According to HolidayInsights.com, Thursday is Take Your Son or Daughter to Work Day. About 37 million parents participate in this “holiday” every year. Depending on the age of your child, it might be tempting to set them up with markers and some scratch paper and let them go to town. Instead, leave the coloring as a back up activity, and show your child what you do. Here are four reasons you should take your kid to work this Thursday.
1. They Get to See You in Your Element
Kids rarely see their parents outside of family time. Young kids might not even give a thought to the fact that their parents do something while they’re at school. Older children might know your title or general facts about what you do, but they probably don’t know specifics. This is an opportunity to show them where you spend 55% of your waking hours. They get to make a mental picture of your office or workspace, so that the next time you mention work, they can envision you there.
2. A Chance to Talk
Don’t pretend that they’re invisible. Engage your child and tell them what you’re doing. Explain why when they ask for the hundredth time. Let them into your adult life and allow them to see you interact with other adults besides family and close friends. Help them learn social cues that they might not have seen before.
3. Opportunities to Open Their Imagination
While you’re talking with them throughout the day, ask them questions. You’ll be helping them think critically and expand their imagination. Maybe they won’t grow up to follow in your footsteps, but maybe the small moments they spend with you at the office will add up and inspire them in a new direction.
4. Time to Mix It Up
Even if you don’t have children of your own, you can still participate by taking nieces and nephews to work for a day. Some even argue that letting children see different workplaces and jobs over the years can help them expand their minds even more.
Bonus: Be Mindful
It might not be feasible to let your kid take the whole day off of school, so try to include them during after school hours. Even just a little time spent seeing what you do every day can help them get to know you better and see what could be available to them in the future.
Maybe your office isn’t participating in Take Your Child to Work Day. It’s still an opportunity to talk to your child about what you do as a career, and to find out what they want to be when they grow up.