Tech of Bring Your Child to Work

Posted by Beth Lynne Apr 26, 2007

Bring Your Child to Work Day is a national day aimed at increasing career awareness in young people. Added side bonuses include the bonding of families and the improved understanding of what mommies and daddies do all day outside of the house. Many places of employment include activities such as presentations and seminars for the young visitors. Suppose, though, that the mother or father of the future wage earner happens to be in the education field, specifically a teacher? Schools are filled with students, pretty much what the attendee of this special occasion sees all day during the course of his or her routine. What kinds of special demonstrations can be planned that increases desire to teach without taking away from the students, especially when the visitor is on a different grade level than the “home team”? How does a teacher-parent merge the two roles without showing favoritism? Sometimes it is necessary to bring a child to work when it is not a special day.

There is bound to be awkwardness between the two factions; break the ice by having the visitor bring in some electronics or special game website. Chances are if they are within a few years in age, they will have some video game in common. Or, if playing games, even for a few minutes, is forbidden, have the visiting student prepare a slide presentation to introduce him/herself to the class. Have a student pair up with the visiting child, particularly if there is a large age difference. One can demonstrate to the other some special computer skills and tie in some of the content of the lesson to it. There are many learning experiences to incorporate, without losing the momentum of the teaching day.