many points as the word “factory.” Also, no one actually writes with pen and paper anymore, so this teaches your child to start typing at an early age.

Bratz Dolls

Over the years, Barbie has had more than 130 careers. She went to the moon before Neil Armstrong, she has been a pilot, a CEO, and even ran for president. Unfortunately, it’s unrealistic that your daughter will do any of these. Try emphasizing fashion and the importance of looks with Bratz Dolls instead. If you’re worried that your daughter won’t be able to cut it in the working world, set her up to be pretty and marry rich.

You’ve been scouting preschools to make sure your child gets into the right college, but are you thinking about what they’re going to do when they graduate?

Guest Contributor Amanda Brown is a freelance writer whom enjoys playing and coaching volleyball. She loves her friends and family including her dog, Charlie; as well as traveling all around the world.