Bring your child to work day dos and don'ts

Jan 15, 2024 Ellipse 37

Category: Health & Happiness

Adult with kid working on laptop and studying

Bring Your Child to Work Day has been celebrated since the mid-1990s by companies all over the United States. Bringing your child to work on this day can teach them some valuable lessons about responsibility, effort, teamwork, and collaboration - but it’s also important to follow a few dos and don’ts if you want everyone to have fun!

The History of Bring Your Child to Work Day

First called the Take Our Daughters to Work Program, the initiative was launched by Gloria Steinem and the Ms. Foundation for Women in 1993 in response to studies that found many girls lacked confidence and were dropping out of school by the eighth grade.

Ten years later the name was changed to Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work so that boys, who are subject to many of the same issues, could also participate. The program is called Take “Our” Daughters and Sons to Work to encourage people to extend the experience to children who aren’t in their immediate family. You can invite other young family members, friends, neighbors, or kids who live in local public housing or shelters.

While the program is a good way for children to learn about work and provides an unbeatable practical learning experience, there are many things parents, mentors, teachers, and employers need to be mindful of.

How Kids Benefit from Bring Your Child to Work Day

Inspires Future Workers

Young kids enjoy learning about their parents’ lives. One of the best things about Bring Your Kids to Work Day is that they can learn about your daily experiences outside of your mom or dad duties. And kids have the opportunity to see that with some determination and support, they too can have a successful career and be able to provide for themselves and their families. It also boosts your confidence because your kids will be SO proud to see you in your work environment!

A Three-Dimensional Perspective on Each Other

Without Bring Your Kids to Work Day, your children might not usually have a chance to see the person you are outside of caring for them. Once we get into a routine. Your kids will enjoy learning about a new side of you. It is a fantastic opportunity for both of you to socialize in a new environment and learn more about each other.

Anyone Can Do It!

Whether you’re a stay-at-home parent or someone who’s commuting to a job, you can take advantage of bringing your children to work day. It’s not just for those who leave the home and go to the office. Working from home and being a stay-at-home parent is not easy; it’s important for your children to recognize the work you do in a variety of roles.

Strengthening Your Bond

Kids grow very quickly. Since most of them spend most of their time at school, with friends, and doing a lot of after-school activities, it can be hard to strengthen your ties. Simply by bringing them with you to work, you will have a chance to bond with them. They’ll get to see you in a new light when you do something that they didn’t know about before. That’s a great way to bond with your children and show them that you’re more than just a caretaker.

Dos

Plan out in advance how your child will take part in the day’s activities.

See if your company or organization has any planned kids’ activities on that day.

Ask other parents who have brought their child to the workplace what they think they did well and what they would have done differently.

Have your kids say hello to your co-workers and acknowledge them when they arrive in the morning and as they leave at the end of the day.

Aim to give them a good idea of what your day-to-day challenges are. Keep it real.

Make sure to speak to your kid’s teachers before and after going if at all possible. This will allow them to know about your child’s learning experience and get your child further involved.

Share your thoughts and feelings about the experience with your child, and let them share theirs!

Don’ts

Don’t bring your kid to the same job over and over again. Allow them to visit the workplaces of trusted friends and family as well if it’s something your friends and relatives are happy to commit to!

Don’t totally ignore your kids, even if you have an especially demanding schedule.

Instead of letting your child tag along and follow you from place to place, make sure he or she has his or her own tasks.

Be careful to not let your children interfere too much at work. They shouldn’t be making important decisions, taking important calls, or sending work-related e-mails.

Never assume your children will be at ease at your office. Take measures to help them feel more at home.

Bringing your child to your workplace may be inappropriate, ineffective, or unsafe for him or her. Keep this in mind before you go.

Make an effort to stay positive and take life a little more lightly. Don’t make it obvious that you’re not having a good day.

There is no need to punish your child in public.

Try not to force your child to come to work with you if they show no interest in your work.