While I support the Occupy Movement, I'm hesitant to bring my children into demonstrations that may result in police and participant violence. Safety of participating children is a big concern for parents. Some demonstrations address this concern with areas or special events designated for families and children.
Besides safety, I'm also concerned about the misperception of using my children to bolster the movement. Occupiers have been accused of using children as human barricades against police aggression a la daisies in rifle barrels. That's one perspective. However, if my children choose to support the movement, it's because they care.
Why Might Children Care About the Occupy Movement?
Have your children begun to notice the changing economic conditions that have prompted this movement? Have you or someone you know lost a job, a home? Have you tightened your family budget?
Your children have probably heard about the Occupy Movement, seen demonstrations in the news, or seen crowds for themselves if you, like my family, live near a metropolitan area. Your children recognize injustice like the rest of us do. How young were you when you started wishing for wealth? And how old, before you realized how elusive and rare it is to accumulate that wealth you dreamed of?
Resources for Kids to Learn About the Occupy Movement
- An activist father with the Occupy Chicago Movement created the children's bedtime story, The Three Little Pigs: A Children's Story About the Occupy Movement. He made the story into an illustrated story video.
- YouTube: theeastcoastpoet posted the Children of the Occupy Movement (video) featuring young children showing their signs and talking about what the movement means to them.
- The Facebook group, Kids of the Occupy Movement, provides links and updates about kids and the movement, because "Kids tell the truth - no filters, no judgement - just pure honesty and truth. Let the kids share about the Occupy Movement."
Safe Ways Kids Can Participate in Occupy
Whether you and your kids choose to attend an occupy event in person or not, you can support the movement in a number of ways.
- Attend a children and family designated event.
- Development mindfulness and awareness of the world we wish to create via Occupy Your Body and A Social Movement from the Heart.
- Follow the movement via Sponge Bob, because Patrick is one of the 99% -- Occupy Bikini Bottom with Sponge Bob.
Whatever your personal feelings about the Occupy Movement, your children will likely want to hear about it. Help them learn and participate, for or against, in their own way.
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Sara McGrath - Sara is a veteran homeschool mom of three, Usborne consultant, and the author of Unschooling: A Lifestyle of Learning.
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