Summary In this one-hour special, Planet Parent looks at Canada's skills crisis. Not enough of our children are learning skilled trades. Who's to blame? Parents! Experts, like Aldo Cianfrini of Skills Canada, predict that soon there won't be enough plumbers, electricians or construction workers to meet demands and make our economy grow. Why? Parents don't want their kids doing those jobs, even though they pay well and are in huge demand. Historian Craig Heron says ever since machines came onto the scene, skilled trades have diminished in esteem and today, the stereotype is that if you choose a trade over university, you're not as smart or ambitious as lawyers and computer programmers. We'll hear from several young people trying to buck the stereotype. Nineteen-year-old Anna Petryshyn's mother wanted her to go to university and become a dentist. But Anna is doing an apprenticeship to become a tool and die maker - a high-paying job with lots of demand. Unlike her friends, who have huge student loans, Anna is being paid while she learns. We'll find out what's being done to change attitudes and attract young trades people. And throughout the story, we'll hear from a candid, and often-comical panel of 10-year-olds, who tell us what their parents really think about skilled trades.

• Documentary