This article and many others appear in CFI's member newsletter, Playground. Join us today to start receiving Playground at home!

Family Room: Playground Article Archives

Children Welcome Here

By Adam Gudeon

--Excerpted by permission from The Family Beat--

"The time has come to create a society that truly respects its youngest members-in word and in deed. A society that doesn't gawk at a breastfeeding mother or banish a crying child. It's time we made our children's needs a priority, and ask our neighborhood, and community, to help us meet these needs." -CFI Founder Michele Mason

Michele Shalles of Great Barrington (MA) is forming a local chapter of the National non-profit organization Child Friendly Initiative. Michele is implementing programs in the Berkshires, which are developed by CFI, including the Child-Friendly Seal of Approval and distribution of educational materials published by CFI.

As mother of a 3 1/2 year old boy and a 14-month-old girl Michele is sensitive and attuned to the child-friendly and not-so-friendly aspects and environments of her community. "It's not a problem for someone without a child to have a changing table, or a step stool under a sink at a business establishment. It makes a big difference to a parent and a child", says Michele. So she sets out using her first hand experience and understanding, and informative literature and a worksheet supplied by CFI, to encourage businesses and other institutions that serve the public to take steps to welcome and accommodate children.

The "Children Welcome Here" Child-Friendly Seal of Approval logo has already appeared on the doors of several local businesses. Mama's Earth, the environmental general store in Great Barrington, was one the first businesses to become certified as child-friendly. Carolyn Grogan, owner of Mama's Earth was thrilled that Michelle has taken on this project and is very happy to participate. "As a parent myself, I know how hard it is to go into a store and try to focus on making a purchase for my family and also attend to my little one," says Carolyn. Mama's Earth is equipped with toys for children to play with, a rocking chair for nursing mothers to take a break and feed their babies, and a changing table. "It's a fact of modern parenthood", says Carolyn, "we need safe, clean places to perform these activities while we go about our daily routines out in public."

Peter Drucker, owner of Barrington Outfitters, which has a large children's shoe section, says "the main reason that we are extremely child friendly is that we love children". He his also well aware of the benefits to his business, he points out that "30% of the customers that come in are with children, if we are not nice to kids, their parents, and grandparents, than we would lose the sale." He is on a first name basis with many children who came into the store for their first pair of shoes are still coming back seven years later. Barrington Outfitter's children's section is spacious and comfortable and there is a basket of toys for children to play with. The bathroom is always available as needed. Peter carries first-rate shoes that are healthy for children's feet and the staff takes classes on the proper fit of shoes for children. Peter has been known, on a slow day, to turn off all the lights in the store and let a child run around the store wearing a pair of light-up Stride Rites.

Uncommon Grounds Coffee Shop, another certified business, is known by many parents as THE child-friendly place in the Berkshires to go to eat and hang out with their children. Owner Mark Pruhenski says, "we have kids and we know how hard it is to find child friendly places. We felt uncomfortable going to certain places and did not want it to be like that here. We have always been very open-minded; women should feel free to breastfeed and let their kids do what they want to do", says Mark. At Uncommon Grounds there are toys for children to play with, a changing table, a big backyard for picnics and playing, high chairs, and healthy food on the menu that kids enjoy. Mother's groups have used Uncommon Grounds as a base in the past. Melissa Pruhenski, Mark's wife and co-owner is forming a new group now to fill a need for many new mothers in the area.

Being child-friendly is first and foremost an issue of respect for children as members of our society. Respect for children extends into the design of our businesses and public places. Too often, parents and children internalize hostile and intimidating situations, interpreting them as their own weaknesses or shortcomings. Children will more easily flourish and grow in a society that accepts them, that has some basic knowledge about their needs and development, and accommodates them accordingly. Early intervention and advocacy will aid children in navigating through difficult times in their development. Author and activist Suzanne Arms says "if we hope to create a non-violent world where respect and kindness replace fear and hatred, we must begin with how we treat each other at the beginning of life. For this is where our deepest patterns are set. From these roots grow fear and alienation-or love and trust." CFI is devoted to changing our culture, the way we live, so that we begin to honor and respect children.

*This article was excerpted with permission from The Family Beat, a parenting publication in Western Massachusetts. The Family Beat will regularly publish an updated list of child-friendly establishments in the region. You can reach The Family Beat on-line at www.thefamilybeat.com or by phone at (413) 528-0655.