Jim Fair
Blue pinwheel gardens are dotting Greer’s landscape as a signal of its participation in the Project Pinwheel, designed to educate and provide awareness for the prevention of child abuse and neglect.
“For many of us, the pinwheel evokes strong positive memories of childhood,” Ann Cunningham, director of the city’s Parks and Recreation Department, said. “As a symbol for child abuse and neglect preventions, it serves as an uplifting reminder of childhood and the bright futures that all children deserve.”
According to First Steps, the visual impact of more than 100 pinwheels at each site makes an effort to change the way the public thinks about prevention, and also promotes five protective factors that, when present, significantly decrease the likelihood of abuse and neglect. They are:
1. Parental Resilience: the ability to cope and bounce back from difficult circumstances.
2. Social Connections: people in the community (friends, family, neighbors, teachers, etc.) who can provide emotional support.
3. Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development: accurate information about how children develop and what to expect, along with appropriate discipline techniques.
4. Support: financial security, formal support from professional organizations, and informal support from social networks.
5. Children’s Social and Emotional Competence: a child’s ability to get along with others and communicate his or her emotions effectively.
Cunningham said the pinwheels will be placed at Greer City Park, Century Park, and the Needmore Recreation Center. The pinwheels are also at the Jean M. Smith Public Library.
In addition to the pinwheel gardens, Project Pinwheel will host community events that will bring together more than 100 child services related organizations.