MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- The 9th Annual Beaufort Area KidsFest at the Cross Creek Shopping Center in Beaufort from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. marks the beginning of Month of the Military Child.
The community-wide celebration, hosted in part by Marine Corps Community Service-South Carolina highlights Child Abuse Prevention Month and Month of the Military Child by introducing parents and guardians to local resources for families, with free games and activities.
Month of the Military Child began in 1986 as a way of bringing attention to child abuse prevention and family advocacy. It remains an annual reminder of the need to protect children and to educate parents on how better to deal with childcare issues.
"The month of the military child ... focuses on ensuring that military children are not only taken care of ... but also to make parents and others more aware of what they can do to assist children and build their self-esteem," said John Abney, prevention specialist, MCCS-SC.
Kidfest focuses a great deal on the parents, because of the nature of the military family, said Abney.
"[Kidfest] is not only good for parents to connect with the needs of their kids," said Abney. "Being from a military community, so many people are transient. They may not be aware of all the resources that are available to them."
"It's an ideal way for the resources available in this community to come together and collaborate to do something positive for the kids and share the information with the parents," said Abney.
Marine Corps Community Service-South Carolina is co-chairing the event with the Child Abuse Prevention Association, as well as other organizations, because of the need to reach out and educate parents about the need for child abuse awareness in the community.
"We have a lot of support from the Tri-Command ... and we couldn't have done this without the support of the Marines and sailors offering their time to help us set up and run the activities at Kidfest," said Abney.
The CDC is also planning a number of events in honor of Month of the Military Child. There will be an Easter Egg Hunt at the CDC Thursday, and the festivities will conclude with a picnic and Fitness Day April 23.
For more information about Month of the Military Child activities, call MCCS at 228-3523 or the Child Development Center at 228-3514.