Every weekday morning, you head off to school while many parents go to work. School and work are two very different worlds, but they have more in common than you think. A lot of what you are doing in that first world is preparing you for the second one. By joining your parents at their workplace, you get a better understanding and appreciation of both these worlds. You can do this through Take Your Kids to Work Day, as a volunteer at your parents’ place of work, or simply ask if you can come with them just to watch.

However you end up joining your parents on the job, it is a very valuable learning experience. You get to see a side of your mom or dad that you never get to see at home or elsewhere. This professional is someone who has worked hard and continues to put in a lot of effort in order to make sure your family has a place to live, food to eat, and can enjoy their lives. This helps you and your fellow students better understand the different roles your parents have, as well as all other adults. It is a great opportunity to bond with mom and dad in a way like never before. This is a chance to become closer to one another through better understanding each other’s situations.

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” That might be the toughest question you get asked. As much as going to work with your parents will teach you about them, it will also help you learn a lot about yourself. By getting to experience different workplaces and watching the work itself happen, you can get a better idea of the type of career you may want to have in the future. Or maybe you will learn your parents’ workplace is not for you. Also think about how your mom or dad help you get ready for school before they go to their job, and spend time with you afterwards. Watching them at work will help you learn about the importance of life balance. We need to work, but it cannot be everything. It takes effort to balance a career, friends, family, and more.

The things you gain from the experience do not have to stay at the job site. You can apply a lot of it when you go back to school. It can help students better respect their teachers, who you only see at their workplace. But many of them have children, spouses, and friends of their own. The skills and knowledge from the experience can also be used in school projects. Watching your parents act as leaders and help others at their work can inspire you to do the same for your friends and fellow students.

Maybe you want to grow up to have the same job as your parents. Or maybe watching them made you realize you want to do something completely different. By having a better sense of what you do or do not want to do as an adult, you can start taking steps towards that today. Take classes or join after school programs that match your interests, volunteer in your community, and start taking steps towards your own future. Make sure to build the future you want to live in. Before you know it, you may be the parent taking your own child to work.

Sources:

Gemino, Marilyn. “4 Benefits of Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work Day.” Garden of Life. https://www.gardenoflife.com/content/4-benefits-take-daughters-sons-work-day/

Ilgaz, Zeynep. “Bring Your Child to Work Day Is Too Valuable to Limit to Once a Year.” Entrepreneur. https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/244819

Jones, Autumn. “9 Ways You & Your Kid Benefit From Take Your Child To Work Day.” Romper. https://www.romper.com/p/9-ways-you-your-kid-benefit-from-take-your-child-to-work-day-9649