High-Tech Career Shopping For Kids
MIAMI (CBS4) -- You might think the hours your kids spend on the web are a real waste of time, but not if they're playing around on sites that let them explore different career opportunities. These days, they can get hands-on experience over the internet, learning more about the job of their dreams.
Parker Williams is just 11 now, but she has some big dreams. "Since I was 5, I wanted to be a super star."
Her back-up plans include a couple options. "A physical therapist, fashion designer, photographer," said Parker.
The little girl with the big career dreams has been investigating those options online with help of new websites geared toward kids looking deeper into hobbies that could be careers. If your child can't physically shadow an expert in the field of their dreams, this is the next best thing and may be better in some cases.
"Playing on these sites as opposed to the real world experience allows the kid to investigate areas that they are particularly interested in," explained Mary Heston from Wired Moms. "They aren't being told what to do but they can figure out the things they love most about a particular interest."
Heston said the sites use interactive tools to allow hands-on creativity.
Her favorites include SFKids.org for the San Francisco Symphony where kids can make music, architectstudio3d.org for creating buildings, tikatok.com where kids can write their own book and fashionplaytes.com for budding designers.
Fashionplaytes.com is one of Parker's favorites.
"I can design T-shirts, dresses, pants," said Parker.
"When we created Fshion Playtes, we really tried to emulate an experience of a real designer so we tried to bring in a pallet, a color choice pallet, and embellishments, very similar to what a designer would do in a real world," explained Fashionplaytes.com creator Sarah McIlroy.
Fashion Playtes even allows the option of buying what you've created and Tikatok lets you buy the books you've put together.
Parker's mom sees the sites as valuable, safe places to play-and learn.
"You get some opportunities you may not have in real life. Not everyone is going to be able to go spend a day with a fashion designer, or go to a factory," said Liz Williams.
Heston, of Wired Moms, said if your children have an interest in a certain occupation, you can search for a site that peaks their professional interest. Just keep a couple things in mind.
"Who is funding the site? Look at the about us page to see what the catch is to the site. If they don't have that information I'd be very leery of the site," said Heston.
Once you feel comfortable, let them have fun going to work.
"On a number of these sites they're very, very close to a realistic experience," said Heston.
The sites featured in this story are free to play on, unless you make a purchase. Heston said be cautious of sites that require any virtual purchases.
