Brightwing hosted its first annual Bring Your Kids to Work Day on August 17th. National Bring Your Kids to Work Day is traditionally celebrated on the fourth Thursday of April, but Brightwing decided to host its event on August 17th, during the summertime, to maximize participation.

The lineup of activities for this event included something for every age, an important component considering the age range of attendees: 3 years old to 15 years old. 

All in all, the event ended up being a massive success. Hosting a Bring Your Kid(s) to Work Day can produce a host of benefits, many of which we experienced firsthand:

1. Start nurturing kids’ professional potential early 

It may sound tongue-in-cheek, but the reality is: it’s good for kids to get exposure to different kinds of workplaces, early and often.

Many children don’t have a good understanding of what their parents do all day at work. Bring Your Kids to Work Day gives them a chance to see their parents in their professional element and learn more about the different types of jobs that exist. 

The first planned activity for Bring Your Kids to Work Day was an office tour. Each department was a destination on the tour, and the kids got to learn a little bit about what each department does. Trivia and prizes were interspersed throughout this activity too.

2. Retain and Attract Top Talent 

Hosting an event like this can be a sign that an employer sees their employees not just as workers, but as whole people. It can play a part in a larger strategy of helping hardworking teammates to feel fulfilled in many facets of their lives.

Brightwing prides itself on fostering a family-like atmosphere and this was especially evident during the arts and crafts session, where the amount of children in the room easily doubled the amount of parents in the room. 

Of the three craft stations, one included coloring pages with the faces of each child’s parent, another with rocks and paint pens, the third with materials for gluing onto construction paper to make a jellyfish.

3. Build Relationships Among Employees 

When employees bring their children to work, it gives them a chance to bond with their colleagues over their shared experiences as parents. This can help to create a more cohesive and supportive work environment.

Brightwing’s Bring Your Kids to Work Day definitely helped forge even closer bonds among the team. After all, there’s no better way to really get to know someone than by spending time with their families.

4. Boost Employee Morale and Engagement

Employees appreciate it when their companies recognize and support their families. Allowing employees to bring their children to work can help to create a more positive and supportive work environment.

This is especially true when you take into account the joy a Bring Your Kids Day to Work can bring. Laughter relieves stress and spurs creativity, collaboration, analytic precision, and productivity. Laughter also boosts engagement and well-being. Whether laughing at a silly joke a kid made or recounting funny stories about raising your own kids, your employees are reaping the benefits.

The day ended with pizza and ice cream, which parents and their children alike enjoyed after a busy morning.

Brightwing’s first Bring Your Kid(s) to Work Day was a smashing success that received rave reviews from the kids, their parents, and even employees who enjoyed seeing some new, younger faces in the office.

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