Parenting Station

Most teenagers are very much interested in what their parents do all day at work. As they get older they become more and more curious about what you do and where you go all day long. They want to start looking at how to become more involved with future work plans after school. They may also be looking for a way to be closer to you.

This is a golden opportunity for you to take your children to work sometimes and let them have a sense of belonging to your life outside of the home. Many parents miss this opportunity to bond with their kids as well as give their children a feeling that they are important enough to know what you are doing during work. Not only are these emotional reasons good enough, but you may just have an opportunity to introduce your teenager into a career field that they can get started finding out about.

Take your children to meet your bosses and your coworkers. Allow your kids to see the physical setting where you spend so much of your time. For you Mothers and Fathers that work outside of the home, this interest offers an opportunity to give your teenagers a window of the world of work, as well as a chance to interact with a variety of adults.

Most companies to offer a “take your child to work day”. How often these days occur if obviously up to your employer, but as a successful parent you will want to take your children to work as often as you can. This helps create a very strong bond between parent and teenager as well.

If your employer does allow for other days to take your kids with you to work then arrange some time when they can come in and work quietly on something while you go about your afternoon. This gives your teenager an opportunity to talk with others that are in a career field that your child may be interested in.

See if this person will let your son or daughter shadow him for an afternoon at work. If there are summer jobs that are similar to this type of work within your community, encourage them to apply. The following quote came directly from my 16 year old daughter when she was surveyed on the subject of successful parents who make it a point to get active within their teenager’s life:

“Adults need to give their teenagers as much information as they can about work, colleges, universities, home business ideas, self-empowerment groups, and anything else what would prove useful for us while we are growing up.”

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