Children: The Hope of the Future

We believe that every child has the right:

  • To be loved, cherished, and supported
  • To be treated with respect and dignity
  • To receive responsible care and to be handled with kindness
  • To be encouraged and nurtured emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually
  • To have their physical needs adequately met, including nutrition, housing, and medical care
  • To receive a good education that provides competence and empowers them to be self-sufficient
  • To be taught good values and morals to guide them in life
  • To learn about God’s personal love and care for them
  • To be taught boundaries and self-discipline
  • To be empowered to realize their full potential
  • To be prepared for the responsibilities and challenges of adulthood
  • To develop their individuality
  • To be treated fairly and justly, without discrimination
  • To be in a safe environment; to be protected from harm and danger

The Family International promotes a high standard of care, protection, education, socialization, and recreation for all our members’ children. Our profound respect for children—and the importance of their care and upbringing—is an integral part of our beliefs.

We consider that it is the God-given responsibility of every Christian parent to impart to their children a deep appreciation, respect, and love for God and His Word and the sacred principles contained in it. We also believe that the marriage union of man and woman is the ideal relationship for the parenting of children and the forming of stable families.

Our Children Are Our Future

 

As adults, we realize that the real future lies in the hands of our children and grandchildren. Our first priority should be the nurturing and education of America’s youth.

We’d like to believe that Americans live longer than most other people in the world. Sadly, that is not the case. In fact, life expectancy in the United States ranks 26th among the 36 member nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

The life expectancy for Americans, 78.7 years in 2011 (the most recent data available), ranks below that of Switzerland, Japan, Italy and Spain, having the highest life expectancies (82 years).

At 36.5 percent, the obesity rate in the United States is the highest among the OECD members, where the average obesity rate was 22.9 percent. We can gain some perspective on the magnitude of this problem when we consider that the rate of obesity in the United States was 15 percent in 1978.

Five children (7-12) playing with plastic hoops in park

We know that the increase in processed foods, super-sweetened soda and other beverages, and a colossal increase in portion sizes have contributed to the surge in obesity in America.

What does this mean for our children? Experts warn that the current generation of American children will have shorter life expectancies than their parents. The current trendin obesity will lead to more cases of diabetes, cancer and heart disease.

Feeding our children nutritious meals and teaching them that eating vegetables, fruits and whole grains and being physically active can help prevent many diseases should be the nation’s goal. As a member of Less Cancer, a not-for-profit organization, I strive to educate and inspire all Americans to take action to prevent cancer and other diseases.