National Sons Day
National Sons Day is mostly celebrated on September 28. However, there is some debate around the date for National Sons Day. Since 2018 many also recognize March 4th as the official National Sons Day.
Whichever date you choose, the main thing to remember is that it is a day to show appreciation for the boys in our lives, and for the parents of boys to reflect on how they are raising their children.
All any parent want is for their children to grow up into people they can be proud of. Boys especially need strong role models to look up to who will help them grow into confident, disciplined, and empathetic adult men.
National Sons Day is a day to ensure that boys all over the country are getting the foundations, education, and all the support they need to have the best possible life as they grow up. 
How It All Started
The first attempt to create a National Sons Day occurred in the 1990s. At that time, there was a growing desire for a day dedicated to sons, paralleling the already established National Take Your Daughter to Work Day. In response, a group called National Sons Day launched National Take Your Sons to Work Day in 1998. This initiative aimed to provide sons with the same opportunities for exposure to their parents' workplaces, fostering bonding and career inspiration. However, in 2003, it was decided to merge the two observances, resulting in a unified National Take Your Daughters and Sons to Work Day.
The idea of specifically celebrating sons re-emerged in 2018, spearheaded by Jill Nico. As a mother of sons, Jill Nico felt the need for a day that would honor sons and recognize the efforts of those who raise them, akin to National Daughters Day.
To promote this initiative, she created a Facebook page called National Sons Day, advocating for the celebration and garnering support. Since 2018, many people have chosen to celebrate National Sons Day on March 4, embracing the opportunity to highlight the unique joys and challenges of raising sons and to honor their contributions to families and society.
4 Fun Things to do on National Sons Day
- This is the perfect day to take some time to be with your sons. Talk to them about their school and life, learn more about them and their ambitions, and try to open the way to always have good communication between you. Make sure they know how supportive you are by letting them know that you’re always there for them.
- You can also show them how much you appreciate them by taking them to do their favorite activity. Whether that is going to the movies, going shopping, playing games or sports, or cooking, just make sure to spend some quality time together.
- Apart from reflecting on the way that you are raising them from an emotional and personal perspective, you can also take this day to teach them some smaller, practical life skills, such as changing a tire, doing some DIY, and cooking a simple meal. Anything that will help them grow into a better, more confident person.
Why National Sons Day Is More Important Than You Think
As the years pass, raising boys presents an increasing number of challenges. Parents must recognize that bringing up boys in today's world requires significant guidance and communication. This understanding underscores the importance of National Sons Day. Boys often face numerous stereotypes about what it means to be a man, leading to potential struggles with identity and self-worth. It is the parents' responsibility to navigate their sons through these challenges, instilling values and kindness along the way.
Both parents play an equally critical role in the emotional development of boys. Boys thrive when they have strong, healthy relationships with both their mother and father, as each parent offers unique contributions to their upbringing. Cultivating these bonds is essential, as the absence of a mother or father figure can lead to developmental issues later in life.
Ultimately, the role of a parent is both challenging and profoundly important. The dedication and effort you invest in raising your son will not only reflect your parenting skills but also help him grow into an upstanding and respected member of society.
You don't raise heroes, you raise sons. And if you treat them like sons, they'll turn out to be heroes, even if it's just in your own eyes.
Walter M. Schirra
Challenges Faced by Boys
- As per statistics, physical bullying is more common among boys (6 percent) than girls (4 percent).
- According to News Medical, while more girls tend to have depression, boys are more likely to exhibit antisocial behaviors and engage in substance abuse.
- As per UNESCO records, around 132 million boys do not attend school globally. Moreover, the number of boys who complete higher education is also less. This can be attributed to gender norms which create a lot of pressure on boys regarding jobs and income.
- Studies also reveal that a greater number of boys suffer from behavioral and emotional problems compared to girls.
If you have a daughter, or a son and a daughter, don’t forget to celebrate the following dates:
- National Son and Daughter Day on August 11.
- National Daughters Day on September 25.
