The kids may think you spend the day watching soap operas and playing their video games. Stay-at-home parents have a chance April 24 to show their children what their typical work day is like, by participating in 'Take Your Child to Work Day.'
The Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work Foundation, administrators of the program for more than 15 years, says the day is more than a career day in which children shadow an adult.
The idea is to expose children to what a parent or mentor does during the workday and how their own education will translate to a career.
This is an opportunity for stay-at-home parents to show their children just what they do and how important their work is. The work of a stay-at-home parent is varied and diverse; plan ahead for a day that includes a little bit of all that you do.
The Foundation suggests researching the salary and title for each job you perform. Add it all up to demonstrate the monetary value of your work.
Parents can relate their work to their children’s school subjects, so they’ll see a connection between what they’re studying and what an adult uses.
Math
Parents do math every day. When paying bills, comparing estimates for work done in the home, balancing the checkbook, measuring for home improvements, cooking and baking, shopping and comparing prices, parents use basic math principles, algebra and geometry daily.
- At the market, give them a shopping list and coupons and tell them to find the most economical options. This is a good opportunity to teach about price per quantity, judging the value of cheaper store brands and weighing the pros and cons of the better brands.
- Show the children a pattern for a window valance, give them a tape measure and have them figure out how much fabric they’ll need to make a modified valance.
- Bake cookies using a recipe with some changes. If you want to double the recipe, what must you do to the amounts? What if you want 50 percent more cookies? Present different options – “I need 25 cookies, but I need them to be a little less than twice as large as the recipe says.” What do these changes do to the recipe?
Reading and Writing
Parents can give children a sampling of the reading they do in the course of the day: Adults should read and understand local, national and international news to keep up on current events that affect the family, read instructions to operate appliances and technology in the home, and be kept abreast of issues and events at school. Even reading for pleasure is part of being a happy, successful adult.
Putting together thoughts into a well constructed letter, summary or report is a skill adults use their entire lives. Allow your children to help you write a letter of complaint or praise, an email, a letter to the editor, or a summary of a meeting you recently attended.
Social Studies
- Give your child an address and have him run a Mapquest. Have himshow you on a map how you’ll get there. In the car, have him give you directions. Using the map, discuss how far you’ll be from other points of interest. Which direction would you travel to get to something else? Are there any shortcuts for the way home?
- Let your children help you plan your next vacation. What are the pros and cons of traveling to three potential vacation spots? Based on climate and the area’s offerings, what should you pack?
- There’s an election coming up. What are the local, state and national issues and candidates? Research and discuss your choices with your children.
Science and Health
- What cleaning supplies do you use? What are the ingredients in these items and how are they good or bad for you and the environment? What preventions must you take to avoid chemical reactions?
- What’s for dinner this week? Ask your children to plan a week’s meals for a balanced diet.
Plan well for the day and tailor your lessons to your children’s ages. Show them that your job is challenging and rewarding.
Carolyn McKecuen, president of the Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Foundation, wants to hear parents' ideas for demonstrating their work at home to their children. If you're mentoring your child for Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work, send her your ideas and experiences through the TODASTW Web site.
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