Taking our kids to work is a great way to show them a real workplace in action. Some workplaces go all out for this annual event by offering seminars on everything from writing your first resume to how to apply for your first job to meeting a real-life HR lady. It's just what every 10-year-old dreams about, right?
Do you know that NTOSADTWD used to be called Take Our Children To Work Week? Yes, this event used to last for an entire work week. Kids were wandering into the average workplace for five days in a row with a parent, complaining about how they feel like they were just here and how it's going to be boring. Welcome to the working world, kids!
Anyway, the name of the event was eventually changed to last one day only, and here we are again, on the eve of celebrating NTOSADTWD 2015. By the way, the acronym doesn't really work, does it? I can see why nobody uses it.
Well, whatever it's called, I'm all for the event. Maybe our kids will learn something new, such as discovering why they don't ever want to follow in their parents' professional footsteps. I can already hear the parental disappointment from a decade away. What do you mean you want to get a Master of Fine Arts in Drama?! I've always dreamed you'd be a lawyer like me, not play one on TV!
First, however, we need to deal with the drama tomorrow could cause for the average co-worker! Here are five tips for childproofing your approach to National Take Our Sons And Daughters To Work Day:
1. Don't pawn your child off on anyone else. That's right: your child is your responsibility on National Take Our Sons And Daughters To Work Day. Don't ask a co-worker to watch your child, to train your child, to walk your child through a procedure or project, to give your child a company tour, to take him or her to the vending machine, or anything else. That's your job. Of course, if your co-worker gladly volunteers for any of these tasks, then I hope you appreciate how lucky you are to work alongside such an awesome colleague.
(PS: The office administrative assistant is strictly off-limits today, since she already does enough babysitting year-round already. By the way, Happy National Administrative Professionals Day!)
2. Explain the rules. Before you arrive at work -- or better yet, the night before -- lay out your expectations for behavior with your child. This is an office, not a playground. You need to be respectful, a good listener, and have good manners. Don't interrupt; wait for your turn to speak. Also, offer an idea of how the day will go so that your child will know what to expect. First, we'll do this, and then I'll take you to..., and so on. Repeat your expectations for good measure.
3. Don't park your child on somebody else's desktop. The office receptionist comes back from lunch and...who is this kid sitting on my computer playing Angry Birds? She would like to get back to work, but she needs your child to move out of the way. Unless you've negotiated computer time in advance with a co-worker, don't sit your child down at his or her desktop. Ask first, or better yet, don't ask at all. (If your child brings his or her own gaming device or tablet, then make sure the volume is off. All the way off.)
4. Don't make your co-workers ask for their stuff back. Um, could I have my chair back, please? Thanks. Don't put your co-workers in the awkward position of asking your child for their office chair back. Part of being a great employee is asking before we take, whether we're hoping to borrow our co-worker's desktop, desk, chair, stapler, favorite pen, or vintage Pets.com sock puppet. NTOSADTWD is a great opportunity to teach your child that a co-worker's work space is their space, and it should be respected. Be a great role model.
5. Keep your child busy. Your co-worker needs to use the copier. Well, why not ask your child to go make the copy for her? Sure, you'll have to show your child how to use the copier, but in doing so your child will learn how to use it, discover something called "busy work," and your co-worker won't have to stop what she's doing to walk to the copier. It's a win-win! Plus, your child will be excited to be doing something instead of sitting around listening to adults talk about invoicing. Bor-ing! So look for opportunities for your child to help with small, but doable, tasks.
Most of all, make tomorrow fun! Your child will remember this day for the rest of his or her life, so make it special in some way. Maybe you two can go get an ice cream cone at lunchtime, or go out for dinner when the day is done to talk about what he or she learned? You may be surprised at what you learn.
Whatever it is, make some good memories. Maybe in a decade or so, your child will announce his or her intentions to follow in your professional footsteps after all, because going to work with you on NTOSADTWD was always such a blast. Now go make the most of it, parents!
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