Pinwheels for Prevention





Did someone help you have a great childhood when you were young – perhaps a parent, sibling, teacher or coach? Do you help children in your life today have a great childhood – your own kids, nephews or nieces, or maybe children you mentor or babysit?

Throughout April, celebrate the lives you touch and those who have touched yours by honoring them with a pinwheel – the national symbol for the great childhoods all children deserve because our children are our future. Looking for a way to buy Pinwheels for your home, school or community center? Check out our Pinwheel Store.

Why Pinwheels for Prevention?

In 2008, Prevent Child Abuse America introduced the pinwheel as the new national symbol for child abuse prevention through Pinwheels for Prevention®. What our research showed, and what our experiences since then have borne out, is that people respond to the pinwheel. By its very nature, the pinwheel connotes whimsy and childlike notions. In essence, it has come to serve as the physical embodiment, or reminder, of the great childhoods we want for all children.

Why Do We Care?

Because we all play a role in children’s lives…

Whether you are an employer enacting policies that impact the work-life balance or a neighbor who offers parents time away from stress, we all have an effect on the lives of children. The responsibility is ours to contribute to the kind of nation in which we want to live. When all children don’t have equal opportunity for healthy growth and development, we put our future as a society at risk. Every day is your call to action and an opportunity for you to recognize that we all play a role in children’s lives.

Because children are our future…

Our most basic obligation is to support the healthy development of our nation’s children. The great childhoods we want for our children require a loving and supporting environment. Children who are raised in supportive and stable environments are more academically and financially successful, and great childhoods help children grow into productive, contributing adults who help their community, and our country, be prosperous and competitive in the global economy.

Because the costs are too high…

When we invest in healthy child development, we are investing in community and economic development. Unfortunately, children are sometimes exposed to extreme and sustained stress like child abuse and neglect, which can undermine a child’s development. Research conducted by Prevent Child Abuse America estimates that implementing effective policies and strategies to prevent child abuse and neglect can save taxpayers $80 billion per year. The cost of not doing this is measured in increased costs for foster care services, hospitalization, mental health treatment and law enforcement, as well as loss of individual productivity and expenditures related to chronic health problems, special education and the justice system.

How Can You Help?

The Pinwheels for Prevention® campaign provides a unique opportunity for all of us, individuals and organizations alike, to take action by learning more about prevention, supporting child and family friendly policies and services, and volunteering at the local, state, and national levels.

Volunteer with your local Prevent Child Abuse America state chapter…

A cause is only as strong as the people who support it. There are many ways you can show your support by volunteering your time and talent as an individual or organization to further ensure that child abuse prevention is prioritized right from the start.

Your local Prevent Child Abuse America state chapter needs your help! Check out our chapter map to find the contact information for the chapter in your state and contact them to determine what volunteer opportunities exist in your community.

Simple every-day actions make a difference…

There are also simple things you can do every day to make a difference. Whether it’s volunteering at a local pre- or after-school program, babysitting for an overburdened family in your neighbor, or calling your local legislators to advocate for policies like home visiting, there are many things you can do to help promote great childhoods and the prevention of abuse and neglect! For more ideas, check out our Get Involved page here.

Donate to Prevent Child Abuse America or buy Pinwheels to show your support…

Every dollar counts, and we are grateful for your support! Click here if you’d like to donate to our Pinwheels for Prevention campaign, or if you prefer to have a more visual display of support, contact your local state chapter to buy pinwheels of your own. You can also buy pinwheels in bulk and other branded items from our partners at Halo Branded Solutions.

Pinwheel Activities for You and Your Child!

Show your support for our nation’s children and help get your children involved in the movement by making your own pinwheel display! The following activities are great for local projects at your school, community center, religious institution, or even just within your family.

For the more artistic, here is a pinwheel coloring sheet. For the future engineers, here are instructions on how to make your own pinwheel.