Join thousands of communities throughout North Carolina and the nation in recognizing Child Abuse Prevention Month with a pinwheel garden. The pinwheel is the national symbol of child abuse prevention.  Displaying a pinwheel garden is a sign of your commitment to child abuse prevention in our Polk County community.

While the pinwheel creates a memorable and compelling visual, it is the story behind the pinwheel that has the biggest effect.  Shining in the sun, the pinwheel is reflective of the bright future all children deserve and our belief that getting it right early is less costly than trying to fix it later.

Research shows that adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) like child abuse and neglect result in toxic stress that damages children’s developing brain architecture. Supportive, nurturing relationships with caregivers, however, build strong brain architecture and are essential for healthy growth and development. 

Local businesses and individuals can join the cause by ordering pinwheels for their own displays during April. Pinwheels are 12 inches in height, made from plastic and Mylar, are 100 percent recyclable, and come in cases of 48 or in a smaller kit for those who want to make a statement at home! The Pinwheel Home Kit includes 24 pinwheels and a 14 by 14 inch yard sign and stake for you to display as a sign of your commitment to child abuse prevention at your home or apartment. Some organizations have chosen to create pinwheel gardens, while others distribute the pinwheels to customers and friends.

To order pinwheels and to help support prevention efforts in Polk County, contact Be A Voice 4 Kids (828-817-4267). Deadline for ordering pinwheels through Be A Voice 4 Kids is March 22, 2017.

Pinwheels for Prevention® is a national campaign to create awareness of the role all adults play in the healthy development and growth of our nation’s children. The pinwheel symbolizes the childlike notions of a carefree, happy, healthy childhood, and serves as a reminder of the great childhoods we want for all children.

For more information about Pinwheels for Prevention® in North Carolina visit www.preventchildabusenc.org or call 919-829-8009.

– article submitted by Mary Edwards