Every year, June is a month dedicated to a generation of leaders who will shape the future. That is the focus of this unique month — Children’s Awareness Month. Did anyone realize the name “June” has a connection to “children?” It comes from the Latin term “Ju-Ven-Is,” which means “youth.” For this reason, June is designated as a month of celebration and attention to children every year. Children represent the greatest promise of a country’s tomorrow.
Childhood is a key time in life for everyone. This is the point when one’s social, emotional, and physical health, as well as their economic situation can be determined. In reality, young children at the start of their learning stage who receive a high-quality education gain enormous benefits. This improves academic performance later in life, better chances of attending college, and a higher lifetime income.
The Creation of Children’s Awareness Month
Children’s Awareness Month was originally set up in the loving memory of all the youth who have lost their lives in America in violent deaths. However, it has grown into something far larger. Children’s Awareness Month evolved into a celebration of the joys and treasures of childhood. This month is dedicated to encouraging, supporting, and educating children while emphasizing their health and well-being.
Furthermore, children are the future of the world. How children grow, is what will lead the future and the world. For this, people should create safe spaces for youth and do their part to make the community better. Many children do not have leadership or somebody’s footsteps to follow in.
This can create more children who lose their lives far too early, or who waste the opportunities in their future. Children will copy everything that an adult demonstrates to them, so it is most likely that they will think it’s the right thing to do.
Social Issues for Youth in Chicago
Some of the top social issues for youth said by adults are violence, inequality, and other social and economic factors of health.
- The use of weapons was chosen as the number one social worry for Chicago adolescents by Chicago adults this year, regardless of respondent race/ethnicity, gender, age, health status, household income, or parental status (parent/non-parent).
- The second most often mentioned social issue was health disparities, or children of color having poorer health than White children.
- Racism is the third most frequent social problem among young people.
- Poverty ranked fourth on the list. It was seen that it was a big issue for Chicago adolescents among Black (76%), Latinx (68%), White (67%), and Asian/Other-race (63%) adults.
- Bullying and cyberbullying ranked fifth among the city’s youth social concerns.
- Lack of parental support and involvement is the sixth most generally recognized associated social concern for youth.
- The eighth top social worry among Chicago children, like the seventh, was a lack of career options for teens.
- Social media was the ninth problem.
- School violence was the tenth most common social worry among Chicago children.
Leadership for the Youth
A supportive home, positive friendships, a solid education, and professional opportunities all work together to assure excellent results for adolescents, not only in terms of delinquency but also of substance misuse, violent conduct, adolescent pregnancy, and school dropout.
In all, it is crucial to know the importance of children and youths. Being more aware of what is right and wrong shows adolescents that there is a time for everything. It is essential for parents to have an open mentality and help their children succeed so that when they leave they can be able to go out into the world by themselves.
By Kelianexis Rodriguez
NATIONAL DAY: Children’s Awareness Month – June 2023
PSYCENTRAL: Modeling Behavior for Children Has Long-Lasting Effects
YOS.ORG:Top10 Social Issues For Youth in Chicago
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Steven A.J. Beijer Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image Courtesy of Simon King Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
