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15 Ideas for Showing Your Child What the Real World is All About

On April 24 millions of kids across America will have a day off from school—with a catch. Because they won’t be outside playing; they will be in their mom or dad’s office learning what happens after they graduate college—they have to get a job. Well, if your bringing your son or daughter to work this year, do you have anything planned? If not, The Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Foundation has these ideas to make the day a lot easier on you and fun for them:

1. Accounting: Have the accounting department create worksheets on how to manage a budget and the importance of money management. For a project, girls and boys can create accounts with “vendors” they think would be good for the company to have relationships with.

2. Advertising/Marketing: Have an advertising employee or the creative director conduct a workshop that allows the girls and boys to learn about the advertising and marketing industry. Explain how it affects the company, and then have girls and boys create their own ads or marketing materials. Bring samples of what your company has done in the past to give them ideas.

3. Human Resources: A perfect stop for the New Generation At Work to visit! Have an HR professional or the entire HR team conduct a workshop where they interview the participants and vice versa.

4. Payroll: Have a member of the payroll department demonstrate how employees get paid. Explain how time off is factored in (sick/personal/vacation), federal and state deductions, and savings plan deductions. Handouts can include sample time sheets and paychecks.

5. Public Relations: Have the public relations team work with the students to write an op-ed, a pitch letter, press release, or media advisory.

6. Publications: Have the students create a one-page newsletter or an idea for a brochure. Briefly explain what the publishing industry is all about and why there is a publishing department in the company.

7. Online/Web site: Show the girls and boys the company Web site, and explain how it benefits your organization. For example, is it used primarily as a communications tool, or is it a vital part of your sales strategy? Have the children work on either a Web site of their own or give you suggestions for creating a Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work® Day page for the company’s site.

8. Med School: Conduct a lab. Have the students participate in a mock operation or dissection, or view a surgical operation via the web or television.

9. Law School: Have students participate in a mock trial.

10. Women’s Studies: Have students watch video clips on the portrayal of women and men in advertising and discuss.

11. Business School: Have students create a business plan.

12. Stay-at-home Parents: Show your child what it takes to manage a household. Have your child or children assist you with making lunch and preparing dinner, laundry, cleaning, bookkeeping, food shopping, attending to the car, taking care of a younger sibling(s) in the household.

13. Construction Site: Show girls and boys what goes into constructing a building or home. You can start the day by explaining the project your company is working on and showing participants the plans. Introduce the workers and briefly explain what their role is on the project. Break the participants into small groups, and have them draw a model and build it. They can discuss their models at the end of the day. For lunch do something fun! Buy boxed lunches, and if the weather permits, pair up the girls and boys with construction workers on site and eat outside. Remember to provide safety clothing and accessories for all participants. Learn more about safety and insurance issues.

14. Restaurant: Have girls and boys take orders, greet and seat patrons, or learn the business side (ordering food and supplies, working with vendors, managing employees, etc.) by shadowing restaurant workers. Teach them table setting and etiquette. They can demonstrate what they learned by setting up the room/tables for lunch with their parents, relatives, or mentor. Another activity could be having the chef demonstrate making a dessert or main course dish. Time management, customer service, and tip percentage are just some of the things participants will learn.

15. Home Office: If you operate a business from home, freelance, or work from home on certain days, there are great ways to share that experience. Develop an agenda that will allow your child to see the many tasks you perform. Throughout the day, explain the benefits and challenges of working from home, and demonstrate how you communicate to clients, colleagues, or supervisors. Use the Ask the Adults activity to share insights about how you manage work and family life. Have your child fax items, draft a newsletter article, or make a reservation for the two of you for lunch. If your job requires tasks outside, such as meetings, take your child along (make sure you inform the party you are meeting with beforehand).