A two-year-old and a fourteen-year-old can both have a great Bring Your Child to Work Day. They can't have it in the same room, at the same time, doing the same thing.
Here's what works at each age, and how to fit all of them into one day.
Under 3: stay close, keep it short
For the littlest visitors, the day is mostly about one thing: being somewhere new while their grown-up stays right next to them.
A lap-sized read-aloud about what parents do at work
One song with simple movement
Something to hold and take home
Twenty to thirty minutes, in the morning, at floor level. Anything longer runs into nap time.
Ages 3–7: story, music, and something to build
This is the age that asks "where do you go all day?" A story answers it in a way they can picture. Add a song, a dance, and a hands-on moment, like decorating an office scene, and you have a full session. We go deeper in activities for toddlers and preschoolers.
Ages 8–12: let them do real work, in small pieces
Job-shadow rotations: fifteen minutes each with three or four teams
"Interview a coworker" cards with five questions they write themselves
A team challenge: pitch a product, design a poster, plan a launch
A floor tour that ends somewhere they're rarely allowed, like the server room or the loading dock
Junior Achievement publishes free guides for grades 2–5 that fit this age well.
Teens: treat them like future colleagues
A career panel where they ask the questions
Sitting in on a real meeting, with a short brief on what stays in the room
A skills session: writing a professional email, a resume basics workshop
One-on-one time with someone in a job they've never heard of
Junior Achievement's grades 6–12 guide is a good starting point.
Running a mixed-age day
Split into tracks by age, not by department
Run the youngest session first, while energy is high
Have older kids help run part of the little ones' session. They take it seriously
End together: one shared moment, like a group photo or a closing song, so every family leaves from the same place
FAQ
What's the best age for Bring Your Child to Work Day?
Every age can work. Most company programs are built for school-age kids, so the youngest families are the ones most likely to stay home. One short session for ages 0–7 changes that.
How long should activities be?
About 30 minutes for kids under 7. School-age kids and teens can handle a half day with breaks.
Do we need different rooms?
For the youngest group, yes. They need floor space and a quiet spot to step out.
Want the youngest session ready to run?
Our packages come with the books, a step-by-step lesson plan, the song, and a virtual training with author Jossy or our educators. Or we come to you.
