Kids Get Excited

As a parent our four, I’d have to say, apart from the hugs, one of my favorite things is seeing the raw excitement the kids experience when encountering something special.

A kid-focused family outing. A gift. A person dressed as their favorite cartoon character. Visiting grandma. Pizza Fridays. Getting mail.

Children haven’t yet learned to play it cool. When they’re delighted, you know it.

Family

My work does not excite my children.

They don’t know what I do at work all day, and they don’t care. But when work hosts a family day or invites families to an event, the kids are suddenly all over it—especially if there are treats, games and goodies.

For a few hours, my workplace becomes more than the mysterious place Dad disappears to during the day. It becomes a place where they feel welcomed and included. And when my employer makes my children happy, I notice.

Delight

When showing appreciation to your employees or clients, consider taking the extra step of actually getting to know the individual. Do they have children? How old? What do they enjoy?

Imagine if you sent a gift that would delight that child. Would doing so be memorable and special to the parent?

You betcha.

The gift doesn’t need to be extravagant. Sidewalk chalk, a stuffed animal, a coloring book, a backpack or a small game can generate more genuine excitement than an expensive executive gift ever could. The right item depends on the child, the occasion, their age, and their interests. A toddler and a teenager have very different ideas about what constitutes a good time.

Experiences

Many of us, including children value and remember experiences. Face painting, carnival games, inflatables, scavenger hunts, mascots and craft stations turn a company picnic or family day into something they’ll talk about for days afterward.

The experience also gives parents an opportunity to introduce their families to the people they work with. Coworkers become real people. Families become part of office conversation. The workplace begins to feel a little more personal and connected.

Goodies

Kid-centric swag should be fun, useful, or both. Art supplies invite creativity. Outdoor toys get used at the park or in the backyard. Lunch bags, water bottles, and backpacks become part of the daily school routine.

Consider creating age-appropriate gift boxes or offering a gift selection so parents can choose something they know their child will enjoy. When possible, personalize the gift with the child’s name. It emphasizes caring, attention to detail, and that the gift wasn’t pulled from a box of discards in the closet.

A family-centric gift or experience shows the recipient that you see more than their title, purchase history, or employee number. You recognize the importance of their life outside of the workplace.

When you make a child feel that special excitement, you make their parent feel pretty special, too.

How about a hug?