When I Grow Up
Emma Dodd's Love You Books Series
What’s inside...
What child doesn't spend time thinking about growing up? This beautiful book gives children a chance to think beyond themselves about what other animals, and even plants, look like all grown up. Inspire children to wonder and appreciate this magnificent world in which we live!
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
3-8
Length
44 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you dream of becoming when you grow up? Why does that interest you?
Which character’s job in the book would you like to try for a day and what would you do?
How do the different characters in the book help their community?
If you could invent a job that doesn't exist yet, what would it be and how would it help people?
Do you think working together is important in achieving great things? Why?
Tip: Role play these questions
Use a warm and curious tone to encourage open-ended responses, showing genuine interest in your child's ideas and feelings.
Connect discussions to real life by relating the jobs and roles in the book to those familiar to your child, such as family members’ or neighbors’ occupations.
Highlight the importance of all jobs and how they work together to make the community better, reinforcing the value of diverse contributions.
Encourage creativity by asking your child to draw or act out the job they imagine for themselves or invent a new one.
Emphasize teamwork by discussing how the characters in the book rely on each other, reflecting on how we also depend on various roles in society.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Exploring Different Careers
Explanation: Through the various characters and scenarios, the book introduces children to a range of professions, encouraging them to think about various career possibilities.
Real-World Application: Children can relate this to their own future aspirations and understand that they have multiple options in life, fostering early career awareness and curiosity.
Example Lesson: Value of Hard Work and Dedication
Explanation: The characters in 'When I Grow Up' demonstrate that achieving dream careers requires effort and persistence, highlighting successes and setbacks.
Real-World Application: This can motivate children to apply dedication and perseverance in their daily activities and studies, reinforcing the importance of hard work towards achieving their goals.
Example Lesson: Importance of Imagination and Dreaming Big
Explanation: The book encourages children to dream about their future without limitations, fostering a boundless imagination.
Real-World Application: This lesson can inspire children to engage in imaginative play and visionary thinking, important skills for creative problem-solving and innovation in real life.
Example Lesson: Learning from Failure
Explanation: Characters in the book face challenges and sometimes fail, but they learn and grow from these experiences.
Real-World Application: Children learn that failure is a natural part of learning and growth, and it's important to persevere and learn from mistakes.