7 Ways to Explore Colleges With Young Kids

Education experts agree that there is plenty parents can do to introduce their children to careers while exposing them to college early on.

Angela "Laila" Hasan, Ph.D., professor of clinical education at USC's Rossier School of Education, reminds parents they don't need to have college degrees themselves to ignite curiosity about higher education in young kids. Parents can find information on the internet and share it with their children, Hasan said.

A key resource for Southern California families is their nearest institution of higher learning.

"We are so lucky we have so many colleges," said Oona Fontanella-Nothom, Ph.D., assistant professor of early childhood education at Cal State Los Angeles.

Vocational schools, community colleges and four-year universities offer free or low-cost family-friendly events and activities parents can tap into.

Through campus visits, "children learn (college) is a place that's fun and interesting," Hasan said.

Visiting colleges also shows children there are many career paths for them to choose from.

"It helps students start to formulate career choices," Hasan said.

Exploring academic institutions from an early age enriches children's lives and helps them begin to figure out what they want to do when the time comes to head off to college, she said.

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"Many students get to college having no idea what they want to do," Hasan said. "Once they get there, they have to figure it out."

Below is a list of activities families can do to explore their local college with young children.

1. Take a walk or ride a bike through the nearest college campus. Pack a lunch and find a grassy spot to enjoy a picnic. Such an outing helps children develop familiarity with the college campus and makes them comfortable being there, Hasan said.
2. A campus visit can include a stop at the college bookstore. College bookstores often have a children's book area with titles on many subjects. Fontanella-Nothom said stopping to browse or making a small purchase helps make kids comfortable with the college atmosphere.
3. As you make your way through campus, look for statues, landmarks and significant buildings. Point out the buildings and explain what takes place inside. Show your child the building where film students learn to become film makers, where students study animals that live in the ocean, or where students learn about earthquakes, for example.
4. Visit a college museum, theater or art gallery. Check the college's website in advance to see if they have any child-appropriate exhibitions on view. You can also take in a student production in the visual and performing arts department. Student productions expose children to the arts and show them they can participate in them in the future, Hasan said.
5. Participate in community events. Colleges and universities often have movie nights, concerts and cultural events and some host large- scale community events that are free to the public. Attending these events provides an opportunity to explore the campus and meet students and faculty.
6. Take an interest in college sports. Sports can also foster an interest in college, Hasan said. Most college coaches or faculty members are often willing to talk to children for a short time about their programs; parents can accompany a child to ask them a question or two about their sport. "They are kind and gracious and they want to make a good impression on this young person before them," Hasan said.
7. Visit campus labs and researchers. Colleges often have programs that draw attention for the caliber of their research and have laboratories that grab children's attention. Before visiting campus, parents can call ahead to those departments and ask if they can make a short visit with their children to speak with a faculty member or students about their projects, Hasan said. Faculty often welcome such visits. "They love the interest of young people on campus," Hasan said.