Does you child point with delight when spotting a plane flying through the sky? Are they enamored with semi-trucks as you pass them on the highway? Are they good with their hands? Or always looking to get to the root of a problem? If so, the transportation industry is worth exploring!
From outings on the road to games on the computer, there are many ways to explore the world of transportation!
If your child is particularly interested in being behind the wheel, or "oooohs" and "ahhhhs" as you pass semi-trucks on the highway, play a game of imagination on your next roadtrip. Each time you see a truck, ask your child to guess what they're carrying — food? Animals? Time machines? — and how those items will help the people receiving them. Next, imagine the route the driver is taking. What kind of scenery will they pass? How many states will they drive through?
Maybe your child is more intrigued by the planning and problem-solving side of transportation. If logistics (the field that ensures an efficient trip by analyzing trip factors and planning routes) is more their style, check out this list of video games that allow the player to explore with exciting, rewarding activites. (While all of the games on the list are appropriate, they might be too complicated for younger users.) Or, play board games like Ticket to Ride (ages 8+) and Alhambra (ages 13+) that require strategy and logistical savvy to win. If you want to explore logistics with a younger child, play with toy cars, trains or trucks and encourage them to build a track or path for the vehicles to take.
We've created the Cool Careers video series to give kids an in-depth look at exciting, high-demand careers in Kansas. Watch Episode #12 to see Cool Careers Correspondent Ailia ship over to Kansas City and explore eShipping Distribution Services. There, she unpacks Rozlyn's job as a distribution support specialist and hunts for the ever-satisfying bubble wrap!
Kansas has a number of exciting spots for you and your kids to learn about the wonders of transportation.
