Children from the North Ward Center's preschool in Newark planted colorful pinwheels in their playground today in observance of Child Abuse Prevention Month.
"Pinwheels remind us of carefree, happy childhoods," said Vanessa Bohler, director of the North Ward Center Family Success Center, who organized the event. "Pinwheels symbolize of the kind of childhood every kid deserves."
The North Ward Center is partnering with Prevent Child Abuse New Jersey for its Pinwheels for Prevention campaign, which offers citizens, businesses and community groups an opportunity to make a difference for the children in their neighborhood.
The goal of Child Abuse Prevention Month during April is to promote positive childhood outcomes and ensure that every child benefits from a happy, healthy and safe childhood.
"We have a shared responsibility and privilege to ensure that kids benefit from healthy and encouraging childhoods," said Theresa McCutcheon, a spokeswoman for Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey. "The North Ward Community Center's pinwheel garden is a visible promise to making that happen for the children in their community."
As part of Child Abuse Prevention Month, parents of children enrolled in the preschool signed cards called a "Promise for Prevention," said Liana Rodriguez, the director of the preschool at 298 Mount Prospect Avenue. The cards encourage parents to listen to a child, make special time for children, run an errand for a new mother in the neighborhood.
Michele Sceppaguercio, the director of the North Ward Child Development Center, said everyone in the community has an important role in making sure child abuse is prevented.
"When we work together to promote healthy parent-child interactions, early reading opportunities and positive, constructive play, we actually support child development and healthy family relationships," Sceppaguercio said. "These are the types of actions that help to prevent child abuse and neglect."
About 90 children from the North Ward Child Development Center's preschool at 298 Mount Prospect Avenue planted pinwheels in the playground behind their building. Afterwards, the children celebrated with cake and cookies.
The North Ward Center operates preschools at five separate locations serving nearly 700 children. The North Ward Center runs the largest Abbott preschool in the state.
Adrianne Davis, the executive director of the North Ward Center, said incidents of child abuse and neglect will decrease when the well-being of children and families is the priority of everyone in the community.
"Other good things also happen for families, including better health outcomes, improved school performance and stronger economic self-sufficiency," Davis said. "This is what we've been promoting at the North Ward Center for the last 40 years."
