Career
Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work Day Is April 26
In the Bailey home, Take Our Daughters and Sons To Work Day has established itself as an annual tradition. For at least three or four months, Leah (age eight) has been asking me when our “Daddy/Daughter Work Day” is this year and if we’ll be able to do it again. The answer, of course, is, “Absolutely!” Katie, my youngest, is quickly closing in on five years old and is starting to ask when she’ll be able to do this, as well. I’ll probably schedule a shorter day with her later in the summer.
There are a few reasons for it’s popularity. One is that it’s a special daddy-only time which is important since I’m not as available to them as their mom during the day. Two is that it’s an intentionally fun day spent outside of school. Three is that it’s a chance to see and experience a world they only hear about.
What do I get out of it? Quite a lot. It’s a chance to share in my daughters’ excitement of spending time together in a unique way. Also, when I get to share my work experience with my them, it helps me crystallize my own sense of whether work is meaningful or not. It’s hard to fake fulfillment in soulless work and for me the whole purpose of the day is to encourage them to think about finding work that’s fulfilling for them. Anyway, kids can sense those sorts of lies and ask the most honest and pointed questions that drill down to the heart of our own work. Interesting how our children can help coaches us without even knowing it.
Wondering what you can do to make it a fulfilling and enjoyable day for both you and your child? The folks who manage the day, Ms. Foundation For Women, have some tips and provide a sample day on their website.
Start by contacting your child’s teacher and see if she or he has anything planned surrounding the day. If they don’t know about Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work Day, then introduce them to the concept and ask whether they’d be interested in learning more. Don’t be afraid to track the principal down and do the same for them. Make sure they understand that it’s not just an excused absence from school, but an experiential learning day.
Next, check and see if your workplace has anything planned for the day. Some companies have some structured activities planned, which is great to find that type of buy-in. And if not, talk to the folks in human resources, and again, emphasize the importance of sponsoring workshops or other events. If you don’t find any sympathetic ears, don’t fret…just do it anyway and plan things on your own. This is what I had to do in my last two organizations.
Need some help building activities? Here’s a listing along with pdf worksheets and an interactive online activity.
I’m interested in learning if anyone else has plans for April 27 and what you’re doing. Bring your ideas and questions to the WorkPlay community.
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6 comments for “Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work Day Is April 26”
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I’ll definitely do this when Caroline gets a little older, but I can’t wait for her to ask the question, “Daddy, when did you decide to become an association executive?”
That’s great, Ben. Caroline will be ready in no time. Funny how our kids are growing up fast, huh?
Can’t wait to hear how her understanding of your work evolves as she grows. Part of what we can teach our kids is that it’s always possible to do work that matters. That’s what’s neat about the Take A Child To Work Day…they get to experience it first hand.
My 3rd grade daughter complains that I “work all the time”, which I’m trying to puzzle out because I work part-time from home and am often around after school! Everybody’s got their own point of view. I wonder what she would think if I took her to work April 27 - to the office attached to my bedroom - to work by myself, be on the phone, and meet people for coffee or lunch. She might be bored off her rocker but it would be a good experience for me to explain what I’m doing in a way that would have relevance to a 9 year-old. It would be a fun challenge!
Heather, that is a bit of a mystery about your daughter’s perspective. Wondering…do you talk or think about work even after your work is finished? Or is it more defined by her own understanding of what work is? I’m curious so I hope you let us know what you discover. Perhaps letting her into your actual work world on April 27 is just the way to get that dialogue started.
I had a conversation with my daughter about my work, and basically when I have clients before or after school instead of just during the school hours when she is gone, she tends to think I work all the time. Weeks when this is not happening, she doesn’t think this. I think it’s her catch-all complaint when she’s not getting enough of my attention.
Since I haven’t worked full-time at an office since she was born, she doesn’t think of me as a “working mom” the way she thinks of some of her friends’ mothers.
On the flip side, I think it would be interesting to create a “Take your parent to school day”, for parents to see not a special “Parents Day” showcase of special projects, but a simple day-in-the-life of their kids in school. I spend an hour a week in my daughter’s classroom helping out, and I must say it’s been fascinating. Even elementary school kids are expected to really pack in the learning and stay focused and “on task”. I know my 3rd grader has more to contend with than I did than when I was in 3rd grade in 1976! The homework alone puts her experience in a total other category. There is a lot for me to learn about and appreciate about her life by watching her class at school.
Isn’t that interesting, Heather. Kids do come to things with their own perspectives. I know my own second-grader often doesn’t understand that my work schedule is very different from her school schedule.
We might often think that our kids need to catch up with our way of viewing the world, but I love your idea. Let’s get a better grip on the way our kids experience the world. Take Your Parent to School Day would be a big step in that direction. Just a normal day to share the school experience together.
I share that same dis-ease of the pace at which our children are expected to learn. Is it any wonder our kids are stressed? But without appreciating the way they interact with the world, we can’t begin to understand their fears, hopes, and dreams.
Thanks for bringing in something very new to the dialogue.