well, it really depends on what age group you are focusing on…

for a really young group I would start by asking what they have heard about college or if they have brothers or sisters who are in college…and then ask why they think that people go to college…then you could segway into why college is important and also the fun things about it–that you make a lot of great friends for the rest of your life and the classes are really interesting, stuff like that…

for an older group…like high school maybe middle school…i would stress the importance of a college education in finding a career…and the importance of education in general in becoming a valuable member of a community….and that they won’t have to live with thier parents, haha.

How young? If they are old enough to understand school, then college is school for grown-ups. I do think it is important with children to show enthusiasm for education across the board; nothing irritates me more than the back-to-school ads which seem to say, “If you must suffer the torture of school, at least you can look good while doing it!”. Most kids, unless they are being bullied, naturally enjoy being with their friends and learning new things. Also, I think while children can eventually understand that one of the purposes of college is to prepare students for careers, that isn’t all it does. Otherwise, they grow up to resent anything they are asked to do which doesn’t seem to have obvious and direct job relevance.

You say get out of that sandbox and start thinking about college!(lol)

seriously,,my grandaugter said just sat…I’m gonna live in my newly decorated room forever and I laughed and said you’ll be going away to college in 7 yrs! and she said i’m not going to college.And we started talking about what she wanted to be,either a marine biologist,or a dr. she said,,and I told her I was pretty sure she had to go to college for that…but also I told her she would change her mind 20 times before she decided…she’s 11.

first you call them on the phone…even toddlers can talk now. Then you tell her how you feel, but she probably won’t listen because she’s a child. Most children have to learn on their own…..