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Which careers are good if I enjoy working with kids?

I have been volunteering, and I have found that I really like working with kids. What careers would allow me to be around kids and work with kids?

I have already considered the teaching options, e.g., in a day-care, preschool, or elementary school, but I am looking for other ideas for careers where I can work with kids. #education #children

Thank you comment icon By kids, I assume you mean younger children, e.g., in elementary school? J Pan

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J’s Answer

Traditional careers where you work with kids include becoming a teacher in daycare, preschool, or elementary school.


But if you're interested in doing something other than teaching, jobs where you are exposed to kids often include: pediatrician, a nurse in a children's hospital, child psychologist, a researcher (on psychology, behavior, nutrition, health) focused on children, a child advocate (lawyer, social worker), work in a toy store, work in a zoo or petting zoo, work as a face painter/clown/or entertainer for children, write children's books or music for children, design / build toys or playgrounds for kids.


In other words, there are lots and lots of ways you can work with kids on a daily basis, so it also depends on what else you like to do.

Thank you comment icon Thank you J Pan this is really interesting! Savera
Thank you comment icon Wow these are some really great options Maeve
Thank you comment icon Thanks for the great info! Andrea
Thank you comment icon Great ideas! Alaina
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Jessica’s Answer

A lot of people who want to work with kids but not teach think about working at non-profit organizations that serve kids - these are sometimes called youth development organizations. You could be working with kids, middle schoolers or high schoolers, and these organizations do tons of different things. They could be trying to help get more kids to go to college or working with youth in a sports context or providing academic help with homework. Another idea is to consider museums, which are also non-profits, because they almost always have an education department; that way you can sometimes combine an interest in working with kids with some other cultural or artistic interest, depending on the institution: fine arts at an art museum, like the Museum of Modern Art; performing arts at a dance company, like Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; music at a music hall, like Carnegie Hall, etc.

Thank you comment icon Thank you Jessica this is really interesting! Savera
Thank you comment icon Wow I never thought about all these different options Maeve
Thank you comment icon Hi Jessica! Thank you so much for the amazing advice you provided to Sarah above! I had a few questions I wanted to ask out of my own curiosity: 1. What are some next steps someone can take to try out some of these potential careers working with children? Are there any online tests or resources that would be good to investigate? 2. Do you have any personal experience/know anybody who leaves teaching, but like Sarah expressed, sought work outside of the classroom? What have their experiences been like? I'd really appreciate any additional info or advice you could provide! Thank you so much in advance. Cheers, David David Ohta COACH
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Eva’s Answer

You can also consider working in a museum. Most museums have educators who create and lead K-12 programs at the museum for visiting teachers and students. Go to any major museum's website and you'll see their education section to get a sense of the variety of programs that educators create for museums. An excellent college to train to be a museum educator is the Bank Street College of Education (I believe it is affiliated with Columbia University in NYC).

Thank you comment icon Thank you Eva this is really interesting! Savera
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TerrellCodman3’s Answer

A Daycare Or DSS

Thank you comment icon Thank you Holly this is really interesting! Savera
Thank you comment icon Thanks for bringing up this option Andrea
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Alexa’s Answer

If you love working with kids you can become a teacher, a pediatrician, a pediatric dentist, a guidance counselor, pediatric nurse, therapist, day care worker, a nanny, a principal, speech pathologist. These are just some ideas but there’s a lot of opportunities!
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Anna’s Answer

Some great ideas here! If there have additional interests in your career, you can find great part-time positions in coaching such as gymnastics or swimming. This is a great way to include your interests and mix with career!
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Yee-Bien’s Answer

You can also look into the toy industry where they conduct focus group to find out if the new product (toy) they plan to release will be enjoyed by the kids.

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Jonas L.’s Answer

Play Therapist are pretty cool occupation. Also, there is an organization called PlayWorks that has full -time salary position that are kid related.

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