It’s an organized way to actually show our kids what we do on the job and why—that there really are a lot of good reasons why Mommy and Daddy go to work. It's National Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, happening Thursday, April 25. With its strong emphasis on the connection between education and the working world, the day is chock-full of learning opportunities for kids that shouldn’t be missed. And this year marks the national initiative’s twentieth anniversary. 

Started in 1993 by Gloria Steinem as Take Our Daughters to Work Day, the aim was to address girls’ low self-esteem and significant drop-out rates by helping girls learn about their career options. Since its inception, the purpose of Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day has expanded, both by allowing the participation of boys in 2003 and by becoming an interactive, hands-on learning experience that goes beyond kids simply shadowing their parents.

The Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day program strives to show kids the value of their education and where it can take them. Moreover, by showing children that work, too, can be challenging, the program can help kids understand the power of work life balance. It also encourages kids to start thinking about where they see themselves in the future and what they must do to get there. With 37 million people participants in the U.S. just last year, this purpose has been well-received.

Unfortunately, Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, which always falls on the fourth Thursday of April, coincides this year with New York, Florida and other states' required school testing, preventing many students from participating. But for those who are able to celebrate, we encourage you to take part. Along with providing extra bonding time with kids, it also broadens their horizons about your work and future career opportunities, all with the help of their most important role models—their parents.  

For resources and tips on how to participate in Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, visit the Foundation’s website here.

Will you be taking your kid to work this Thursday? Let us know in the comments below!