National 'Bring Your Child to Work Day' Slated for Thursday, April 23

Bring Your Child to Work Day 2009 is almost upon us, falling on April 23 this year. Each year, the "bring your child to work" day falls on the 4th Thursday of April, and this year it's going to fall on the 23rd of April. Many may know it better as "bring your daughter to work day" or "bring your son to work day", but they are the same thing. However you choose to look at the title of the day, it is a great opportunity to involve kids in learning what their parents do for a living, and gives them a view of what the workplace looks like.

The yearly event is always a lot of fun when kids are brought into the office, but it's probably a good idea to check with the bosses to make sure that doing so isn't going to cause any problems. Some workplaces just aren't child-friendly, and bringing them into the mix can cause frustrations from co-workers or become serious safety issues if you are not careful. But if your workplace loves having kids come in to visit, or simply doesn't mind, this is a great opportunity to jump at the chance, and allows parents to spend an extra day with their kid in a more professional setting.

This isn't just a half-hazard idea either, as there is actually a Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Foundation, which seeks to impress the importance or advantages of being able to shadow an adult in a workplace setting. It isn't just set up as a way for kids to have a "career day" out at a real job, but to get involved with their parents or mentors and see what they are actually doing all day. When a parent leaves in the morning and comes back late at night, it may leave questions as to what they do all day, and the best way to give answers to children is to present them with the chance to see for themselves. The foundation preaches that message, and envisions this as a yearly event that parents can enjoy with their kids.

Speaking from experience, this can be a very enjoyable opportunity for a kid to participate in, and there really isn't an age limit that those participating are restricted to. Whether they are eight years old or in high school, this can provide a rare opportunity to get involved with what a parent does, and if they are excited about the opportunity, it could turn into an idea of where they want to see themselves in 20 years. The opportunities are limitless with something like this, and the kids and parents that take advantage of April 23rds Bring Your Child to Work Day will probably remember it for the rest of their lives.

Source: Daughters and Sons to work web-site