New York, New York. May 5, 2011 —
Everyone knows there’s a Mother’s Day and a Father’s Day. But how about a Kid’s Day? Surprise, surprise, there is, and the fact that no one knows about it is only part of the problem according to Lyle Benjamin, Director of the non-profit educational organization, “16 Things Kids Can Do.”
Benjamin thinks that kids are getting a raw deal from their parents, adults, and society in general. Benjamin states that if kids are so important then how come we fall so short when it comes time to acknowledge the work kid’s do, showing them respect for their ideas and efforts, and rewarding them appropriately and consistently for their good behavior?
Benjamin believes that as this generation of children grows into adults they will contend with an array of the most difficult problems this country has faced over an extended period of time on core issues such as Nutrition, Health, Education, Environmental and Life Skills.
While parents, schools and religious organizations do their best to educate their youth, there is no concerted effort to engage the children in a unified systematic approach while at the same time acknowledging, educating, and rewarding these children for their efforts in exploring, learning, and working towards solutions to problems they effectively inherited.
Having the President establish August as NATIONAL KID’S AWARENESS, ACTIVITIES AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT MONTH coincides with the kids, parents and school schedules, and provides a pathway to growth, development, maturity and success that will have tremendous rewards during the following school-year, and beyond for all concerned.
Benjamin proposed that each week in August would focus on one of four key issues:
Week 1: Health & Fitness
Week 2: Nutrition & Wellness
Week 3: Public Service
Week 4: Literacy & Life Skills
Organizations, companies, agencies, and associations would sponsor sanctioned events, workshops, seminars, meetings, activities and programs relating to these areas. Additionally, both programs and parents are encouraged to acknowledge and reward individual achievements at various points along the process.
The on-going goals of NATIONAL KID’S AWARENESS, ACTIVITIES AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT MONTH are to:
(1) Bring additional attention to these subjects,
(2) Create educational mechanisms that encourage voluntary participation by kids,
(3) Acknowledge said participation, and lastly,
(4) Foster attitudes and environments that help perpetuate commitment to these issues.
To help generate grassroot support for the program, Benjamin has created and organized a letter writing campaign
at www.16ThingsKidsCanDo.Org where kids, parents and concerned citizens can create custom letters not only to the President, but to Celebrities, Athletes, Politicians and Movers & Shakers — such as Oprah, Bill Gates, Sarah Palin, Michelle Obama, Deter Jeter, Tim Tebow, Nicole Kidman, Tom Cruise, Miley Cyrus, Lady GaGa, Dr. Phil, Rachel Ray, and even companies, sports teams and organizations like the Girl Scouts and YMCA — enlisting their aid in petitioning the President on behalf of the program.
People of all ages are also encouraged to express support for the program by shooting and posting their own videos to the web site and though You Tube.
“16 Things Kids Can Do” is a 501(c)(3) educational non-profit organization whose Mission Statement is to provide an on-going network of books, programs, events, and activities that educates and empowers Kids, People and The Planet to be proactive on a host of fundamental issues on subjects like health, nutrition, education, business, the environment, life skills and volunteering. And when kids and people are empowered, they can help change family, peer and world dynamics as well.
For more information, contact Lyle Benjamin, the program’s Director, at (828) 398-4883, or by email at [email protected].
