Beaumont Greets 650 Children at 'Kids at Work Day'

A sign at Beaumont Hospital reads "Kids at Work" to warn visitors to be on the lookout for fun activities.

More than 650 children between the ages of 9 and 17 participated in Beaumont's Take Your Child To Work Day this morning.

This is the 20th anniversary of Take Our Daughters and Sons To Work Day—as it is officially called—which always lands on the fourth Thursday of April. The program was developed to help girls and boys explore the many life choices they have. 

At Beaumont, children could explore dozens of activities, from observing a mock tonsillectomy to touring the hospital's kitchen with Executive Chef Ed Gillis to exploring the Beaumont One helicopter.

"It's an opportunity for kids to come and see what their parents do," said Mike Dixon, director of human resources. "We try to make it engaging and try to encourage kids to maybe even explore a health service career."

Dixon said making the day special results in employee satisfaction.

"I think every parent spends so much time at work and it's a way for their kids to see what they do and they get to show off," Dixon said. "I see the parents glowing and their kids are as well."

"I think the program is wonderful," said Melissa Paul, a labor and delivery nurse at Beaumont. "Every year it gets bigger and bigger."

All the activities seemed to wear out 9-year-old Jordon Hardaway. He could be found smiling on a stretcher in an ambulance near the south entrance, one of the many highlights of the Beaumont medical transportation tour.