Frequently Asked Questions about the UC Davis Take Our Children to Work (TOC) event
What exactly is Take Our Children to Work Day?
This national observance in the US offers children a glimpse into the world of work. Created by Gloria Steinem in 1992, it focuses on taking children to work to inspire them to consider future job opportunities and the significance of education.
At UC Davis, we view it as a family-oriented “mini” Picnic Day.
What age children can participate in this event?
While the national program is geared towards children aged 6-12, our campus is open to all ages.
For those younger than 6, please make sure that time on campus (particularly in the workplace) is very limited, and have another adult available to manage and bring the child home after a brief visit. Most ages enjoy visiting the museums, participating in crafts, and having lunch at the Dining Commons. Some older than 12 enjoy the career-aspect of the day. We trust the parent or caregiver to determine whether an activity would be good for the child as well as respectful to the work environment.
Please do not bring a child younger than the age indicated in the event description. You will be turned away if your child is not of the listed age.
How do we get the time to participate?
Release time is appropriate with supervisor approval.
What does this mean? It means that it is your supervisor's discretion as to how you can participate in the day based on the needs of the organization. Each supervisor/director sets parameters based on what is appropriate for their work environment. Some units utilize the day as a unit-wide celebration of family and approve release time or juggle schedules for their staff, others limit participation to a window of time, while some may ask you to use PTO or vacation time. We allow and encourage another adult in your family to attend, who can supplement taking the child to activities away from your work time for a portion of the day, or who can transport the child after a part-day of fun (honestly, this is all most kids can absorb anyway).
Do we have to register for the event?
Yes. You will register for the entire day in advance on our website beginning April 1st. If you are interested in one of the lottery events, the lottery will close at noon on Thursday, April 16, 2026. The lottery will be processed, and you will be notified of the results on Thursday, April 16th. Please check your junk mail for notification emails.
What type of activities can we expect?
The goal is for youth to envision their future, so many sites have hands-on activities and tours for youth to learn about different career fields. The descriptions will tell you about the activities and are all posted (in alphabetical order) on our Full Schedule page of this website. There is everything from sports to science to creative opportunities to explore. You can also filter by age range or event type, all linked at the top of the online schedule. You can also print the Schedule At-A-Glance to view the activities by time, linked at the top of every schedule page.
How do we get from event to event?
Fifteen minutes is built in between activities to allow you to get to the next activity. Most people bike while strategically scheduling their visits. Some drive to the off-campus animal sites and then do on-campus biking. If you need help finding OPEN HOUSE locations, use the link to the Open House Events on the homepage of this website. Remember, as the departments participating in our event are VOLUNTEERS, we can't control how spread apart these events are.
What about lunch?
Lunch is on your own, but the Dining Commons $2.00 child lunch coupon (up through age 13) is a great way to have your child experience lunch at college! The coupon will be linked on our website on Friday, April 17th. You can present either a printed coupon or show the digital image of the coupon from your phone at the check-out stand for the discount.
Is this event only for children of employees?
No, we encourage employees to bring any important child in their life to the day.
How do we see everything?
You don't. Based on years of experience, we highly recommend pacing yourself, choosing the appropriate amount of input and stimulus for the age of your child, and not running from event to event. Consider choosing an activity you may not have done in previous years or are unfamiliar with - that's how we grow, gain new visions, and discover hidden interests. Consider not applying for a lottery event that you have already participated in, so we can spread the joy around more equitably.
How does this event work with my child's school schedule?
You may need to check your child out of school early to participate in some activities.
If randomly selected for a LOTTERY event, what happens if I "No-Show" the activity?
As our Lottery events are in such high demand, we need to respect the time and efforts of the units that host these activities and fill as many spots as possible. Therefore, if you "no-show" at a Lottery event, you will not be eligible to participate in the lottery for next year’s TOC program. We ask that you please cancel your participation no later than 12pm on the Wednesday before TOCs, if possible.
Any safety rules?
Adults or caregivers must supervise children at all times. Parents/guardians are responsible for care, custody, and control of minors at all times. If you want to attend a lottery event, ALL members of your attending group must meet any age guidelines. Use common sense regarding safety and appropriate behavior (please no children under six in the office for more than a brief visit!).
What are the options for parking on campus?
We have set up a special events parking option for TOC again this year. Use the button on our website to access the Transportation Services Special Events Parking webpage. When accessing the parking portal, select Special Event Parking, select “Group/Departmental Events”, and then select “Take Our Children to Work 2026” for the affiliate rate for the day. Then use the official UC Davis Campus Map to plan parking ahead of time. If you are familiar with AggiePark via the AMP Park app, an Aggie’s Pay-to- Park app, you can also use that for your daily parking needs.
Any other things I should know?
Have fun. Plan ahead with your child. Get out of your comfort zone and explore wider possibilities and remote corners of campus. Don't rush from thing to thing. Focus on a day of education and exploration. Lastly, please remember it is an all-volunteer event and respect the fantastic students, staff, departments, and amazing people who have taken the time out of their busy day to host you and your guests...and don't forget to express appreciation to them!
