Every year, trillions of mothers, fathers, grandparents, and guardians participate in Take Your Child’s Meds and Go to Work Day. Here are just a few details that can help participants and businesses have a smooth and rewarding experience.

Why is Take Your Child’s Meds
and Go to Work Day important?

Take Your Child’s Meds and Go to Work Day is a special day for parents to feel even more connected to their children. You’ll see the world through your children’s medicated eyes and try to perform your everyday tasks in their medicated shoes. It’s a great opportunity to feel young and medicated again, to use your medicated imagination, and to alter your performance with medication.

How will I know if my child is on medication?

Talk to your child. Ask if he or she is taking medication and, if so, what medication he or she is on. Questions like, “Where do you keep your medication?” and “How much of it do you have left?” are particularly helpful.

I’m a parent of a meds-taking child.
What should I do?

Take your child’s medication. Follow the instructions printed on the prescription label to find out how to do that (before eating, after eating, with a full glass of water, etc.) and pay close attention to any potential side effects the meds may cause (drowsiness, dizziness, constipation, anxiety, sensitivity in general, etc., etc.). Be sure to adjust the dosage based on your age and weight compared to your child’s age and weight so you can most accurately replicate the medicated experience.

I’m a parent of multiple meds-taking children.
Should I take one of each of their medications?

Good question. Nobody likes picking a favorite child, but sometimes it has to be done. This is one of those times. For guidance, consider this question: “Whose medicated experience do I wish to share most?”

I have medications of my own to take.
Should I take my meds and
my child’s meds on the same day?

Of course.

When is the best time to take my child’s meds?

First thing in the morning, before your child wakes up. This helps in two ways: 1) The meds will have plenty of time to kick in, so you can begin your workday fully medicated, and 2) If your child sees you taking his or her meds, he or she might ask questions that you’d rather not answer.

NOTE: If you’re driving to work and your child’s meds make it difficult to operate heavy machinery, then you should probably wait to take them until you’re in the office parking lot — listen to some light rock to ease into the experience.

ALSO: If you operate heavy machinery for a living (or are a surgeon), perhaps it’s best to celebrate Take Your Child’s Meds and Go to Work Day when you’re catching up on paperwork, inventory, taxes, phone calls, appointments, or attending a conference.

Why a workday?

Because if you took your child’s meds on the weekend, then it would simply be “taking drugs,” and that is illegal.

What should I do for lunch?

Take your child’s lunch. This will give you the full effect of being your child when he or she is on meds. Lunchtime also offers a great opportunity to take another dose of your child’s meds, which many require.

I have a very important meeting on
Take Your Child’s Meds and Go to Work Day.
Should I elect not to take my child’s meds?

Absolutely not. Your child doesn’t get to opt out of taking meds on big test days, game days, field trip days, or pool party days, so neither do you.

NOTE: If the meeting does, however, affect someone else’s life/future (let’s say you’re a lawyer and your “meeting” is actually a “court date” and you’re “defending an innocent person from twenty-five to life in prison”), then please see our FORMS page to download an Excused Absence Application that you can present to the “judge” or whomever to excuse yourself on this special day during which you are taking your child’s meds.

I’m a business owner. What can my company do to provide a valuable experience for employees on this special day?

There are many things business owners can do to help employees (and the company) get the most out of Take Your Child’s Meds and Go to Work Day. Here are just a few examples of how to make this day an extra-big hit:

  • Appoint a “designated driver” or “DD” from HR to organize and lead participant activities.
  • Provide snacks in the break room. Sheet cake, muffins, vegetable trays, chips, pretzels, deli meats, pizza poppers, and French fry baskets are all great ideas — popsicles are not.
  • Give participants a sticker to wear so they feel extra special and other employees understand “what the hell just happened.”
  • Play games like Guess what meds I’m on! or What am I looking at now?
  • Build a fort and fill the fort with coloring books, crayons, and kazoos — wait to see what happens!
  • Sit in a circle.
  • Have participants write inspiring letters to their past, present, and future selves.
  • Rent cleaning equipment and give participants free rein of the building. Shout things like, “I’ll bet you can’t shampoo a carpet!” and “These windows couldn’t possibly let in more sunshine!”
  • Unplug the copy machines.
  • Ask participants to alphabetize everything.
  • Conduct a survey to capture any meds-induced breakthroughs. Questions may include: From the perspective of you right now, on medication, how would you handle budget cuts in 2016? And Do you think there’s a better way to simplify workflow now that you’re on medication?

Want more ideas? Please see the ACTIVITIES page, where you’ll find games, arts, crafts, sample agendas, and customizable survey templates.

My child does not take medication. What should I do?

Speak with your child’s pediatrician. You’ll probably be able to work something out.