Tomorrow is (here in the US) "Take Your Child To Work" day. I am bringing my 12 year old daughter in with me so she can see what Mom does all day. Her teacher created a class assignment for the kids that are able to go to work with an adult. There is a worksheet with 10 questions about my job and our company and products/services and then they have to write a 2-paragraph summary of their experience at the work place.

Anyone else bringing their child to work tomorrow?

Anyone else bringing their child to work tomorrow?Not tomorrow (as we don't have any "Take Your Child To Work" day here), but I do bring my 9yo daughter here a couple of times a year - which is only fair, since I visit her school every now and then. Have to see what those milk-tooth terrorists are up to... ;)

/Claes

I would love to bring either of my girls to work, but, knowing them and the people I work with, absolutely nothing would get done during the day. Besides, a factory is not really a good place for a 15 months old or a 4.5 year old. I'll have to wait a few years.

Kevin W

LOL - no kidding! My daughter has been bugging me since she was 7 or 8. Now that she's in Junior High, I think she'll be fine. I've got a few little tasks she can do for me as a matter of fact. ;)

She's coming in with me at 7:00A, but I'm taking her home at lunchtime. I can give her a little tour of the shop before we leave while the machines are off during lunch - otherwise she'll be in my office. Luckily I live close enough to work that I'll just be out of the building for about an hour. Dad's at home this week because we are re-doing our kitchen - so he'll make sure she spends the afternoon writing her summary.

So can I borrow someone's child? I have some filing, some collating, and some organizing to do. This sounds like a great program. Free Child Labor for a Day!!!

No seriously, can I borrow a kid? :lmao:

No seriously, can I borrow a kid? :lmao:
Amber alert! :lol:

The company I work for is hosting an event for "Bring your child to work day". There are guidelines set, such as age (which is 8-13). It is a factory and they will receive a "stay in the yellow lines" tour. Our chemist will be spending an hour with them doing little science experiments, they will have pizza for lunch and many parents will bring their child home at 3 pm (when the factory shift ends) the office staff however will have theirs either stay in the conference room to watch a movie or play games. I brought my nieces a few years ago and they had a good time, but it wasn't something they wanted to do every year. There will be a total of 21 children coming in this year. :bonk: Good luck to those in charge of this event!!!!

When my daughters were of the appropriate age I brought them several times on that day each year. It was a great experience for them and me. Now that their grown and out of the house, that time has passed.

One thing it did accomplish however, was to convince them to stay far away from the quality field. :lol:

It is a factory and they will receive a "stay in the yellow lines" tour. Our chemist will be spending an hour with them doing little science experiments, they will have pizza for lunch and many parents will bring their child home at 3 pm (when the factory shift ends) the office staff however will have theirs either stay in the conference room to watch a movie or play games.
That is so cool that your company does that! But - sounds like the shop people's kids are going to have more fun than the office people's kids.

no no no...the kids all have the same agenda all day, except the office people work until 5 and factory people leave at 3....so the kids that have to stay until mom or dad goes home at 5 will have the option of either sitting with the parent or stay in conference room with an activity until 5. Or the parent could have arranged for the child to be picked up at 3, the official time the event ends.

Ohhh - that's great then!! And I agree - good luck to those in charge of the event!! Sounds like a great day to be a kid!!

Yes it is a fun filled day for the little ones. A few years ago it used to be "Bring your son to work day" and another day was for "Bring your daughter to work day". Some how its been revised over the past few years to be just one day for both (which makes for lots of kids at one time). When it was daughter's day they had women professionals (Police women, nurses etc) come in and give little informative speeches to the girls, which I thought was a great thing. This year there are no scheduled guest speakers, too bad.

But yes I am just happy I am not one of the "hosts" :lmao:

Our Chemist has already asked me to come check on him 1/2 way though his hour with the kids to make sure they haven't tied him up :D he he he. He'll be sitting there like :truce:

Our Chemist has already asked me to come check on him 1/2 way though his hour with the kids to make sure they haven't tied him up :D he he he. He'll be sitting there like :truce:
That's hilarious!! :lmao:

My daughters regularly came to my workplace from the time they first entered elementary school. (long before "bring your daughter to work day")

As they got older, they asked to perform certain tasks and we let them.

By the time they were in high school, they came along to customers and suppliers as well.

Today, the oldest is an executive in a credit union, the youngest is a CPA, an accounting supervisor running internal audit (SOX) for a Fortune 100 company. They regularly relate how they handle current events to things they learned from my partners, customers, and suppliers when they would come to "daddy's work."

(They were even judicious enough not to use (out loud) the nicknames they had created for some of our more eccentric associates:
stinky - wore way too much cologne
roger the rug - bad toupee
lover boy - customer who thought he was god's gift to women
lucy loose - supplier's receptionist who dressed appropriately for street corner work
morrie the mooch - customer who would call and say "why don't we go out for lunch?")

I've taken my son (7 yrs) to the office many times. He somehow has the impression that I don't work..I just play games on all those computers !!!

My four year old and two year old girls want to see my office. I was telling them about where I work and ended they asked if I sit with my friends. While trying to keep a straight face, I told them that I sit back in the corner all by myself. The oldest thought about this and asked, "Why, Mumma, were you bad?" and then I couldn't stop laughing. True story.

And no, I won't be bringing my two little ones to work for this year's event. Maybe in about ten years...

My son is now ten. I have taken him in to work numerous times since he was about five. Normally, it was on a Saturday or Sunday when the die cast machines and machining centers were down but, on occasion, I've brought him in during the week (he used to get the biggest kick out of having to wear (oversized) safety glasses and hearing protection :rolleyes: ). I've taken him through our metrology lab and taught him how to use a few measuring instruments and "introduced" him to how we manage our metal chemistry using the spectrometer in the testing lab. He also has a fundamental understanding of basic SPC charting from sitting with me at my desk. While my company doesn't have a formal "bring the child to work day", it has not been discouraged. He even got to meet our owner once!

While I hate to say it, and I would NEVER discourage it ;) , he seems to be getting interested in, and (for now) wants to be in, the "Q field" when he grows up.

(They were even judicious enough not to use (out loud) the nicknames they had created for some of our more eccentric associates:
I've already had that chat with her - she hears entirely too much when I'm venting to my husband after work! :lol: Except that they are names I'VE created. :tg:

(They were even judicious enough not to use (out loud) the nicknames they had created for some of our more eccentric associates:
stinky - wore way too much cologne
roger the rug - bad toupee
lover boy - customer who thought he was god's gift to women
lucy loose - supplier's receptionist who dressed appropriately for street corner work
morrie the mooch - customer who would call and say "why don't we go out for lunch?")
:lmao: Oh those are too funny!!!!! What smart girls not to repeat those names at the wrong times!!

A few years back my sister pulled some strings and my son got to meet a Nobel laureate in a national lab where she worked. My son's physics teacher was so jealous, so he got the teacher an autographed book. He went with me to work in prior years and ran some of the test equipment that he thought was cool.

My daughter is only 8 but has been to my work a few times for an hour or so to "help" me do a few things while Mom had a doctor's appointment, etc. and in future years will surely get to visit some workplaces.

I think it is a great program.

Well, I feel a bit like Debbie Downer on this one folks, but here's my take. MS magazine invented this day in the early '90s (saw that on the Today show) to interest young ladies in entering the work force - to reinforce 'equality.' Seemed like a good enough idea at the time. Then of course the sons were left out and 'stuck' going to school, so once again equity prevails and "take your child to work day" was the evolution. Meanwhile, its 'national' yet not all businesses or districts can support it. This 'program' has pitted kids against parents (Mom - I'm not going to school tomorrow because everyone else is going to work with their parents), pitted districts against parents (sorry, this is not an 'excused' absence) created an extra day in which teachers cannot provide instruction to the remaining students, etc etc etc. I guess philosophically why won't a district 'participate'? - well, now we are not talking about just one 'lost' instruction day, but additional preparation time, creating a gap in the current instruction and worrying about what to do for the students that don't have a place to go. NY has legislation that any policies do not create barriers for homeless people. I happen to know way to much about it from my School Board position. From a business perspective I think the ones that chose to actually run a program that's great.

Sorry to rain on everyones parade, but when it was suggested to the MS magazine lady that they just move it to the summer when kids are off school, the only explanation was that "its always been the 3rd Thursday in April." (Sound like Monkeys in a Cage to me.) I can support it if it is not during the school year.


:soap:

From an organization's point of view:
Organizations want as little disruption in the workplace as possible - hence having only one day a year/
:topic: I was a C-level executive - no one questioned my judgment in bringing daughters to work. That might not be true for all levels of employees if there were not an "institutionalized" day.

From an educator's point of view:
The idea is to use the visit as a "teaching opportunity" not just a day off from school. Students are supposed to make a report on what they learned. This isn't likely during the summer when no school is in session.

Wes's point of view:
I'd like to see more opportunities for institutionalized "student days" at workplaces (not just girls.) From a psychological and sociological point of view, it is important for students to have knowledge of the "real world."

I'd like to see effort by organizations to coordinate with educators in making the occasion something more than a picnic in the cafeteria and a movie in the meeting room. Certainly to the extent of describing the organization and its relationship to employees, customers, suppliers, and the community at large.

I was a C-level executive - no one questioned my judgment...
The main problem in business today, perhaps:D

I'd like to see more opportunities for institutionalized "student days" at workplaces (not just girls.) From a psychological and sociological point of view, it is important for students to have knowledge of the "real world."

Amen, brother. More companies should encourage local students to find out what goes on where people make a living. It would go a long way towards dispelling the typical difficulty in connecting school work with what's needed in order to pay the bills.

From an educator's point of view:
The idea is to use the visit as a "teaching opportunity" not just a day off from school. Students are supposed to make a report on what they learned. This isn't likely during the summer when no school is in session.


Herein lies the problem. There are so many rules and regulations about equality in public education that if a district 'sponsored' the program it would be so many more 'days' away from teaching. Yes its a teaching opportunity. But what about the child who has speach theraphy on the designated 'day.' And the district is required by law to deliver so many hours/week or year to this child. You now have to reschedule the speech therapy and speech therapist to another day. But that impacts another child, etc. And that's just one child. What about the children whose both parents are unemployed - well, that's easy, find someone else they can go with. Whose responsiblity is that, the teachers? Lete's say the district at least allows it to be an excused absence, and I'm in China working and promise my child that when I get back they can go to work with me. Is that day excused too, or only the nationally recognized day? We've talked long and hard about 'how to make this work' and the complications appear to out number the benefits. And I'm a 'make it work kind of person' so you know I didn't arrive at that conclusion without a fight.

Lots of districts sponsor career days when the careers come to the classroom. I know its important to connect to the parents too, but there has to be a better way.

Herein lies the problem. There are so many rules and regulations about equality in public education that if a district 'sponsored' the program it would be so many more 'days' away from teaching. Yes its a teaching opportunity. But what about the child who has speach theraphy on the designated 'day.' And the district is required by law to deliver so many hours/week or year to this child. You now have to reschedule the speech therapy and speech therapist to another day. But that impacts another child, etc. And that's just one child. What about the children whose both parents are unemployed - well, that's easy, find someone else they can go with. Whose responsiblity is that, the teachers? Lete's say the district at least allows it to be an excused absence, and I'm in China working and promise my child that when I get back they can go to work with me. Is that day excused too, or only the nationally recognized day? We've talked long and hard about 'how to make this work' and the complications appear to out number the benefits. And I'm a 'make it work kind of person' so you know I didn't arrive at that conclusion without a fight.

Lots of districts sponsor career days when the careers come to the classroom. I know its important to connect to the parents too, but there has to be a better way.
As an interesting character (Bill Clinton) famously said, "I feel your pain!"

Sadly, not every parent works. Not every school has adequate teachers and physical resources. Not every child lives with parents. Not every company or organization can accommodate children on the premises (soldiers at war? prisoners on death row? ironworkers on a skyscraper?)

That said, just because some can't participate is no reason to condemn it for all. Some students are physically challenged to the point where they can't go on field trips to museums, concerts, picnics - shall we deny remaining students the opportunity to participate in such activity?

We can't run a country, an education system, or an organization by concentrating on the exceptions. We must (gosh - this feels trite to write) look at the greatest benefit for the many and look for "accommodation" for the exceptions.

Laura,

Sounds like your district looks for too many ways to not make it work. How do they ever handle a field trip? After all, maybe Johnny gets speech therapy that day and Janie gets reading help? If Sammy is sick that day do they have to let him go on another day as an excused absence to maintain "equality"? What if there is a $2 bus/entrance fee and Suzie says her parents can't afford it -- does that mean no one goes?

I'm more with Wes on this one.

Laura,

Sounds like your district looks for too many ways to not make it work. How do they ever handle a field trip? After all, maybe Johnny gets speech therapy that day and Janie gets reading help? If Sammy is sick that day do they have to let him go on another day as an excused absence to maintain "equality"? What if there is a $2 bus/entrance fee and Suzie says her parents can't afford it -- does that mean no one goes?

I'm more with Wes on this one.

As far as fees go - districts (in NY) have picked up most of those in their budget for exactly what you are talking about. If field trips are 'part of the education' then it should be budgetted.

As far as finding reasons to NOT make it work, its just the reality - or the cost associated with making it work. We could go full bore and say, you know what, we're going to do this, budget in the extra hours for program development (any good offering takes time to coordinate) and go for it following all the rules, of course. So maybe it was a cost/benefit analysis, and with all the other 'things' being mandated, it didn't make the cut. Like I said earlier, I was all for getting something like this going - and I usually don't let someone convince me something can't be done. The best option at this point is to 'let kids go' but those kids have to treat missed work like they were sick, and make it up - not make the teacher delay teaching for all others. There are plenty of other less disruptive ways to make the same connections. For example, our local Tooling and Machining association is sponsoring a "Battle bots" competition, with a HS division. Shops are hooking up with districts to get teams going and interest student in the machining trade. :applause: We sponsor Junior Achievement and local business people come in to 2nd and 3rd grade classes. If take you kid to work was a 'summer assignment', districts could work around that too - "what did you do this summer" in the fall, but the child could go any day convenient over the summer. So the intent is good, but operationally on the districts its not practical. And - what if, god forbid, your parents are TEACHERS!!!!

Phew - sorry gang. I'm done - Wes and I went off line for awhile.

Do any of you that home school your children participate in Take Your Child To Work day?

Jaime

Well, I feel a bit like Debbie Downer on this one folks, but here's my take. MS magazine invented this day in the early '90s (saw that on the Today show) to interest young ladies in entering the work force - to reinforce 'equality.' Seemed like a good enough idea at the time. Then of course the sons were left out and 'stuck' going to school, so once again equity prevails and "take your child to work day" was the evolution. Meanwhile, its 'national' yet not all businesses or districts can support it. This 'program' has pitted kids against parents (Mom - I'm not going to school tomorrow because everyone else is going to work with their parents), pitted districts against parents (sorry, this is not an 'excused' absence) created an extra day in which teachers cannot provide instruction to the remaining students, etc etc etc. I guess philosophically why won't a district 'participate'? - well, now we are not talking about just one 'lost' instruction day, but additional preparation time, creating a gap in the current instruction and worrying about what to do for the students that don't have a place to go. NY has legislation that any policies do not create barriers for homeless people. I happen to know way to much about it from my School Board position. From a business perspective I think the ones that chose to actually run a program that's great.

Sorry to rain on everyones parade, but when it was suggested to the MS magazine lady that they just move it to the summer when kids are off school, the only explanation was that "its always been the 3rd Thursday in April." (Sound like Monkeys in a Cage to me.) I can support it if it is not during the school year.


:soap:

Laura,
Don't worry about raining on the parade. I have to agree with you.

I also look at the other side....most of us are in positions to do this....what about all the folks out on the factory floor, or all the tradespeople (my husband is a carpenter and could never take any of the kids to work).

I prefer what my company does...every few years we have "Family Day". The machines are shut down, and the kids can go through the shop with their parents. We do it during the summer, when they are off of school. The only problem we have is we do it on a Friday, so not all spouses get a chance to come.