Job shadowing, a panel with the CTO, a scavenger hunt across the office: these are great ways for school-age kids to see where their parents work. Children under seven experience the day differently.
For the little ones, the best moments are simple, sensory, and short, with their grown-up right next to them.
Plan around four anchors
Design for the age in the room. A room holding a three-year-old and a ten-year-old serves neither. Two short sessions beat one long one.
Keep the grown-up in the experience. Plan capacity for children and the adults with them. The adult is part of what makes a small child feel safe, not an observer at the back.
Use a short, familiar shape. A story, music or movement, and a moment of connection make a complete experience. About 30 minutes is plenty.
Let the story travel home. Give every family something the child can hold up at dinner that night.
Activities that work under age seven
An interactive read-aloud. Pick a story about what a parent does all day at work. Pause, point, and let the kids answer. A story is the easiest way for a small child to picture where their parent goes.
Music and movement. One song and a simple dance gets everyone up after sitting for the story. In our sessions, kids dance with Mr. Sunshine to the Mommy Goes to Work song.
Build the office. Reusable stickers let kids decorate an office scene, and rearrange it every time they read. If the stickers carry your company's logo and icons, the scene starts to look like their parent's own workplace.
A book to take home. The visit ends. The conversation shouldn't. A book keeps the story going long after the event.
Set up the room at floor level
- Floor space matters more than seat count. Clear the cables.
- Put the youngest session in the morning. Don't schedule it across lunch or nap time.
- Seat families near the door, and let leaving be unremarkable. If one child melts down, nothing else has to stop.
- Find a quieter spot for a child who needs to step out.
- If anything is served, decide the allergy rule before the invitation goes out.
FAQ
What ages is it designed for?
The sweet spot is ages 0–7, but older siblings are always welcome to join the fun.
What exactly happens during the experience?
Each 30-minute round brings the books to life through storytelling, music, movement, and playful interaction. Kids discover what Mommy and Daddy do at work—and dance with Mr. Sunshine along the way.
How many families can participate?
Each round is about 30 minutes and can be repeated throughout the day to welcome more families. Capacity depends on your space and package.
Want the whole 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.
