April – What will you observe this month?
If you want to get involved in a cause, celebrate something or just offer recognition, there are several topics you can observe this month.
April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. This is an effort to increase public awareness about protecting children from abuse and neglect. To learn more, go to http://www.preventchildabuse.org/publications/cap/index.shtml
April is National Volunteer Month. What a wonderful opportunity to teach your children the value of volunteering in their community.
April is National Poetry Month. It’s a good time to exercise the creative part of your mind. When I was in middle school, a visiting writer encouraged our class to go outside and explore the world around us, from a blade of grass to the clouds in the sky … and to write about what we saw, smelled and felt.
Did you know there are days within April that also commemorate food?
April 12 is National Licorice Day, as well as National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day. But, I think I’ll hold out for Friday, April 13: National Peach Cobbler Day!
Your pets won’t be left out, either. April is National Pet First Aid Awareness Month and National Heartworm Awareness Month.
And, though Earth Day falls on April 22, we can spend the whole month exploring the value of protecting the world where we live. Something as simple as planting a tree or flowers can be a learning experience for our children.
I hope you enjoy this month of awareness and observance.
–Linda Lynn
Follow me on Twitter: @OKNewsResearch
Help prevent child abuse
According to Oklahoma Department of Human Services, there were more than 11,700 confirmations of child abuse and/or neglect in Oklahoma in 2008. In 2007, 39 died as a result of abuse or neglect. To read the full report, click here.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and there are a lot of events and programs planned to bring awareness to this devastating problem.
The Kelsey Briggs Foundation is having a Child Abuse Prevention/Family Safety Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Woodland Park in Shawnee. OU football players will be there and there will be car seat checks, live music, guest speakers, booths, food and much more. Click here for more information.
At UCO, Building a Blue Ribbon Tree will start at 8 a.m. April 14 with volunteers tying blue ribbons at 8 a.m. along the trees of Broncho Lake. At 11 a.m., children from UCO’s Child Study Center will lead a parade. Visitors will then be encouraged to tie blue ribbons on trees to represent children who have been abused. For more information, contact Kaye Sears at 974-5786 or ksears@uco.edu.
You can also build a blue a ribbon tree in your own neighborhood. Anyone can do this, anywhere. Click here for more information.
The Oklahoma County Kids Task Force has an abundance of information on child abuse prevention, helpful programs, referrals and hot line. They also have opportunities for volunteers to get involved in the fight against child abuse. Go to http://okcountykids.org.
Anything we can do to just help one child is worth it. Let’s cherish our little ones and remember just how young and innocent they are.
-Erica Smith
esmith@opubco.com
