Family Traditions: Take Your Child to Work

Immy has a one day, mid semester break from school next week and chances are she will catch the train into the city with Dad 101 to spend the morning at his work. It’s something we do two or three times a year and it has very quickly developed into one of her favourite family traditions. Although his actual job isn’t terribly exciting to a five year old, the simple experience of getting up early, choosing an outfit and getting dressed for work, heading to town on public transport and sitting at ‘her’ desk in his office to ‘work’ (I usually go to collect her after a few hours) IS very exciting.

Plus the experience of spending time in a real workplace provides her with the opportunity to;

  • Develop understanding that at work people have dedicated roles and responsibilities and must perform certain tasks to fulfill their responsibilities, not only for themselves but for clients and other members of the larger work team.
  • Employ a range of social conventions – she is expected to greet Dad 101’s colleagues, talk quietly as others are working, and be generally courteous and well mannered.
  • It’s memorable and she feels both a sense of pride in herself and her Dad which is important for her developing worldview of what  ‘work’ is.
  • The photo below shows Immy walking to the cafeteria for lunch whilst visiting my Mum’s work which is also something we have done since she was little. I walked the same path often as a child myself as my grandmother used to work where my Mum now works! By visiting my Mum’s workplace (and hopefully soon my Dad’s as well – I have great memories of an Open Day tour at his work from my own childhood), Immy has the opportunity to see that people work in all different sorts of work environments, which is again important to her developing understanding of the world of work.

Childhood 101 | Family Traditions_Take Your Child to Work

I would love to hear your experiences. Do your children have the opportunity to visit the workplace of a close family member? Is it something they can do regularly?

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10 Comments

  1. Did you ever read “Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day”?
    Do you remember the scene when they show up at their Dads office? That’s what this reminds me of…but I guess one little girl is not 3 boys.

  2. I think it’s nice and always a break from the mundane for the regular office workers. I know when people brought their kids in to the office I used to work in it was a chance for everybody to stop and smile and sometimes have a chat to the child. Even the loud, excitable children were welcome 🙂

  3. I have very fond memories as a child going to my dads work. I felt so important and it was wonderful to see my dad in action and know what he did when he was at work. I’ll be sure to provide these opportunities to my children as they arise. Thanks for this great post.

  4. Margaret Elvis says:

    I well remember, before your sisters were born, you used to visit the office with your mum and Mr Choyce would perhaps give you an apple or something similar. Then when we moved to the new bigger building you and your sisters used to visit and I even looked after at least one of you one day ‘cos your mum had an appointment somewhere. I think it wonderful that you do this with with Immy and one day AJ as well. Children need to have a widespread knowledge of what goes on in the world.

  5. My 3yo loves to go to work with Daddy and be part of his day. Such a special experience to be treasured long into their future.
    They would often do the ‘If you’re happy and you know it’ song with Daddy’s roll call!! Very disruptive but so much fun for Miss Daisy and for the kids to see that Mr S is a real person!!

  6. We love to visit daddy at the hospital where he works… though of course the boys cannot be in when he’s doing his job, we still have a walk around and talk to him on his break. I think it’s really important for them to see what their daddy does when he’s away from home, and exciting for them to consider working outside the home in the future. I plan to integrate visiting friends at work a lot into our homeschooling curriculum… it’s great to have hands-on real life experience.

  7. As a mumpreneur I am totally supportive of kids visiting and being apart of the workplace and what a great way to expose them to different vocations as well.

  8. Cakes picks her Daddy up from the train station each day and has done so for a long time. Despite seeing him get on and off the train, and having been to his office to pick him up she still says “that is my Daddy’s work” when we drive past the train station. I think this is a great experience for Immy and would love for Cakes to be able to do the same. Unfortunately Daddy’s office is a no go zone for anyone outside of the company so the foyer is as far as she can go. What a great family tradition!!!!!

  9. I think it’s fantastic that you’re doing this. I think, if you prepare them appropriately, kids can be really well behaved in this sort of environment, especially if it’s not for a huge length of time. I remember going to my Dad’s work when I was little. Not only does it provide a great learning experience for the kids, but I’m sure it also helps your husband’s colleagues see a different side.

  10. stephanie says:

    I have such fond memories of visiting my dad at work. I loved all the office supplies and how everyone treated me like I was super special. Thanks for the nice reminder about a special time. 🙂

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