• taiyang@lemmy.world
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    20 days ago

    Ok, I also don’t like glamorizing a cooperation but I’ll let folks in on something as a parent; kids genuinely are interested in occupational stuff, especially if they see it regularly. Just at Target, for instance, they sell kid sized target branded cashier make believe stuff. And I do mean branded, with all the store brand names and everything.

    I’m not getting my kid this mostly cause I’d rather not support the brands, but I do think it’s important to let kids know that it’s ok to work these jobs if that’s your deal. If anything, we as adults need to make the jobs give a living wage and not be expoitive, and to do that, you also have to teach the next generation that these jobs have value.

    (And honestly, I prefer it over glamorizing police or military, which we’ve done with toys and events since forever!)

    • PunnyName@lemmy.world
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      20 days ago

      Astronaut camp is always lauded as a glamorous summer camp. But that’s a job, and it takes a massive amount of dedication.

      Only makes sense that other jobs might be desirable.

      • meep_launcher@lemm.ee
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        20 days ago

        I remember space camp! I was in 5th grade and they had a 2020 mission to Mars simulator. We all died.

        I like to think there was a two way mirror with researchers on one side taking notes. “Don’t send a team on 5th graders to Mars”

    • Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de
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      20 days ago

      i do feel like they could just skip the fucking cost for it, i get that they need to cover the food and tshirt and stuff, but also they are a massive corporation that is getting to propagandize to their future workers, so like maybe just eat that cost so it doesn’t leave a dystopian aftertaste?

      Put a different way: if a poor family is able to get their kid into this so the kid gets a free meal and a better shot at landing a job, that’s probably the closest they can get to doing something wholesome.

    • JasonDJ@lemmy.zip
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      20 days ago

      This. Kids love “dramatic” play…that is, imaginative play in a costumed role.

      Plenty of kids with day-glow vests and hardhats, nobody is knocking them. Plenty of kids with cop costumes, or cowboy hats, or spacesuits, or fireman jackets.

      I agree with you entirely…it’s a bit “weird” on the surface, but this is really great play for kids. Kids are absolutely interested in what happens behind the scenes (or at least behind the counter) and building independence by making their own snacks and stuff.

      Just as long as they aren’t having kids working at factory chicken farms. Because that would likely scar them for life. Then again, maybe they should.