What careers can your children pursue? Any that they are interested in, have talents for, and prepare for.

Make a list of the opportunities your child has had to learn about different skills and occupations. Look at your list and see if they represent both men and women.

If not, plan to begin introducing your child to some skills that represent mostly men (for example, auto mechanics) if she is a girl or represent mostly women (for example, dental hygienists), if he is a boy. You could have a daughter hang out with an adult working on an automobile. You could arrange for your son to talk to your local dental professional about various dental occupations.

Think about whether your attitudes about what boys and girls “should” play with are so strong that they are preventing your child from learning about occupations for which they have interest and talent. Start expanding your children’s opportunities by introducing your son to something like cooking or by going outside and throwing a football around with your daughter.