Five Fun Careers for Curious Kids

Kids do some curious things—mostly because they're, well, curious! From following pets around the house to bashing pots and pans together, kids are exploring and discovering the worlds around them, and they're all drawn to different things. Read on to find out what your kiddo's specific curiosity might mean for his or her future and the unique career options that may await!

Kristen Kline, Associate Veterinarian

Is your kiddo curious about pets? Most kids love anything furry and four-legged, but if your little one's appreciation for pets goes beyond a passing interest, he or she might be inspired by the wonderful world of veterinary medicine!

Florida-based vet Kristen Kline admits to being a curious kid (she's still a curious adult!) and that curiosity serves her well at work. She's treated everything from a Bactrian camel and an elephant, to dogs and cats, and sometimes the diagnoses are not straightforward. In those cases, Kristen sets her curious mind in motion to research possible problems and solutions. Her everyday responsibilities include seeing appointments, reviewing medical records and lab results, and prescribing treatments and medications, but she's also had some spectacularly exciting moments in her career. She’ s even performed CPR to successfully revive a dog in complete cardiac arrest. Talk about job satisfaction!

Kimo Morris, Marine Biologist

Got a beach baby? He or she may be harboring an interest in marine biology, like Marine biologist Kimo Morris! Kimo spends many of his workdays scuba diving. From the frigid waters of Iceland to the tropical depths of Tahiti, Kimo has explored the oceans around the world! Part of his job is describing the amazing sights he sees to others and trying to understand why animals prefer certain habitats over others in the ocean.

Kimo is also an associate professor of biology at Santa Ana College and an environmental consultant, and says curiosity plays an important role in all of his work. He encourages his college students to ask good questions to help them grow and learn and finds that curious scientists are able to think more creatively. Kimo himself has been curious about the ocean ever since his first SCUBA outing with his father at the age of 14.

Nina Schau, Professional Facepainter

If your kiddo loves to color and draw, perhaps he or she is headed for a career in the arts! Artist Nina Schau still remembers what it felt like to layer and blend the colors of her set of 72 colored pencils as a child, and puts some of the same techniques to use as a professional facepainter.

Nina paints faces and bodies at special events and parties, designing custom creations for each of her subjects. She particularly enjoys painting children and adults with special needs, connecting with them, putting them at ease, and designing something special just for them. When she's not painting, Nina is busy marketing her services, networking with other artists, sending contracts and invoices, and stocking her traveling supply chest of paints. Curiosity keeps Nina creative and she enjoys dissecting the works of other painters to understand the layers, colors, and techniques they use. She advises kids who are interested in becoming face and body artists to study color theory as well as human and animal anatomy, and to do something artistic every day!

Steve Zuckerman, Mega Musician and More

If your little one loves banging and bashing pots and pans, don't despair! He or she could be headed for a career in music! After all, one of Steve Zuckerman's most memorable projects included dragging a superball (yes, those super-high bouncing balls from the '80s—many modern orchestrations actually call for the use of these surprisingly musical toys!) across a 15-foot sheet of metal for the crazy, experimental score he created for Disney's Black Hole trailer. Steve has composed music and songs for countless commercials, TV shows, and movies, including beloved Capital I and Lower Case N of Sesame Street fame.

Composing, orchestrating, writing, directing, producing, sound-designing, and commercial editing are just some of Steve Zuckerman's many musical responsibilities. Being naturally curious helps Steve keep one step ahead of emerging technology and tools, enabling him to offer his clients the very latest before it becomes mainstream. Steve advises kids to explore all of their interests, to be eclectic and curious, and to jump right in to what they love. And he's got secret weapon for competing against those who might just be a little bit better than you are—work harder than they do! It's the ultimate competitive edge.

Mary Jo Reutter, Game Inventor

If your kiddo can't stop asking questions, you may be looking at a future game inventor! Mary Jo Reutter, the inventor of dozens of best-selling adult and children's games, is constantly asking herself "what if?" As in, what if we changed the theme, the way the game plays, the size of the parts, etc. Mary Jo's constant questioning and curiosity leads to fine tuning that ultimately makes her games even better. Ask her what her favorite part about being a game inventor is and she’ ll tell you it's using her mind in creative ways all day long! Whether it's coming up with brand new game ideas, fixing a part of a game that's not working, or considering the graphics for a new game, she loves spending her days solving problems. Mary Jo recommends that kids who want to pursue a career as a game inventor study music, play sports, get artistic, and pursue anything and everything they're curious about!