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Take Your Child to Work Day Facts

Take Your Child to Work Day Facts
In the United States, Australia, and Canada there is a non-profit educational program called Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day. Originally this celebration was called Take Our Daughters to Work Day. It was created by Ms. Foundation for Women and the organization's president Marie C. Wilson in 1992 along with Gloria Steinem's support. April 22, 1993 was the first observance of the celebration. In 2003 the celebration was changed to include boys and the name changed to Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day. In the United States the celebration occurs on the 4th Thursday in April each year. In Australia the celebration occurs on January 5th, and in Canada the day is observed on or around November 7th each year.
Interesting Take Your Child to Work Day Facts:
The program was originally developed to address research that showed that a lot of young girls lacked confidence and were drop-outs by grade eight.
Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Days are usually scheduled to fall on a school day in the United States so that teachers are able to promote the program and encourage children's career exploration.
On Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day is a day for parents to take their children to work to learn about career opportunities.
Employees are also encouraged to invite underprivileged children from shelters or residential programs to participate in Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, in an effort to encourage self-esteem and provide career exploration opportunities that they might not otherwise have due to financial and social barriers.
Although the program wasn't officially expanded to include boys until 2003, many workplaces that took part in the program allowed boys to participate as well. Because of this many people have referred to the day as Take Your Child to Work Day.
Children can also go to work with relatives other than their parents, such as aunts, uncles and grandparents, if they are interested in exploring careers in their fields as well.
In 2007 Carolyn McKecuen became the Executive Director of the Take Our Sons and Daughters to Work Day program.
It is estimated that in the United States more than 3.5 million employers and more than 37 million employees take part in the Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day program.
Children that participate in the program are encouraged to write about their experience and share it with their classmates the next day at school. This allows more children to learn about career options that they might not otherwise think of.
The suggested age of participants is 8 to 18.
The program suggests that a child is exposed to many different workplaces over the years, as opposed to returning to the same one each year. For this to happen parents should encourage that their children go to work with other adults as well, such as family friends, relatives, and even neighbors who are willing to participate.
If a child is not interested in their parents' work, they should be allowed to choose another mentor for the day.


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