No Kid Hungry
Supporting our Communities at Primrose Schools of Frisco West, Klyde Warren Park, Park Cities, Plano at Preston Meadow, and Prestonwood
No child should go hungry in America, but in the wake of the pandemic, one in four children could face hunger this year. Over the past few months, COVID-19 has set back a decade of progress in the battle to end childhood hunger, forcing many families to abruptly face hunger. And with numerous school districts making the difficult decision to go completely virtual, the millions of children who rely on school for their meals are at greater risk. By the end of April 2020, more than one in five households in the United States, and two in five households with mothers with children 12 and under, were food insecure.
Food insecurity is defined as limited or uncertain access to food. Food insecurity is a household-level economic and social condition of limited access to adequate food. It is distinct from hunger, an individual-level physiological condition that may result from food insecurity. Research shows that children from homes lacking consistent access to food are more likely to repeat a grade and experience developmental impairments in areas such as motor skills, language & behavior. Without proper nutrients, children are unable to focus, learn and develop to their full potential.
Especially in today’s world, it is important take purposeful steps to help children grow up to be compassionate and generous human beings. Children who learn the value of giving back at a young age are better able to develop a sense of empathy and citizenship. In addition, research shows that young children who have high prosocial skills – or behaviors meant to benefit another – are also among the most cognitively ready for school.
Encouraging children to contribute to the well-being of the family at a young age – by taking care of the family’s pets, helping parents care for younger siblings and performing household chores – teaches them the importance of giving back, and, more importantly, the sense of fulfillment derived from helping others.
Parents can use the following tips to help nurture selflessness and generosity in children at home:
- Model kindness to your child and others. Let your child see you offering to help a neighbor or co-worker and express to him or her the happiness you feel when helping others.
- Remind your child how helping benefits others. Include your child in simple activities by asking for help. For instance, you might say, “Who wants to be my special helper today and help carry laundry to the washer? We won’t have clean clothes without you!” Or, “The dog looks hungry. I bet he’d really appreciate it if you gave him his food and water.”
- Acknowledge helpful behavior. Show your appreciation and explain why it was helpful to you. For example, rather than just saying “Thank you,” instead say, “Thank you for helping me carry the dishes to the kitchen without being asked. That saved me a lot of time.”
- Encourage giving. If another child doesn’t have a toy to play with, suggest that your child offer up a toy so they can both have something fun to play with.
- Avoid rewarding generosity. Avoid material rewards for helping and giving behaviors. Treats for good deeds may work in the short term, but over time children may become less generous when the rewards stop.
As part of our mission to forge a path that leads to a brighter future for all children, the Primrose Schools Children’s Foundation has partnered with No Kid Hungry, donating $250,000 toward programs helping to provide children with the healthy food they need to thrive. Food is the most important school supply – whether students are learning at home or in school.
Compassion and generosity are important traits for every person to have. Helping young children learn the joy and fulfillment of lending a helping hand to others will empower them to make a difference in the world, both as children and adults. Over the next few months, Primrose Schools is committed to raising awareness around the important topic of food insecurity in our nation. All children deserve the proper tools to thrive, and that starts with nutritional food. Learn more and join us as we work to help end childhood hunger.
For more helpful parenting tips and information, visit our blog at www.PrimroseSchools.com/blog and sign up for the Pointers for Parents newsletter.
Dr. Pratiksha Rigley, Franchise Owner
(some content taken from this article by Jo Kirchner, Chief Executive Officer, Primrose Schools, and this article from Save the Children)