Summary

  • Childhood aspirations in The Sims 4 offer unique goals for child Sims to build skills and earn satisfaction points.
  • Completing aspirations rewards Sims with traits that benefit them in various ways, like building social or creative skills.
  • Some aspirations like Social Butterfly and Artistic Prodigy focus on specific skills, while others offer a more well-rounded development.

Childhood aspirations in The Sims 4 provide young Sims with specific goals that help them build various skill sets and explore the depth of different DLC packs. These aspirations can be chosen in Create-A-Sim or the aspiration panel and involve completing a series of goals to earn satisfaction points and working towards fulfilling their aspirations. Upon completion, Sims are rewarded with a unique trait that benefits them in various ways.

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The Sims 4: Best Aspirations, Ranked

Aspirations are a big part of the Sims franchise by bringing in more gameplay, and these are some of the best ones that players should try.

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Childhood aspirations, which can only be completed during the childhood life stage, consist of three milestones and six to seven different goals. The popularity and effectiveness of an aspiration are subjective, as some children may thrive more with creative goals, while others might excel with physical or mental challenges. Explore the eight childhood aspirations in The Sims 4 and their ranking based on their difficulty, the balance of skill development they offer, and the usefulness of the reward traits they provide.

8 Slumber Party Animal

Reward Trait: Practiced Host

Child Sims in a pillow fight and the Slumber Party Animal aspiration
  • Requires: The Sims 4: Growing Together
  • Milestones: Pajama Wearer, Storyteller, & Host With The Most

The Slumber Party Animal aspiration from the Growing Together expansion pack is a fun and lively goal for children who love to be the center of attention at social events, specifically slumber parties. Completing this aspiration gives Sims the Practiced Host reward trait, which guarantees their success at friendly and funny interactions during parties. The aspiration involves several goals involving attending and throwing slumber parties, building a variety of skills, and completing specific friendly interactions.

However, it ranks the lowest on this list due to its demanding requirement to develop multiple skills simultaneously and the limited usefulness of its reward trait, which only benefits Sims during events and not in their everyday interactions. While it is perfect for Sims who enjoy hosting and being social, the specificity and limited scope of the reward trait make it less appealing for a broader range of Sims.

7 Social Butterfly

Reward Trait: Socially Gifted

Two child Sims on the swings and the Social Butterfly aspiration
  • Base Game
  • Milestones: Chatterbox, Popular Kid, & Social Butterfly

The Social Butterfly aspiration is perfect for young Sims who love to socialize and make friends. Completing this aspiration grants the Socially Gifted trait, which allows Sims to build adult social skills more quickly. The journey to becoming a Social Butterfly involves meeting new Sims, making friends, and mastering the social skill.

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While this aspiration is ideal for Sims focused on building social skills and forming friendships, it doesn't rank as high because it only addresses one aspect of a child's development. Though it could be beneficial for fostering strong social abilities, which can be helpful for completing other aspirations and upward career progression, the Social Butterfly aspiration lacks the breadth offered by aspirations. Players might consider other aspirations that encourage a more well-rounded skill set.

6 Artistic Prodigy

Reward Trait: Creatively Gifted

A child Sim drawing and the Artistic Prodigy aspiration
  • Base Game
  • Milestones: Active Imagination, Daydreamer, & Artistic Prodigy

Artistic Prodigy is a base game aspiration for child Sims with dreams of excelling in the arts. Sims who complete all three milestones from this aspiration will receive the Creatively Gifted reward trait, which helps Sims build adult creative skills — such as painting, knitting, and singing — at a quicker pace. Buy an activity table for Sims to draw pictures, a musical instrument, and some toys in order to build and maximize the creativity skill.

This aspiration is considered mid-tier because it offers numerous ways to boost a child's creativity skill and ties into a wide range of adult creative skills. It is relatively straightforward to complete, making it accessible for players. Other aspirations, however, provide more comprehensive rewards and better prepare children for diverse successes in their adult lives.

5 Rambunctious Scamp

Reward Trait: Physically Gifted

A child Sim on the jungle gym and the Rambunctious Scamp aspiration
  • Base Game
  • Milestones: Energetic, Agile Developer, & Rambunctious Scamp

Designed for energetic Sims who enjoy being active and playful, the Rambunctious Scamp aspiration rewards Sims who complete their milestones and build their motor skills. Children who complete this aspiration will earn the Physically Gifted trait, allowing them to develop adult physical skills more quickly after they age up. The aspiration involves playing on the jungle gym, playing typing games on the computer, and reaching level 10 in their motor skill.

This aspiration falls in the middle of this ranking because it emphasizes the importance of physical activity for a child Sim's health and development of motor skills. The reward trait can be particularly beneficial for Sims aiming to be gym enthusiasts or aspiring athletes. While important, this aspiration focuses primarily on physical activity and does not provide as broad a range of skills and experiences as some other aspirations.

4 Whiz Kid

Reward Trait: Mentally Gifted

A child Sim at a potion station and the Whiz Kid aspiration
  • Base Game
  • Milestones: Precocious, Junior Scientist, & Whiz Kid

The Whiz Kid aspiration from the base game is ideal for young Sims who aspire to be the smartest kid in school. To finish this aspiration and receive the Mentally Gifted trait, which allows Sims to develop adult mental skills quicker than the default speed, children must complete all three milestones and their goals before they age up. This can be achieved by reading, playing chess, doing homework, and doing well in school. These activities will also help children reach level 10 in their mental skill, the ultimate goal of the aspiration.

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This aspiration ranks fourth because developing mental skills is crucial for academic success, university achievement, and for various high-income careers. The reward trait is especially advantageous for Sims aiming to excel in skills like logic, research and debate, and programming later in life. The next few aspirations, however, are better suited to prepare children for their future goals.

3 Mind And Body

Reward Trait: Headstrong

A child Sim riding a bike and the Mind and Body aspiration
  • Requires The Sims 4: Growing Together
  • Milestones: Confident Kiddo, Super Bike Tyke, & Master of Control

Children who aim to excel in both mental and physical disciplines should consider the Mind and Body aspiration from The Sims 4: Growing Together expansion pack. Upon completion, this aspiration grants Sims the Headstrong trait, which extends the duration of focused and confident moodlets. To complete this aspiration, Sims must have control of their emotions and build their motor and mental skills.

This aspiration ranks third among all childhood aspirations because it promotes the simultaneous development of both mental and motor skills without imposing the unrealistic expectation of mastering them. Additionally, learning to ride a bike is a valuable and practical skill for the future. The Headstrong trait is particularly useful, as extended Focused and Confident moodlets can significantly enhance work and school performance, making this aspiration a well-rounded choice for developing versatile and resilient Sims.

2 Playtime Captain

Reward Trait: Pack Animal

A child playing at the park and the Playtime Captain aspiration
  • Requires The Sims 4: Growing Together
  • Milestones: Silly Stomper, Talky-Talker, & Playground Royalty

The Playtime Captain aspiration is the third multi-skill aspiration from The Sims 4: Growing Together, which is ideal for Sims who enjoy active play and socializing with friends. Completing this aspiration grants the Pack Animal trait, which enhances skill and relationship gains when Sims are with their friends. This aspiration aims to work on motor and social skills, make friends with other children, and ride a bike.

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This aspiration ranks as the second-best childhood aspiration because it fosters the development of both social and motor skills, which are crucial for future success. The Pack Animal trait is especially beneficial, as it not only aids in building skills but also makes it easier for Sims to form and strengthen relationships and skills in their adult lives. This balanced focus on social and physical development makes this aspiration an excellent choice for well-rounded childhood growth.

1 Creative Genius

Reward Trait: Idea Person

Child Sims playing in a treehouse and the Creative Genius aspiration
  • Requires: The Sims 4: Growing Together
  • Milestones: Gifted Fledgling, Inspired Visionary, & Best-In-Class

The Creative Genius aspiration from The Sims 4: Growing Together is the best childhood aspiration due to its balanced focus on both creative and mental skill development. Completing this aspiration grants Sims the Idea Person trait, which significantly improves their ability and speed at activities such as painting, writing, programming, and writing songs more efficiently than others. This trait also helps Sims quickly overcome writer's block if they are struggling with it. The aspiration requires Sims to play and sleep in a treehouse, achieve level six in their creativity skill, and reach level five in their mental skill.

This aspiration is the best because it fosters both creative and mental skills, laying a strong foundation for a wide range of future hobbies and careers. The Idea Person trait is particularly valuable, as it provides comprehensive benefits that cover multiple creative endeavors, making it an exceptional reward trait for any aspiring young Sim. The Creative Genius aspiration is the best for child Sims to get the most out of their formative years.

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The Sims 4 Tag Page Cover Art
7 /10

The Sims 4

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Simulation
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Systems
PC-1 PlayStation-1 Xbox-1
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Top Critic Avg: 70 /100 Critics Rec: 26%
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Released
September 2, 2014
ESRB
T for Teen: Crude Humor, Sexual Themes, Violence
Developer(s)
Maxis
Publisher(s)
Electronic Arts
Engine
Proprietary Engine
Cross-Platform Play
Xbox, PlayStation, and computer versions of Sims 4 are all separate games incompatible with each other
Cross Save
no
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
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Franchise
The Sims
Platform(s)
PS4, Xbox One, PC
Genre(s)
Simulation
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