MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and the Month of the Military Child. To bring together these important events, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni has put together a variety of venues to commemorate the occasion.
Children from little tykes to young adults will be recognized for their efforts in supporting the Marine Corps mission with five days of events starting April 5th.
"Last year we had events throughout the whole month, but this year we wanted to consolidate it into the spring break so the kids would be busy," said Sean KimHan, Marine Corps Community Services youth activities supervisor.
Activities filling the days off from school will be for children of all ages, said KimHan.
"There will be something for everyone. McGruff visits, sporting events, field trips; we are trying to cover everyone's interests," he said.
The attention to the kids is in part of a military wide effort to recognize the children of service members and the sacrifices they make.
According to KimHan, it is easily forgotten that the parents aren't the only ones forfeiting privileges in support of our nation's freedom.
"Mothers and fathers are trying to accomplish the mission, but their job would be so much harder if they didn't have the support of their family. Children play vital roles in the military and they deserve to be recognized for it," said KimHan.
April also serves as child abuse awareness month, a problem, which fortunately has been decreasing in the recent years, said Mary Page, MCCS Personal Services Intervention & Treatment Branch supervising psychologist.
"In the past five years, child abuse has gone down in the Marine Corps," said Page. "Iwakuni has had less child abuse cases this fiscal year than last year. Overseas screening has probably contributed to the low numbers."
The explanations for child abuse vary, but Page said the most common are a lack of knowledge of child development and appropriate discipline, having been abused as a child or poor impulse control.
"Our New Parent Support Program offers many classes and service to parents with children under 6 years old," she said. "The stress of military life, deployments and readiness certainly put a strain on parents left alone with young children."
KimHan added, "Keeping children safe and healthy is not a monthly job. We need to continue to nurture and develop our children every day throughout the year. Be sensitive to their needs, being a kid isn't easy sometimes."