When school's out, the workplace is in

Barry Reynolds had some extra help at the office this week, and all his young legal assistant wanted in return was a free lunch.

Reynolds, a partner in a downtown Tulsa law firm, was one of many parents who took a child to work during the long stretch of snow days.

Reynolds said his son Garrett, 9, spent some of his unexpected free time doing schoolwork and some of it playing on the computer.

"I love having him, and, frankly, he's not a problem," he said. "You end up having conversations with them at that time that you don't normally have in the evenings."

With nearly all area schools closed all week, working parents have had to find alternative child care. Many stayed home, split the days with a spouse or depended on neighbors and relatives. Others took their children to work with them.

Parents who want a successful day at the office with their child should be prepared and realistic about what to expect, said Amy Halliburton, an assistant professor of human development and family science at OSU-Tulsa.

"Can they self-entertain?" she asked. "Younger children require more interaction with other people and more physical activity throughout the day. Children age 10 and older are better able to sit still for longer periods of time."

Halliburton advises parents to pack a "snow day backpack" that their child can take to work. The backpack should include new books, games and other activities, snacks and even electronic devices such as a portable DVD player with headphones.

Even with all of that, parents might not accomplish as much on the job as usual, she said.

"The most important thing for parents is just to be realistic in their expectations for children's behavior," she said. "Parents with infants and toddlers can really only expect to have a couple of hours of work."

Jean Walpole Coulter, an attorney specializing in employment law, is a consultant to companies that want to be more "family friendly." She said companies that allow telecommuting or have on-site child care make it easier for parents to focus on work, especially on days when school is out.

"It's my experience that the small employers generally are more flexible, and the large employers absolutely are not," Coulter said.

Melinda Belcher, director of resource and referral at the Child Care Resource Center in Tulsa, said she fielded about a half-dozen calls early in the week from parents seeking information about child care. Belcher said taking children to the workplace depends on the employer and the age of the child.

"I can't stress enough the importance of having back-up child care, because you never know," she said.

Tom Brian, a professor of psychology at the University of Tulsa, said parents should involve their children in the decision-making process when coping with a child-care challenge.

"It's good for kids to be exposed to that kind of real-life problem solving," he said.

Ziva Branstetter 581-8378
ziva.branstetter@tulsaworld.com

Can this work?

Some questions to ask yourself before taking your children to work:

• Is it OK with the boss?

• How will your co-workers handle it?

• Do you need to work a full day? Most employers would rather see a valued employee in the office part time than not at all.

• Is your workplace safe for children?

• Can you keep your child busy?

• Can you leave if you have to?