Times have changed from when we grew up. Many of us who take the time to read our favorite supplier’s blog came of age at a time of rapid technological evolution. As our access to computers and the Internet grew, it became a key divider between the baby boomers and our generation. Fast forward a couple of decades and technology has penetrated all avenues of our life. Good or bad, the world is a different place for children now. July is Make a Difference to Children Month, and it’s the perfect time to ask: have we made the world better?
There’s evidence to suggest we haven’t. A recent study found that childhood obesity is on the rise1. The Children’s Defense Fund publishes an interesting array of stats about children in the U.S.2. Some of the highlights include:
- More than 1.5 million children enrolled in public schools experienced homelessness during the 2017-2018 school year.
- More than 1 in 7 children—10.7 million—were food insecure, meaning they lived in households where not everyone had enough to eat. Black and Hispanic children were twice as likely to live in food-insecure households as white children.
- Center-based child care for an infant cost more than public college tuition in 28 states and the District of Columbia in 2019. More than 80 percent of two-child families were paying more for child care than for rent.
- Despite a 67 percent reduction in child arrests between 2009 and 2019, 530,581 children were arrested in the U.S and a child or teen was arrested every 59 seconds.
Let’s all try to do something to make lives better for children this month!
What Can You Do?
There are many ways you can work to make a difference to children. As part of our Caresfield Cares program, Caresfield donated to support the work of Kasper Wang at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. You can consider supporting a charity through financial donations. Some options include:
- Save the Children – Health, education, protection and emergency response programs
- Children in Crisis – Providing homes and keeping siblings together
- Alliance for Children – Protection from child abuse
If you need more help finding an organization to donate to, you can visit Charity Navigator and search for “Children.”
There are also a bevy of organizations who rely on volunteer labor to help children. At Caresfield, one of our favorites is Feed My Starving Children. You work together to pack containers of food that are shipped to needy children around the world. You could also consider volunteering for a children’s hospital in your area. Or look for an organization like Crisis Nursery where you can shop for groceries, cook, garden or even mow playgrounds.
Interacting with Children
If you decide to interact directly with kids, it can be hard to get comfortable. Relax! One of the easiest ways to connect with children is to listen. Let them feel heard and don’t be afraid to let your guard down. Be positive and have fun. If you need some extra tips to prepare, Dr. Sears has 25 ways to talk so kids will listen.
No matter your interests or situations in life, there are many ways to make a difference to children. We hope you will take part in Make a Difference to Children Month with us!
Learn more about our Caresfield Cares program.
Sources
- Cunnimgham, Hardy, Jones, Ng, Kramer and Narayan, Changes in the Incidence of Childhood Obesity, https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/doi/10.1542/peds.2021-053708/188480/Changes-in-the-Incidence-of-Childhood-Obesity, American Academy of Pediatrics, accessed July 7, 2022
- The State of America’s Children® 2021, https://www.childrensdefense.org/state-of-americas-children/soac-2021-overview, Children’s Defense Fund, Accessed July 7, 2022
