What is Bring Your Child to Work Day? 👪
Bring Your Child to Work Day is a great event observed in many workplaces on the fourth Thursday in April, where parents or guardians are encouraged to bring their children to their place of work for a day.
The purpose of this memorable day is to expose children to different types of careers and workplaces and to give them a glimpse into the professional lives of their parents or guardians. It can also help inspire children to consider different career paths and interests and begin thinking about their future aspirations.
During the day, kids are given an office tour, introduced to various employees and departments, play games, and enjoy hands-on projects and fun activities. Employers may also organize special events or presentations designed to get children engaged and help kids learn about the company's mission, values, and products or services.
Bring Your Child to Work Day is typically geared towards children aged 8-18, although some employers may allow younger children to attend as well. The day is often seen as a fun and educational opportunity for parents and children and can help strengthen bonds between families and workplaces.
Here are 5 remote-friendly Bring Your Child to Work Day ideas that everyone can enjoy:
No matter how many kids are joining the day's virtual celebrations, these team building events are fun for the kids and the kids at heart.
1. Pottery Painting Class 🪴
Pottery Painting Classes are a great way for children to explore their creativity while learning new skills. During the class, an art instructor will guide your team through a live and interactive session, teaching basic pottery painting techniques on a ceramic mug or mini planter. The instructor will demonstrate how to paint fun abstract designs and encourage participants to get creative and make something unique.
One of the great things about the Pottery Painting Class is that no prior experience is necessary, making it an activity that children (and adults) of all ages can enjoy. Each participant will receive a ready-to-paint mug or planter and acrylic painting materials in their kits. This means no kilns are required, making it an easy activity to do from home! Plus, everyone will have a lasting memento to commemorate Bring Your Child to Work Day.
How to get started 👉 Watch your child create their own hand-decorated piece of art in a Pottery Painting Class!
2. Office (or Home Office) Photo Scavenger Hunt 📸
Scavenger hunts are a highly entertaining and interactive game to engage parents and kids on Bring Your Child to Work Day. With just a little planning, you can create a memorable experience for everyone in the office. Here are some tips on how to plan a fun team building photo scavenger hunt:
- Set a theme: Choose a theme related to your company's values, culture, or mission. For example, if your company is in the healthcare industry, you could have a scavenger hunt focusing on healthy habits!
- Create clues: Once you have a theme, create clues leading participants to complete tasks or find items in your office or their homes. Make the clues challenging but not too difficult so everyone can participate. You can also incorporate riddles, puzzles, or brain teasers into the clues to make them more interesting. Have participants take photos of proof of their completed tasks and send them to the competition host via Slack, or another communication channel.
- Set a time limit: Set a time limit for the scavenger hunt to keep participants motivated and on track. Make sure to give them enough time to complete the scavenger hunt but not too much time that they lose interest.
- Have prizes: Have prizes for the winning team or teams. This will add some healthy competition. Prizes can include gift cards, company swag, or other fun items.
How to get started 👉 Once you've picked a theme and decided how much time you want your scavenger hunt to last, start brainstorming your list of clues and tasks!
3. Calm and Create ✏️
Bring Your Child to Work Day is a wonderful time to bond with your kids, but it can also be a stressful day for parents and children, especially if you have a busy schedule. That's why Calm and Create experience is a creative and relaxing experience for younger kids and employees alike, that promotes relaxation, creativity, and teamwork.
In this virtual class, an instructor will guide you through a series of relaxation and meditation techniques, including yoga poses and breathing exercises. These techniques have been proven to increase creativity and help reduce stress, making them perfect for a busy day at work or school.
In between movement breaks, participants will be encouraged to watercolor paint or sketch still-life drawings of objects around the house or office. This activity not only helps to keep children engaged and entertained, but by the end of the class, participants will have learned a few foundational yoga, focused on relaxation and comfort, as well as breathing techniques for meditation as well. Participants will also leave with some art to remember the day and develop their artistic skills in the process!
How to get started 👉 Keep kids entertained with movement and drawing in Calm and Create!
4. Career Dress-up 🩺
Bring Your Child to Work Day is meant for children to explore different careers and learn about the working world. One fun and creative activity to consider is a dress-up event where children dress up as what they want to be when they grow up, and adults dress up as what they wanted to be when they were kids. Here's how to plan this engaging and interactive activity:
- Give kids the prompt ahead of time: If students find it difficult to choose a career, encourage them to think about their favorite school subjects, hobbies, and more. Parents can also help by discussing their careers and sharing their experiences. Adults can also get involved by preparing their costumes that represent what they wanted to be when they were young.
- Make it crafty: Provide materials, such as paper, markers, and glue, on the day of the event so that the kids can create extra props to go with their costumes, like a tool belt for someone who wanted to enter the construction or engineering industry, a stethoscope for someone who wanted to be a doctor or veterinarian, a microphone for an aspiring performer, and more.
- Make it a show and tell: Have each child take turns presenting their costume and explain why they chose that particular career path. Encourage parents to share their own experiences and explain how they chose their current profession. This time can be a valuable opportunity for parents and children to bond and share their aspirations.
How to get started 👉 The week before Bring Your Child to Work Day, send your employees the prompt for your career dress-up activity so everyone has time to think of their costume!
5. Laughter yoga 😅
The kids will start to get antsy if you have them sitting around waiting for you to finish that document or send out that spreadsheet. Laughter yoga is the perfect way to let them get the wiggles out in a constructive way.
You'll all get to hang out with a cool yogi who will show you the ropes of deep breathing while engaging in playful and interactive laughter activities. Just make sure to remind your young ones that you're laughing with them — not at them!
How to get started 👉 Book Laughter Yoga to get your team and their kids overflowing with joy!
6. Cool crafts ✂️
You can keep the kids from putting their hands in the cookie jar by giving them something nifty to make. Ditch the boring coloring pages and challenge their imagination with some new ideas, such as:
- Origami
- Painting
- Headbands
- Dreamcatchers
- Hand lettering
Tie-dye T-shirts or toy terrariums are perfect if you're feeling more adventurous (and the kids have well-developed fine motor skills). Some of these activities have a rich history behind them, making them perfect for an educational session as well.
How to get started 👉 Check out Confetti's family-friendly activities and pick from a plethora of enjoyable options. Not sure which one to go with? Consider surveying your team to find out what works best.
7. A magic show 🪄
Kids love magic because it's fun, mysterious, and full of wonder. Fortunately, you don't have to know how to pull a coin from behind your co-worker's ear to put on a memorable magic show.
A professional magician can keep your kids guessing for 30–60 minutes, showing them unique illusions and tricks they've never seen before. There's even an awesome interactive segment where they'll read their minds, which you may find is filled to the brim with thoughts of mythical animals and candy.
How to get started 👉 Captivate the kids with the enchanting tricks in this Virtual Magic and Mentalism Show.
8. A tasty lunch 🍕
One thing is for sure: Kids love to eat. You can give them an opportunity to have a blast while lending a hand with making their next meal with a cooking or baking lesson. After all, your team (and their little ones) has to eat lunch. Why not make it fun?
Choose classic favorites that kids love to devour for your lesson, like pizza, pasta, or tacos. If you want to delight their palates with something different, consider whipping up a mild Thai dish or some beginner sushi. Alternatively, making rainbow bagels will give them a bit of scientific knowledge while getting their creative juices flowing.
How to get started 👉 Make the kids shout "Yummy in my tummy!" with Confetti's Cooking and Baking Classes.
9. Custom Cookie Decorating 🧑🍳
To make the day extra sweet, why not end with a Custom Cookie Decorating class? The class comes with pre-baked cookies, shaped in a theme of your choice (like the company logo!) ready for the participants to get creative with their cookie designs.
Custom Cookie Decorating is great for all skill levels, making it a fun activity for everyone to participate in regardless of their prior baking experience. The class also includes team building cookie decorating challenges that allow parents and children to work together and collaborate, fostering teamwork and communication. Plus, at the end of the class, participants get to share and admire each other's decorated cookie creations, encouraging teamwork and creativity, and providing a tasty treat to enjoy at the end of the day!
How to get started 👉 End the day with dessert in Custom Cookie Decorating!
Fun for kids and kids at heart 🎊
Don't let Bring Your Child to Work Day fly under the radar, since this is a special opportunity for parents, guardians, and kids to learn, bond, and grow closer together. Make memories for your employees and their families by going above and beyond with meaningful and engaging team building activities.
Explore more activities in our Family Friendly collection and book your event in just a few clicks!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the significance of Bring Your Child to Work Day?
Bring Your Child to Work Day inspires children, and fosters their interests and aspirations, while strengthening bonds between families and workplaces. Activities often include office tours, introductions to different departments, games, hands-on projects, and special presentations about the company's mission and services.
How can we engage children and employees during Bring Your Child to Work Day?
To engage the kids and adults on Bring Your Child to Work Day, cater to everyone by organizing activities that promote creativity, teamwork, and relaxation. These group team building activities can be conducted in designated areas such as a conference room or virtually for remote participants.
How can we incorporate service projects into Bring Your Child to Work Day?
A charitable team building service project for Bring Your Child to Work Day adds a meaningful and philanthropic aspect to the day's events. Organize activities such as creating care packages for the community, assembling hygiene kits for shelters, or crafting handmade cards for healthcare workers. These service projects engage children and employees in giving back to their community while teaching valuable lessons about empathy, compassion, and social responsibility.
