How to Take Your Kids to Work (and Have Them Learn Something)

Taking your kids to work day is a great opportunity to give kids exposure to different careers, show them the importance of work, and let them see you in a different context – not as a Mom or a Dad but as a professional with a boss, colleagues and important responsibilities. Here are some practical, time-tested suggestions for how to get the most out of this day, for your own kids – and maybe even for your colleagues’ kids if you decide to organize it for your work group or department. Activity Ideas

Marshmallow challenge: This is a team building activity where each team builds a freestanding structure with specific group supplies.
Make an art station: Provide art supplies and ask the kids to create a new logo or marketing advertisement for your company.
Bingo: This can be a great icebreaker activity centered around breakfast that will engage the kids and get them comfortable with the workplace and people.
Interviews: Ask the kids to interview a few different people in your company.
Scavenger hunt: Another great ice breaker activity that can also be a team building activity.
Document the day: Kids love cameras, so encourage them to take pictures or make a video of the day.
Who are we wall: Write different categories of topics on a big piece of paper or whiteboard. People write their responses to these topics throughout the day.
Problem-solving: Provide real-life issues about your business and ask the children to brainstorm solutions.
Teach them how to give feedback in a constructive manner.
Provide a budget activity.
Have a working lunch where kids share what they think are the most important career skills to have.
Create a teamwork activity.
Give a tour of your facility.
Ask the children to help plan next year’s event.
Introductions: Share two things about yourself, one true, one false. The group guesses which is true.
Creative activities: Help create a bulletin board display about a specific topic about your business or the day’s events.
Job titles and duties: Write job titles on name tags and ask children to guess which person has which job.
Directed discussions: Over lunch or snacks, have small group discussions about careers or another topic specific to your business.
Do games like a scavenger hunt or trivia game related to businesses.
Have the children participate in computer activities, video conferencing or other tech experiences from your company.
Work on some eco-friendly activities that your business participates in.

For Younger Children

Arrange for art stations around your workplace. Ask them to create a new logo for your company, draw a picture of them and their parent at work.
Arrange for a building project where the kids could make a house, or something related to your business.
Ask the kids to write a story about the nature of your work.
Make jewelry (friendship bracelet, etc.) to share with each other or other workers at your place of business.
Ask young children to “help” by watering plants, arranging papers, etc.
Try doing a few demonstrations or lessons about the technology you use at your work.

For Older Children

Give them mathematical problems that relate to your business and help them solve them.
Arrange for them to interview different people in your company.
Try some hands-on experiences that could involve science or art as it relates to your business.
Make assignments in advance so they can job shadow certain employees for the day.
Include them in some actual scientific experiments, if appropriate for your business.
Involve them in some marketing activities that could showcase their artistic skills.
Give different scenarios for issues that may arise at your work and ask your children to problem solve resolutions.
Teach Interview Skills.
Show them how to create a resume and cover letter.
Help them prepare for a background check.

How to Prepare Your Kids for the Event

Review the agenda for the day, if you were provided one.
Go over the expectations you have for them as they participate in this event.
Find out what their expectations might be for participating in this event.
Be certain the teacher knows of their absence and get any assignments that they might be missing.
Be sure they understand the nature of the event and the venue.
Ask them to select their clothes the night before so there are no issues in the morning.
You will want to assure that they arrive on time.
Ask them to keep a journal of the day’s events or even take pictures or a video.
You can also try visiting a free online survey site to determine what careers might be of interest to your child based on their specific interests and personality.
Talk with your child after the event to find out about their experience. Use open-ended questions to elicit a more thorough response.
Encourage your child to send a thank you note after the event. If he/she is young, then a picture will work.