How to take care of kids and work. Whether it is to offset the costs of child care, to be able to spend just a little extra time with your child, to avoid taking a day off when the youngster is sick, or the commonly dreaded Take your Child to Work Day, employers are seeing many more young ones traveling the corridors than ever before.

More than a few decades ago, the family dynamic was a slightly simpler than it is today. Father earned a fair wage working Monday through Friday, while Mother stayed home to tend to the children and the home. Dinner was served at six, the children were in bed by eight, the bills were paid and even the family dog was content. Fast forward to current times; in most cases, both Mom and Dad have to work to pay for the mortgage, the car, the cell phone bills, and don’t forget about the college savings!  Children tend to spend more time at school or daycare than they do in their homes, and Mr. Fluffers has seen many a lonely day. It’s no wonder that many parents are beginning to bring their children to the office with them. For some, there are no other options. 

 Whether it is to offset the costs of child care, to be able to spend just a little extra time with your child, to avoid taking a day off when the youngster is sick, or the commonly dreaded Take your Child to Work Day, employers are seeing many more young ones traveling the corridors than ever before. If your employer allows children in the office, it can be a great way to bond or perform double-duty as a parent and a member of the workforce. However, there are some things to take into consideration before introducing your little one to their first on-the-job training session. Safety, entertainment, and courtesy for your co-workers are all factors that need to be planned out in advance to ensure a pleasant experience for all, including your child.

Safety First: This goes without saying, but survey your surroundings. Most offices are relatively safe for a child but you certainly don’t want to take any chances. Things that may seem harmless to an adult can spell danger for a kid. Loose wires running from the fax machine to the outlet, lamp cords, phone and network cables in conspicuous places; these can be trip hazards for most children and strangulation or electrocution hazards for the younger bunch if a keen eye isn’t kept. Offer to solve these problems for your employer with some inexpensive cord covers and wire management products; he just might appreciate your initiative. Keep scissors and staplers off of your desktop; even tape dispensers can harm little hands. Most importantly, remember: what appears to be a boring battery back-up to a grown-up looks like a fun toy with lights and beeping noises to a toddler, so make sure your child never has access to underneath your desk, or any other area where power may be run. Also on the No list are shredders, pencil sharpeners, envelope openers, permanent and dry erase markers, boxes of staples, ink/toner cartridges, desktop cleaning wipes/sprays, and air dusters.
They work hard for the money: If your child is a little older, around six years and up, you may be surprised at how helpful they can be. Go ahead and create a job description for your child. For example, if your child is on the younger side, you can explain to them that their responsibilies include taking scrap paper to the recycle bin, sorting your paper clips by color or size, or ‘pretend filing’. For an older child, you may want to type up their tasks, which could include alphabetizing files, transcribing notes, distributing memos, or other age-appropriate tasks. To really please them, you can offer them their ‘paycheck’ after a hard day of work, whether it is a crisp $10 bill or a tasty treat.

Desktop Toys: If your child isn’t interested in working an eight hour shift, don’t be disappointed; he knows he has a few years to go! You will need to keep him occupied though, to ensure the sanity of yourself and your co-workers. Ever notice how children love to play with toys that aren’t theirs? Kids are thoroughly intrigued by items that are new to them, and a fresh toy will keep them entertained far longer than something they brought from home. An easy fix is to create a special collection of toys that are only for the office, which you can stash in your desk or keep in a safe, ‘hands-off’ place in the home. Is your child not particularly pleased by playthings? Portable DVD players (with headphones), crayons, puzzles, workbooks and that Nintendo DS he’s always carting around are great pastimes as well. Just be sure to have a back-up activity as well because if we know anything about children, it’s that they are fickle.

Say NO to Sugar:

• All parents are guilty of it – giving in to your child’s whims with the all-time unsurpassed cure-all: sugar. Nothing soothes a whiny toddler like a cookie, just as the ultimate way to get a five year old to sit still for five minutes is a lollipop. These may seem like an ideal solution when you can tell that your peers are getting just a little irritated by Billy’s incessant “But I want it!”, however you need to look at the bigger picture, which is 45 minutes later when he is banging down the cubicle walls in a high-fructose-corn-syrup-and-food-dye induced frenzy. Try to avoid sugary snacks, sticky juices and confections. Alternatively, you can bring 100% fruit snacks, graham crackers, fun colored water (available at most supermarkets) and Lunchables. Offer candy only as an award for a job well done at the end of the day.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T: You know your child. You know your two-year-old isn’t going to sit still, and will be exceptionally inconsolable without his afternoon nap. Keeping these things in mind, be considerate to your co-workers when making the decision whether to bring your child to work with you. If it is imperative that they attend, try to work out a schedule; perhaps you can go home for a few hours while he naps and work a little later into the evening, or you may be able to work from home all together. If you are thinking of bringing your youngster along just for the company, it may be best for your productivity and that of those around you to arrange a different venue for your play date.
 
Having children in the office doesn’t have to be a burden to you or those you work with. With a little preparation and some creativity, your child’s office experience can be enriching, helpful, and even fun for everyone!

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By Laura Viars, LifeOeganizers Business Expert