April is an important month because we focus on making sure kids stay safe and feel loved. It’s called Child Abuse Prevention Month. But what is child abuse? It’s when someone hurts a kid on purpose. It’s not just hitting or hurting them physically. It can also be saying mean things or making them feel scared or sad all the time. Child Abuse Prevention Month reminds us that we all need to work together to keep kids safe and happy.
So, what can we do to help? There are lots of things! First, we can learn about what abuse is and how to know if it’s happening. Then, if we see or hear something that doesn’t seem right, we can tell a grown-up we trust, like a parent, teacher, or neighbor. They can help make things better.
In our program, we’re doing fun things with families to show we care about keeping kids safe. We’ll talk about being nice to each other, listening when kids need to talk, and letting kids know they can ask for help if they need it.
One fun thing we’re doing is making pinwheels together! Pinwheels are like spinning toys that remind us to keep kids safe and happy. Each time the pinwheel spins, it’s like sending a wish for kids to have a great life full of love and joy. We’ll decorate our pinwheels with bright colors and happy messages to remind us all to be kind and caring. Let’s work together to make sure every kid feels safe and loved.
We’re also excited about a special event called the Week of the Young Child. It’s a whole week of celebrating how awesome little kids are! During this week, we celebrate early learning, young children, their teachers, families, and communities. The Week of the Young Child FREE Family Fun Fair will be taking place at Northwest Community Center Corbett Building 1325 N Johnston Ave, Rockford IL on April 13th, 9:00 am-12:00 pm. We hope to see you there!
-YWCA Northwestern Illinois Healthy Families Home Visiting Program
