Brace yourself. Pint-sized “CEOs” are about to invade the office space.
“Bring your child to work day” is cherished all around the world. It can be equal parts fun and chaotic and offers a refreshing spin on the usual workday.
Today we’re laying out 21 showstopping activities that’ll keep your little ones buzzing for the whole day. Let’s do it!
How is “Bring your child to work day” good for teams?
Bring Your Child to Work Day is celebrated annually on the fourth Thursday in April. It’s the one day a year when kids get to trade backpacks for mock briefcases. Originally created in 1993 to inspire girls, it’s now a day for all kids to explore what their parents do when they’re at work.
It doesn’t need to only be one date in the year, either. You could have a Bring Your Child to Work Day as part of a “spirit week.” The goal is to spark curiosity in the minds of children, equipping them with glimpses into important aspects they’ll need later in life.
The day should be chock-full of teambuilding activities that bring groups closer together. It’s a golden opportunity for parents to introduce the value of hard work and to see how teams gel together for the greater good (as well as some bragging rights as they get competitive!)
21 “Bring your child to work” day activities
Craft a day to remember with these 21 activities suited to “bring your kid to work” day:
1. Mock meetings
Kickstarting our list, why not get kids involved with your mock meetings at work? Introduce children to the skills of decision-making and collaborating in a light-hearted way. Sure, your chairs and tables might look a little too tall, but that’s all part of the fun. Children can role-play executives and key decision-makers, sharing their ideas and insights.
Keep things playful and lighthearted, like planning out a company picnic or launching a new recreational area. You can supply them with a few prompts and ideas if they get stuck, but children aren’t held back when it comes to “thinking outside the box.” Not only will you be showing them the importance of teamwork and communication, but it also makes them feel like valued contributors for the day. Who knows? They might even spark some real ideas!
2. “Behind the scenes” office tours
Give kids a glimpse into the magic behind the workplace with a behind-the-scenes tour. Walk them through each department, explaining the roles and responsibilities in a simple, fun way. Just give a new quirky name to each department to help them remember, like introducing your marketing team as the “dream makers” and IT as the “computer wizards.”
Make it more engaging by letting them use some of the gadgets and technology you have available. Be sure to include the break area too, stockpiling it with some of their favorite snacks. This activity will help kids understand their parents’ daily routines as they get a 360-degree view of your office space.
3. Junior office scavenger hunt
After a morning office tour, the children will have an understanding of the building’s layout. You can maximize this opportunity with a scavenger hunt afterward. Satisfy their curious minds with a fun scavenger hunt around your workplace. If it’s safe to do so, you can even incorporate the outside areas.
Write up a list of simple office supplies for them to hunt for (also jazzing up each item with bright colors and holographic wrapping paper). Use items like staplers and desk tidies, or even bring in some more exciting treasures like stress balls and the gizmos from your office recreational space. Just make sure the hunting area is clear and safe, and let them enjoy the day exploring!
4. Eco-friendly workshops
When it comes to eco-friendliness, the kids attending your workplace may be the next generation of environmental heroes. Create a hands-on eco-friendly workshop for them that promotes greener business practices.
Set up simple, engaging activities like planting mini herb gardens or creating crafts from recycled materials. If you’ve got the resources, dive into letting kids design their own reusable tote bags with markers and eco-friendly paints. Keep the focus on how small changes can make a big impact on the planet. You’ll be sparking some creativity as well as promoting green initiatives in the minds of tomorrow’s leaders.
The kids get to take their creations home as a reminder of their contribution to a greener world. Cheers to that!
5. Shadowing parents for a day
For slightly older children attending a bring your kids to work day, one of the best activities they can do is to shadow their parents’ daily tasks. For an hour or two, they can see what their parents’ jobs entail. Create a rotational system so each kid can see the different departments and functions at the office.
Parents can explain their responsibilities in a kid-friendly way. Kids should be encouraged to ask questions and to try their hand at carrying out the work (just be careful if they’re helping write emails to your customers). Ask them to help out with any presentations people are doing in the day, like taking control of a PowerPoint for a speaker. You’ll be helping create a fun environment and lasting memories!
6. Ask anything! Q&A sessions
Toward the end of a workday, there’s a great opportunity for a kid-friendly question-and-answer session. Gather a few team members from different departments to become the “panel,” and let kids fire up their questions. You might find the kids come out with simple and engaging questions for them, like “What do you do all day?” and “How does this office make money?”
Keep the session light-hearted and interactive by letting your panel share some fun anecdotes and stories of how they carry out their work. With a kids’ Q&A session, you could be kickstarting new career paths or creating interest in new projects when they’re older. This activity instills confidence in children as they ask questions and they learn that workplaces listen to their insights.
7. “Kidvertising”: Create an ad campaign
Let kids tap into their creative side alongside their parents by involving them in ad advertising campaigns. Start things off by introducing the basics of advertising. Logo and slogan quizzes can work well here. Then, let them know that they’re involved in creating something new for the company. This could be a fun, fictional product, or something real that the parents are involved in.
Give them some nice art supplies for drawing logos and writing taglines. If you have kid-friendly digital tools for this, even better. It’s surprising how quickly kids can adapt to today’s technology. Invite them to present their ad and hand out awards at the end for “Most Creative” and “Funniest Ad.” Bring tomorrow’s world to today’s ad campaigns by involving a child’s perspective!
8. Teamwork Olympic games
No two ways about it, kids need some kind of physical activity for a fun day. Why not turn this opportunity into an “Office Olympics” day? Kids can give some really funny ideas about how to decorate the Olympic area. Support their ideas and design a space where teams can carry out epic Olympic events.
Choose the most fun activities for the day, and if the weather is good, host your event outdoors. Kids will love to take part in a tower-building challenge or a relay race to the finish line. Teamwork Olympic games bring teams closer together and create an electric atmosphere for children to enjoy. Don’t forget to hand out medals on a podium at the end (with chocolate instead of genuine gold, of course!). Long live the Olympic spirit!
9. Designing the workplace of tomorrow
Have you considered using a kid’s perspective for new ideas on your office layout? Let kids take the lead in imagining some aspects of the office. Create drafts of your workplace layout and encourage them to rethink the way the office is structured. This can be especially good if you’re looking to create or reshape your office recreational area.
Encourage them to think big. How would they make the office more fun, welcoming and creative? You might be surprised by their suggestions, as we’ve heard ideas of funny theme days, office desks that contain snacks, and even robot assistants. Finish the event off by having them present their ideas alongside the parents. Who knows, they could be providing the insights you need to totally rejuvenate the workplace!
10. Superhero safety drills
Near the beginning of the day, you will most likely have to explain and demonstrate the health and safety aspects of the office. Kids can step into the shoes of safety superheroes by learning basic safety protocols in an interactive and fun way.
Start by introducing workplace safety concepts like fire evacuation routes, first aid basics, or emergency contact procedures. Then, gamify the experience by giving each child a “superhero mission,” such as leading their group to a safe exit or spotting “hidden hazards” around the office. Get some props like superhero capes, or badges and stickers. Reward their super work with rewards and end the activity by reinforcing the importance of being prepared and looking out for others.
11. Creative Corner: crafting at work
Once the serious safety stuff is explained to kids, how about loosening up for the rest of the day and amplifying creativity? Set up a “Creative Corner” that encourages them to get funky with anything relating to your workplace. You can make it a space for artistic expression where glue sticks rule and glitter reigns supreme.
Get their artistic endeavors related to mascots, logos, and slogans for the company, and you could be shaping the company’s future with a fresh perspective. Why not ask them to put fun spins on business cards or use easels to showcase paintings of the office’s outside? You’ll likely have a few employees who gasp “Why didn’t we think of that?” and that’s the whole point. Kids can bring creative ideas that no adult could have thought of!
12. Clean & green environment cleanup
Blending a bring your kids to work day with an eco-initiative can be a fulfilling way to spend an afternoon with your teams. Review all of the green initiatives your company takes part in, and get kids involved! Turn kids into eco-warriors for the day with a cleanup activity.
This can be a great opportunity if your company is involved with beach cleanups or local sustainability initiatives. Perhaps you’re connected to cleanup operations around the office neighborhood. If the kids are of a suitable age, they could join their parents with trash-grabbers and clear up the outdoor space. A small activity like this can kickstart environmental initiatives in the leaders of tomorrow!
13. Fun energizing fitness breaks
Who says you can’t turn the office into a dance floor or a jungle gym? Infuse a dose of movement into the day with fitness breaks designed to get everyone up and moving. Kids need a physical outlet to keep them engaged, so how about two birds with one stone? Think up some quick, engaging physical activities like a stretch session or even something as playful as Simon Says (with physical challenges involved).
Depending on the age group, you might let them lead the energizing break. Parents and kids can pair up for these competitions, making it a fun bonding moment. Who can hold the longest plank, or balance on one leg? Burn calories while keeping your spirits high with these activities!
14. Striking a pose with a photoshoot
One of the ways you can get the most out of a “bring your kids to work day” is with a funky mini-photography studio for the office to use. Transform one corner of the office into a photo studio and let kids (with their parents) strike their best poses. Kit the area out with fun props like huge sunglasses and oversized hats, complete with a company backdrop.
Take it a step further with an office theme day, like superheroes or videogame characters and you’ll be creating wonderful memories for families to share. Use digital enhancements to make them funky, hand them to parents, and share them in the company newsletter for souvenirs of the day. Say cheese!
15. Lunch & laughter
Over the day, be sure to make the most of the lunch break with some kid-friendly games and activities in the canteen. Even small guessing games like “What’s in my lunchbox” with a scoreboard can liven the lunchtime atmosphere.
Take things up a notch with some snack-building stations for cookies and smoothies to make it even more engaging. If you have the resources, how about a station for decorating desserts, like donut frosting or cake embellishing?
Kid-friendly activities in the cafeteria ensure that lunch becomes more than a break. It’s a kid-friendly social event where everyone can connect and have fun. Make the most of your break by amplifying lunchtime together!
16. Tech demos for curious minds
Getting kids involved in the use of technology at work can have surprising results. We’ve all seen the ways kids can take to technology like ducks to water. Set up stations around the office where kids can explore the company tech in action. Explain to them how 3D printing works, get them to test your VR headsets, or kickstart their interest in the company’s design software with kid-friendly tutorials.
If the age group is suitable, and if your workplace uses a lot of coding, get kids involved with platforms like Scratch for a hands-on experience. The results can be truly surprising. Tech showcases and demos let kids see how tech makes the workplace run more smoothly. Keep an eye out for kids who show real skill with your technology, they might become leaders of the future!
17. Around the world at work
Turn the workplace into a global adventure with an activity that cherishes cultural diversity. Set up international “stations” around the office, each representing a different country or culture. These could be countries in which your company operates or even the places your international team members are from.
Deck each station out with snacks from that country. Encourage kids to pick up simple phrases of greeting in that target language, or add some traditional games or crafts. To wrap it up, give kids a mock “passport” and have each station apply a fun stamp to their booklet. You could be broadening their horizons and opening their eyes to countries around the world. Celebrate diversity in style with this vibrant activity!
18. Game on! Brains teasers and board game sessions
A “bring you kids to work” day is not complete without some time spent playing team games. Turn the office into an arena of gamification (and be prepared to learn lessons from elementary schoolers!). Focus on the office recreational area, and kit it out with boardgames, brain teasers and trivia trials that kids will love.
Alongside the well-known classics, have a look for gems like Exploding Kittens (don’t worry, it’s just cards), Codenames or the hilarious Throw Throw Burrito. Most of these games can be carried out in parent-child pairings. Cherish the spirit of childhood with some competitive games at the end of your workday, and celebrate trivia champions and gaming gurus. It’s all fun and games (until Uno Reverse gets played!).
19. Talent show takeover
Roll out the red carpet for the most entertaining office event of the year! Let kids take the reigns in a Talent Show Takeover, with them starring front and center! Children love showing off hidden skills, whether that’s singing, magic tricks, or even juggling office supplies (with supervision, of course).
Parents can join in, creating hilarious family duets or comedy acts that leave the audience in stitches. Set up a small stage area, complete with an event host and a set of “judges” in a panel. These judges can be employees who only drop in positive feedback (like the nicest version of America’s Got Talent). Reward performers with treats and mock medals and you’re in for a “bring your kid to work day” to remember!
20. Office escape room challenge
Escape rooms have skyrocketed in popularity over the last few years. Bring the thrill of an escape room to the office with a custom, kid-friendly challenge! Craft up a simple storyline, like cracking the CEO’s “top secret company code” or finding the company mascot who mysteriously disappeared.
Set up riddles, puzzles, and clues around the designated area, and let them have at it! Add a timer for a touch of suspense in the activity, and you might be surprised by some of the ingenious suggestions made by your escapees! You’ll be endorsing teamwork and detective-level determination with a kid-friendly escape room challenge in your workplace.
21. Design an office mascot
Our final suggestion is to let kids’ imaginations run wild and come up with the next office mascot. Forge teams that mix children and parents together, and encourage them to think about what makes the workplace unique.
Brainstorm some ideas first of what the mascot should represent; is it teamwork or taking care of the planet? Give them your best artistic office supplies and when they’re ready, have them present mascots to the whole group. Endorse their creations to instill a sense of pride in them. They might be responsible for the next epic advertising creation, so enjoy!
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