Today is Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, and we asked Karen van Rossem, our senior information specialist, to tell us about her experiences bringing her daughters to work. Thanks, Karen!

I have two daughters, and they have accompanied me to at least three different jobs over the last 20 years. My stepdaughter helped me pack boxes and move our library collection when I worked as a news researcher.  She did real work and had fun knowing she was helping out. I remember that my co-workers chipped in to pay her for her excellent work. That unexpected kindness was typical of our newsroom.

My younger daughter came with me to “help” me file my grades one semester at the college where I was an instructor. The highlight for my then-three-year-old was feeding the college vending machines while I did my end-of-the-semester paperwork.  Even that early experience showed her that work was a place that was fun.

When she was older, we had an amazing Take our Daughters and Sons to Work Day program here at Scholastic.  She and her friend joined other Scholastic kids in a rotation of company-wide activities. She was thrilled to test a new I Spy game and meet the staff that helped created it. My library department hosted a popular internet scavenger hunt with prizes. She visited our Classroom Magazine editors and learned how an issue of a magazine comes together. Of course, she also remembers treats from the company cafeteria and a visit to The Scholastic Store for Goosebumps books!

My daughters have grown up feeling welcome in my workplaces and looking forward to finding their own workplace one day.

Sounds to us like that’s just what this day is all about! Have you ever participated in Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day?

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