10 Ideas for Arts and Crafts Station for Take Your Child to Work Day - Status.net (2024)

Planning a successful Take Your Child to Work Day can be a fun and educational experience for everyone involved. One great way to keep the children engaged and foster family bonding is by setting up an arts and crafts station.

There are so many ideas for arts and crafts activities you can consider for this special day. Plus, incorporating these activities into the day’s agenda adds a playful element that can help to break the ice and spark conversations between colleagues and their children!

Setting Up Your Arts and Crafts Station

Essential Supplies

You’ll need:

• Paper (different sizes, colors, and thicknesses)
• Coloring materials (crayons, colored pencils, markers, paint, etc.)
• Glue (white glue, glue sticks, and/or hot glue)
• Scissors
• Rulers
• Stencils and templates
• Various embellishments (buttons, pom poms, stickers, etc.)

Age-Appropriate Adjustments

Depending on the age range of the children participating in Take Your Child to Work Day, you may need to make some adjustments to the planned activities:

• Age 4-6: Simple coloring pages, basic stickers, and glueless crafts
• Age 7-10: More detailed coloring pages, painting, and simple paper crafts
• Age 11-14: Advanced coloring pages, sketching, and group projects that promote teamwork and creativity

Decoration and Design

Set up a designated space in your professional environment that is large enough for multiple children to work together. Try incorporating your company logo or theme, so the children feel connected to where their parents work. You can use bright colors and fun patterns to make the area inviting and engaging for the kids.

Safety Measures

• Use non-toxic supplies and materials
• Provide hand wipes or sanitizer to keep hands clean
• Have a plan for proper disposal of waste materials

Craft Activities to Inspire

1. Creating Company Mascots

Provide a variety of art supplies such as colored pencils, markers, and construction paper, and explain the concept of a mascot and its purpose. You can also provide examples of well-known mascots for inspiration. This activity is not only fun, but it also helps children learn the importance of branding and teamwork in a work environment.

2. Picture Book Projects

There’s nothing like storytelling to unleash a child’s imagination! You can guide children through creating a simple picture book related to your company’s business. Start by brainstorming ideas as a group, then distribute blank booklets and art supplies for each child to design their own story. Encourage them to illustrate their ideas while incorporating elements from your company. This activity promotes learning, storytelling, and communication skills, making it great fun with a purpose!

3. Marketing Material Crafts

You can introduce your young guests to the exciting world of marketing and sales by allowing them to create their own marketing material crafts. Provide examples of flyers, brochures, or posters for them to reference. Offer a variety of supplies such as:

• Colored paper
• Glue or tape
• Magazines featuring your company
• Stickers with your company logo
• Markers for drawing and writing
• Scissors

4. Resume for Kids Workshop

Introduce your child to the world of career planning with a Resume for Kids Workshop. This fun activity allows them to explore their current skills, interests, and future aspirations. You can set up a station with templates, computers, and guides for them to create their own mini resume. Help them with formatting and content, while encouraging them to think about their strengths and dreams.

5. Problem-Solving with Interactive Games

You can encourage team-building and develop problem-solving skills by offering interactive games like puzzles, board games, or riddles.

6. Scavenger Hunt: Discover the Workplace

A scavenger hunt is a great way to let children explore the office while engaging them with fun activities. Make a list of items found around the office, like a stapler, a printed company logo, or a plant. Children can team up and photograph the items with a smartphone, or search for hidden tokens representing the items. For an extra layer of engagement, consider including some challenges requiring help from employees.

7. Collage making

You can provide magazines, newspapers, glue, and scissors for the kids to create their own collages.

8. Painting

You can set up easels, canvases, and a range of paints for the children to unleash their inner artist.

9. DIY Plant pots

Bring simple terracotta pots and let the kids decorate them with acrylic paint, markers, or stickers. Once they’re done, they can plant a seed to take home!

10. Teen-Focused Activities

When engaging teenagers on Take Your Child to Work Day, consider activities that align with their growing interests and independence. For instance, job shadowing can be a fantastic option for teens curious about specific careers. You can provide them with an opportunity to observe employees in their day-to-day tasks and gain a deeper understanding of the career path. Career exploration sessions are effective for teens who haven’t yet developed a specific interest. Invite professionals from various departments to share insights about their roles and how they contribute to the company’s success. This way, teenagers can discover potential careers and ask questions to those who have firsthand experience.

Planning and Scheduling the Day

Drafting a Kid-Friendly Agenda

You can gather ideas by collecting input from your colleagues, or even better, conducting a focus group with the kids themselves. This will help you understand their interests and preferences when it comes to arts and crafts.

When drafting your schedule, consider the age group of the participating children. For example, younger kids may require shorter, more straightforward activities with plenty of breaks, while older kids may enjoy more intricate tasks that require more focus and time.

Sign-Ups and Volunteer Coordination

Coordinating the volunteers is a crucial part of planning the Arts and Crafts station. Create a sign-up sheet for colleagues who would like to participate, including a timeline for their shifts. (This will help ensure the station is adequately staffed for the day, and volunteers can balance their work responsibilities with spending time at the station.)

Quiet Time with Books and Coloring

For younger children with interests not related to the arts and crafts station, it’s important to have alternate activities that cater to their needs. You can set up a reading corner with age-appropriate books to accommodate the little bookworms.

Work-Life Balance and Takeaways

Wrap-Up Session with Parents and Kids

Wrap-Up session serves as a way to share experiences, discuss the day’s activities, and promote family bonding. It’s a great time to encourage team-building among your colleagues and their children. Make sure to allocate time for:

1. Sharing project outcomes: Let the kids present their arts and crafts masterpieces to the group.
2. Parents and kids feedback: Give everyone an opportunity to express their thoughts and feelings about the day, allowing for constructive feedback.
3. Acknowledgment: Recognize and appreciate everyone’s collaboration and participation in making the day a success.

Handing Out Creative Swag

To conclude a fun and memorable day, consider handing out some creative swag! These takeaways will not only remind the kids of their special time at the office, but can also enhance company branding.

Examples:

• Customized coloring books: Design coloring books featuring your company’s logo, products, or services, and include the arts and crafts they completed during the day.
• DIY kits: Offer age-appropriate arts and crafts kits for the kids to continue their creative adventures at home.
• Company-branded stationery: Pens, pencils, notepads, and erasers with your company’s logo can be used as excellent corporate swag.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I create a fun scavenger hunt for Take Your Child to Work Day?

Creating an enjoyable scavenger hunt begins with choosing a theme, like “discovering the office” or “learning about different jobs.” Next, create a list of clues or riddles centered around the theme, which may involve taking pictures or finding specific items in the workspace.

Provide the children with a list or map of locations to visit and encourage them to work in teams to complete the scavenger hunt.

What are some cool giveaway ideas for kids attending Take Your Child to Work Day?

Consider the age range and interests of the participating children, as well as the company’s branding, when selecting giveaway items. Ideas include:

• Customized notebooks, pencils, or pens with the company logo
• Small toys such as puzzles, games, or craft kits

Can you suggest some printable resources to entertain kids during Take Your Child to Work Day?

You can print out coloring pages in advance from websites like Gemsify.com or Crayola.com to provide easy activities for the children. (Print these resources out beforehand to avoid any last-minute chaos.)

What are some engaging arts and crafts stations suitable for Take Your Child to Work Day?

Examples:

• Painting station with canvas, brushes, and watercolors or acrylics
• DIY badge-making station where children can design their own “employee” badges
• Origami station with printed instructions and origami paper

What themes can we consider for Take Your Child to Work Day activities and decorations?

To make the day more engaging and memorable, you can incorporate themes based on the company’s services or products. Some ideas are:

• Superhero: Transform the workplace into an area where future ‘heroes’ learn important skills and knowledge
• Office Olympics: Focus on teamwork and friendly competition, with decorations inspired by sports