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ThuApr 25

Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day – April 25, 2024

Also known as Take Your Child to Work Day, Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day is on April 25 this year. The job shadowing day is intended to give children a glimpse into the working world through the guidance of their parents. Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day was developed by a foundation of the same name. It’s a non-profit educational foundation designed to promote Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, a day that revolves around the ethos of future job prospects. It’s designed to inspire and build a strong educational foundation for young children. Celebrate this holiday with us by arranging for your child to come into the office, or to follow you on your daily tasks. We’re sure it will have a positive lasting effect!

This national holiday in the U.S. gives children a glimpse into the working world.  Gloria Steinem created the day in 1992. It focuses on taking your children to work to inspire youngsters into future job opportunities and the significance of education.

History of Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day

Created in New York City in 1992, Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day was not always as the name insists. The day was initially just for girls and was called Take Our Daughters to Work Day. The effect of the day was explosive and so it was then expanded in 2003 to include boys. Most companies agreed to accommodate any child, and the day was renamed to ‘‘Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day’’ and now occurs every fourth Thursday in April every year.

Take Our Daughters to Work Day was founded by Marie Wilson, president of the MS Foundation for Women, and her colleagues. The program was initially designed to address self-esteem issues in young females, which is why the guys were excluded. Because the curriculum at the time excluded male involvement, educators chose not to participate, causing friction. 

April 22, 1993 kicked off the first initial day and it’s been celebrated since. Parents, schools, and children in over 3.5 million companies across the U.S, celebrate and plan ahead for the day every year. The day is usually scheduled on a school day and schools are tasked with preparing literature to promote the program.

The word ‘our’ references the nation’s children, the country’s daughters and sons which is relevant as the addition of boys was embraced by all in 2003. For this reason, some companies started calling it ‘‘Take Our Children to Work Day.’’

To provide both girls and boys with career opportunities, regardless of gender, flexibility was recommended and needed to prove the initial point of nurturing and inspiring young children. Males who hosted children claimed to have benefitted from being viewed as parental figures as well as being professionals which helped greatly in combating gender stereotypes.

The holiday is a crucial experience for both the parents and children. The child is in a great position to learn in a fun and relaxed environment. The parents get valuable insight into a child’s interests and can empower them to maximise their potential. Workers who hosted children claimed to have benefited from being perceived as parental figures as well as professionals, which considerably aided in promoting this observance.

 

 

Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day timeline

1990s
Sisters Doin It For Themselves

A national conversation begins on what was next for feminism.

1992
Take Our Daughters to Work Day is established

Take Our Daughters to Work Day is founded by the Ms. Foundation for Women in New York City.

2003
Boys Arrive are Invited to the Party

Take Our Daughters to Work Day includes boys for the first time.

2007
Can’t Hold Her Down

MacArthur Genius Award recipient, Carolyn McKecuen, becomes TODTW’s Executive Director.

2018
Credit, Where Credits Due

VISA honors the day by welcoming 2,500 children into their offices.

April 2020
Pandemic Precaution

Due to the coronavirus, a precautionary measure is taken to postpone the day this year.

Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day FAQs

What day is National Bring Your Child to Work Day?

Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day is observed on the fourth Thursday of April every year.

What is the purpose of Take Your Child to Work Day?

Take Your Child to Work Day, also known as Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, promotes education about the workplace, helps to build self-esteem, and challenge gender-based stereotypes.

How do I plan Take Your Child to Work Day?

If you wish to bring your child to work on Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, first ask your workplace and your child’s school if it’s okay. Next plan out activities for your child to do to help you out in the office while also showing them your colleagues jobs and expanding their minds on their potential career paths.

Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day Activities

  1. Take your child to work

    Employees are encouraged to ask permission first and bring your children to work for the day. If you don’t have a child, you can bring a niece, nephew or friends’ child. Schedule tasks you’d like them to perform, a tour you’d like to lead with them and create an itinerary bound to leave them thinking about this day for some time.

  2. Share your day

    Share the outcome of your day online. Use the hashtag #TakeOurChildrenToWorkDay and chronicle what you and your child got up to during shadowing, what they learned and why the day is such a great incentive to teach our kids about the value of hard work.

  3. Recreate your work at home experience

    If your company is following a work from home policy then you can make up typical activities that you might do at your workplace and complete those activities with your child.

5 Facts About Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work Day

  1. The Office

    ‘‘Take your Daughter to Work Day’’ is episode 18 of Season 2 of ‘The Office’’

  2. Open Door Policy

    3.5 million workplaces participate in this day every year.

  3. Staff Celebs

    The theme for 2020 was ‘‘Meet the Workplace Superstars.’’

  4. Age-based

    To participate in the day, school participants must be between the ages of 8-18.

  5. Classroom Goals

    The day is set to be on a school day every day, so children can go to school on Friday, share their experience and apply it in the classroom.

Why We Love Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day

  1. How to Save a Life

    Employees are encouraged to specifically invite underprivileged children to participate in the program. This is to provide career options and to promote and encourage self-esteem in light of financial barriers. People are urged to recruit disadvantaged youngsters to shadow them during their workday. This helps to provide professional exposure as well as to promote and foster self-esteem.

  2. It helps the children understand the scope of work

    Children get to learn about the scope of work and how work is completed in an organization. This is a great incentive for all children to enjoy the potential of exploring career options through parents. The observance allows children to experience the work environment. Kids can feed their curiosity and learn new things to get them started on the right path.

  3. Family is Family

    Children can also go to work on the day with uncles, aunts or grandparents. As long as they have permission from parents, accompanying relatives is allowed so children can explore careers in fields they look up to. This holiday is the perfect excuse to spend more time with the kids. They get to have fun and see you in your element.

Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day dates

YearDateDay
2022April 28Thursday
2023April 27Thursday
2024April 25Thursday
2025April 24Thursday
2026April 23Thursday
2027April 22Thursday
2028April 27Thursday
2029April 26Thursday
2030April 25Thursday

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