SAN FRANCISCO — January 24, 2025 — What do kids want to be when they grow up? Turns out, many aren’t sure—because they aren’t seeing the full range of possibilities. Two groundbreaking surveys of over 1,000 parents and 1,000 children confirm this, revealing a striking consensus on the need for broader career exposure. Bospar, a “politely pushy” PR firm, is stepping in to address this gap with its new children’s book Game Face.
The findings reveal that 64.5% of parents believe schools focus too narrowly on a few career paths, while 78% of youth say certain careers feel “invisible” to them because they aren’t exposed to them through TV and daily life. This knowledge gap extends particularly to public relations – only 49% of parents and 51% of children know what PR actually entails, despite 77.9% of youth expressing interest in careers involving storytelling.
“These findings validate exactly why we created Game Face,” said Curtis Sparrer, principal and co-founder of Bospar and the book’s author. “When both parents and their children identify such a clear gap in career awareness, we have a responsibility to help bridge it, especially in fields like PR that combine creativity, problem-solving and storytelling.”
Key findings from these December 2024 surveys include:
- 82.4% of children wish they were exposed to more career choices in elementary school
- 85.8% of parents want their children exposed to more career options
- 90% of youth believe they can pursue careers beyond traditional roles, but nearly one-third (31.7%) say they only know about conventional paths
- 76.9% of parents actively discuss possible careers with their children
- Only 1.4% of children currently consider PR as a career path, despite 77.9% being interested in careers involving storytelling
“The data shows that while parents are eager to discuss careers with their children, they need more resources and information about diverse professional paths,” added Sparrer. “Game Face isn’t just about introducing PR; it’s about showing how different careers intersect with technology, communication and innovation, opening up new possibilities for families to explore.”
Game Face, which launches April 2, follows a 10-year-old who discovers the world of PR through her uncle’s agency during a video game crisis. The book aims to make PR accessible and exciting for young readers while demonstrating how the field combines imagination and resourcefulness.The 69-page illustrated book will be available on Amazon, with a launch event and book signing at Ridge Ventures in San Francisco on April 2 at 6:30 p.m. Pacific. For more information, visit https://bospar.com/game-face/.