Children of every age get the spotlight on Wednesday, August 11, 2027, National Son and Daughter Day. New survey data show how close many families really are.
Which Day Is National Son and Daughter Day?
August 11. Its founder isn’t documented, and no official body sponsors it.
No Founder, but a Clear Picture of Families
The day has no recorded origin. What it celebrates, the bond between parents and children, shows up plainly in Census Bureau and Pew Research Center data.
Where children live
Two parents are the norm for young kids. In 2023, 75% of kids under 6 lived with two parents, the U.S. Census Bureau reports, compared with 68% of teens ages 12 to 17.
More are growing up with unmarried parents. About 3.2 million kids lived with cohabiting parents in 2023, up from about 2.2 million in 2007.
Grown sons and daughters
Pew surveyed parents of young adults ages 18 to 34 in late 2023, along with young adults themselves.
Parents were the sunnier side. Some 77% rated their relationship with their grown child excellent or very good, while 59% of young adults said the same about their parents.
Contact is frequent. Nearly three in four parents text a young adult child a few times a week or more, and 54% talk by phone that often.
In the past year, 59% of parents helped their child financially. Only 45% of young adults called themselves completely independent.
Home is a common address, too. Among 18- to 24-year-olds, 57% live in a parent’s home, up from 53% in 1993. Of those living at home, 72% chip in on expenses.
Sons and daughters aren’t treated the same
Gaps showed up by gender. Parents were more likely to track a daughter’s location with a GPS app, 31% compared with 21% for sons.
Support runs both ways. Among young adults, 44% of daughters said their mom leans on them emotionally, versus 25% of sons.
Moms come out ahead overall. Some 63% of young adults rated their relationship with their mother excellent or very good, compared with 53% for their father.
Why the Day Matters to Families
Young adults mostly feel at ease at home. In Pew’s survey, 69% said they can be their true selves with their parents all or most of the time.
Few feel smothered, either. Only 9% said their parents are too involved, while 22% wished they were more involved.
Life milestones arrive later than they used to. In 1993, half of 25- to 29-year-olds were married; by 2023, just 29% were.
Many parents feel the stakes, too. Some 71% say their children’s successes and failures reflect on their parenting.
Ways to Mark National Son and Daughter Day
- Call instead of texting, since parents text grown kids far more often than they phone.
- Ask your son or daughter how involved they’d like you to be, then listen.
- If you’re the grown child, check in on your mom, who may lean on you more than you think.
- Talk openly about money goals, since fewer than half of young adults feel fully independent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do young adults expect to become financially independent?
Three in four of those not yet independent expect to get there eventually.
Do grown kids lean on parents emotionally?
Often. About 41% of parents say their young adult children rely on them a great deal or a fair amount.
Did parents prepare their kids for independence?
Most think so: 86% of parents say they did at least a fair amount. Only 66% of young adults agree.
How big was Pew’s survey?
It polled 3,017 parents and 1,495 young adults from different families.