Thursday, April 23rd, 2015 is Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day. Created to empower and enrich our children while giving them an educational experience within our workplaces, it’s a yearly event that allows our kids to participate while shadowing us while we work. What better way than to instill an awesome work ethic in our youth by showing them first hand what it is we do?
You can go above and beyond just having your kids follow you while you perform your daily tasks at work. You can use this experience to help enlighten and get them excited about whatever career they will choose one day. I’ve written a list of six ways to inspire your child on Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, that will make this an amazing opportunity for both you and your kids.
Show off your career
This is a perfect time to give your son or daughter a bird’s eye view of what it is that you do everyday while at work. Let them see firsthand why you love what you do. Share with them how you came to love your profession, and throughout the day, show off your passion. Get them excited about finding out what their passions are as well so they can begin to think about what it is they want to do when they grow up. When they see you working hard on your craft, they will more than likely be inspired to also develop a career passion of their own.
Give them a project
Create a special project that your kids can do while they are visiting you in the workplace. It should be something applicable to their age group and abilities. For instance, if they are between the ages of 6-10, they can help write lists of things you need (supplies, etc.). If they are a little older, they can file papers and other documents, and maybe even type things out for you. Perhaps your office needs some organizational help; that it something your kids can help you with inside of your workspace as well. Keep them busy, and get some extra help on small things that you may need done.
Introduce
Walk around your office and introduce your daughter and/or son to your coworkers and colleagues as your “assistant for the day”. This can help teach your child inner personal skills and how to communicate in a professional setting. They will also enjoy meeting the people that you work with, and perhaps, can help them too with their to-do lists or tasks.
Pay Day
Teach your child the importance of working hard by paying them a “salary” for them being your assistant for the day. Let them work “hard for the money”, then watch their faces when you present them with a check at the end of the day. The best way to teach them the importance of earning money is by letting them earn money while working for you.
Question and answer
During lunch or a less hectic time in the office, let your child conduct a question and answer session with you that will allow them to pick your brain about your career and what it is that you do for a living. This can help clarify any of their questions, and give them a true feel for your job while giving them a sense of importance. They get to run this part of the show.
Letter of recommendation
You can also furnish them a letter of recommendation that they can keep noting their accomplishments of the day. This is a document that they can keep and treasure and refer back to as they grow older. This letter of recommendation can put them on the track for success, and be a constant reminder that hard work pays off.
Participating in Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day is a wonderful way to educate our children while giving them a peek at what it is we do for a living. It could be the spark your child needs to begin cultivating their visions for their own careers when they grow up.
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