A pinwheel can symbolize the notions of playfulness, joy and childhood, but in the month of April, it’s used to bring awareness to an issue that’s more serious.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month.
President Ronald Reagan made the designation in 1983, and in 2008, Prevent Child Abuse America declared the pinwheel as the national symbol for child abuse prevention, in particular blue pinwheels because blue represents innocence.
Prevent Child Abuse America says some of the signs of child abuse include withdrawl from friends and usual activities, changes in behavior or school performance, depression, anxiety, unusual fears or a sudden loss of self-confidence, frequent absences from school, causing self-harm and attempting to run away.
If you suspect child abuse is happening to someone, contact either law enforcement or your local child protective services office.
The Children’s Advocacy Center says a child is abused or neglected once every 47 seconds, and more than 3-million children are subjects of at least one child abuse case each year.
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Last modified: April 20, 2022