William Penn Life, 2004 (39. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2004-05-01 / 5. szám
1 National KidsDay: A time to celebrate and honor our youth First, there was Mother's Day. Then came Father's Day. Now, a growing grassroots movement to honor America's children continues with the observance of the fourth annual National KidsDay on Sunday, Aug.l. National KidsDay is a day set aside each year to celebrate and honor America's children by spending meaningful time with them. It's about celebrating kids-your children, your grandchildren, or any child in need of mentoring. National KidsDay is celebrated annually on the first Sunday in August. Why do we need a National KidsDay? Sure, everyday may seem like "kids' day." As adults, we often serve as chauffeurs, maids and referees, but that's not what National KidsDay is all about. Research shows that when adults spend meaningful time with kids, it helps them develop a positive self-image and a sense of belonging, usefulness and purpose. The Families and Work Institute's study, "Ask the Children," found that while children are happy with the amount of time their parents spend with them, they wish the time together was not rushed, but focused and rich in shared activities. In 2002, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and KidsPeace commissioned the first-ever National KidsDay Meaningful Time Survey, to help identify how adults and children define quality time. The study discovered that adults and children agree that meaningful time can be defined as "time spent between adults and children that both consider engaging, important, and enjoyable." As a result, National KidsDay organizers have developed the Annual Meaningful Time Check-up on U.S. Children and Families, which is designed to provide annual snapshots of how adults spend meaningful time in key areas with children to ensure their physical and emotional well-being. The country's top child experts and youth organizations strongly encourage all American adults to begin taking the annual survey for themselves in order to determine how they can create meaningful time with the children in their lives. Who is behind National KidsDay? The National KidsDay effort is led by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America in partnership with KidsPeace, the National Center for Kids Overcoming Crisis. Additional associations helping to raise awareness and participation for National KidsDay are Association of Children's Museums, Association for Library Service to Children (a division of American Library Association), American Zoo and Aquarium Association, Covering Kids, National Association of Elementary School Principals, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Search Institute and Voices for America's Children. "National KidsDay will help give America another opportunity to let children know they are special and loved, whether they are our own children, our grandchildren or any child," said KidsPeace President & CEO C.T. O'Donnell II. "In an often confusing and ever-more complicated world, this knowledge helps give kids peace." Since the inaugural National KidsDay in 2001, over 4,000 communities across the country have celebrated this day. This year, National KidsDay celebrations will take place on Sunday, Aug. 1, in hundreds of cities across America. Special National KidsDay events are scheduled for the Ellipse in Washington, D.C.; the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club in NYC/Bronx; and in Los Angeles at the Santa Monica Pier. First Lady Laura Bush is serving as honorary chair for National KidsDay. "This is a day to reinforce that children matter -that their ideas and dreams are important and worthwhile. I hope National KidsDay becomes one of the greatest days of the summer for America's children," Mrs. Bush said. M Charity Links To find out more information on local National KidsDay events, tips on creating your own celebration or to find information on the Annual Meaningful Time Checkup, visit the KidsDay web site at: O www.kidsday.net 8 Williu Pen Life, May 2004
