(Minnetonka, MN) - A Minnesota-based speaker, trainer and singer-songwriter has launched a new observance to encourage and support parents - and all adults - to act on ways we can make a positive difference to children. Kim Ratz, who works throughout the U.S. and Canada with educators and other professionals who work with children, has compiled a FREE list of more than 100 ways you can "Make a Difference to Children" (MADTC) during the month of July.

Think back to when you were a child - what adults do you remember who made a positive and lasting impact on you? A relative, a teacher, a neighbor? Could you be that kind of adult who makes a positive difference to a child? This observance has something for everyone. It involves children of any and all ages (don't overlook the teens!). It lists many possibilities. It can be in groups large or small. The possibilities go far beyond the list of 100+ options ...

While reviewing the Chase Calendar of Events, which lists thousands of annual observances and holidays already established, Ratz found that while there are many events focused on children throughout the year, there are no special observances about children during the month of July. This new observance is meant to remind us of ways we can make a positive difference to children during the month of July when most children are not in school and could benefit from options to spend time with people who care about them.

"Societies are often judged by how they treat their children."

This mid-summer observance is an opportunity during what is traditionally a time for fun, long weekends, a national holiday, and family vacations. Choosing to MADTC goes beyond urging parents to make a difference to their children, or only during the month of July. It's a "Call to Action" to all adults to choose to focus on ways to MADTC you already know or have a connection with. For example, when the Maasi people of East Africa greet each other, they don't ask "how's it going?" Instead, they ask: "How are the children?" because in their culture if the children are well, peace and safety will prevail. This is the practice of a village raising a child, and ' a hopeful reminder of what we CAN do if you feel your community is loosing it's ability to raise children safely ...

Because of the increasing number and scope of issues facing children in America, this observance is a Call to Action to participate in three important ways, requires little if any cost and hardly any time, depending on what you choose to do with children:

1. Commit to do at least one special thing with a child you know in July
   Whatever it is you do, the goal is to make some kind of positive difference for that child. Review the list of 100+ ideas at: www.kimratz.com/madtc.100+ideas.html- Plus, review the list of child focused observances - look for additional opportunities to make a difference to children throughout the year ...
   
   
2. Support an organization that focuses on children.
   It could be your local community education department or schools, YMCA, Boy or Girl Scouts, faith community, park and recreation dept, or any of the other organizations that serve kids at the local level. They're all non-profits, and in today's economy they need your support! There are also national and international organizations, such as the agencies who help you sponsor a child (i.e., Christian Children's Fund, Save the Children, etc.) or advocate on behalf of children (i.e., Children's Defense Fund, PTA, UNICEF, etc.). Your support might be as a volunteer in one of their programs with kids, help them raise funds, or your own financial donation.
   
   
3. 3. Communicate with your elected leaders to make children a priority.
   When one person communicates directly with an elected official, they get heard. When 100 people communicate directly with their officials, it gets on their radar screen, and sometimes a bill is written the next day. Because of all the competing ideas for programs and priorities, we need to be advocates for children who can't advocate for themselves or vote. Our biggest problem is NOT that people don't care - it's because we're not speaking up and taking action through our elected leaders.

Here's one of Ratz's hopes for our future, from his song: "Children are the Future" (which you can hear by going to: www.kimratz.com/songs.html)

Children are the future, they should be top priority.
If we don't do our best for them now, we can predict how tomorrow will be.
So if everyone in every school-community does all we can to raise great kids can you imagine how that will be? Can you imagine how wonderful that will be - when we make children top priority ...