Tag: Responsible Parenting & Smaller Families

In the middle of the twentieth century world leaders misinterpreted the right to have children under Article 16 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to ensure a particular level of continued population growth to grow their base, to reinforce power structures, and to evade collective obligations to invest more in kids. Their family planning systems ignored the physical borders of human power and were designed as preconstitutional or illegitimate, to create lots of economic inputs for shopping malls, not politically empowered citizens with influential voices for town halls. The systems isolated parents, and required no minimum level of welfare at birth or the development of prosocial behavior in children, in violation of the Children’s Rights Convention, no level playing field between rich and poor kids, and no environmental sustainability. Public interest mostly groups went along with this plan.  

That move fundamentally created the ecosocial crises we face today, including the climate crisis, massive inequality, horrific child abuse and neglect, and failing democracies where the average voice does not matter. It also reinforced a fallacy, the constitutive fallacy, that we can abstractly derive just systems without going upstream, to the norms that account for the first creation of social relations. In doing so it gutted the possibility of consensual governance, or freedom from the power of others (or most accurately, relative self-determination).

The Fair Start movement was designed to correct that mistake, and promote child-focused and ecosocial Fair Start family planning centered around parental readiness, collective planning to ensure birth equity and a level playing field for all kids, and a universal ethic of more sustainable families. That is the correct interpretation of Article 16.

Fair Start is the first and overriding human right – the one on which all other rights depend – and it is the genesis of freedom. We can achieve a just transition towards by incentivizing better family planning though taking the resources from the concentrations of power that created and benefited from the crises we face today. Why? Because we first physically constitute just communities by limiting and decentralizing power, and future children have a right to those resources. That – a just claim to family planning incentives as future child entitlements – is the key to qualitative optimal world populations / democratic communities.

Fulfilling that claim means liberating the most numerous and vulnerable entities in the moral universe – those that will live in the future. Nothing has a greater impact in comprehensively maximizing social justice, and ensuring the transition involves a struggle between free people who promote Fair Start and fundamental justice, and preconstitutional people, or precons, who do not. We can tell the difference between the two by simply asking a few questions.

Do you support the simple ideas that 1) parents should be ready before they have kids, 2) that we have a right to distribute resources to give all kids an eco-social Fair Start in life, and that 3) a universal ethic of sustainable families for all is the best way to restore nature? Peer-reviewed research shows that prioritizing these elements in policy has ten to twenty times the positive impact on climate and other crises, relative to most other changes we can make.

Dozens of groups from the child protection, animal welfare, environmental protection, human rights and democracy sectors are joining various coalitions that further some version of the Fair Start core suite of ideals. Groups like WildEarth Guardians, World Population Balance, ProVeg International, Brighter Green, Population Matters, and Seeding Sovereignty are working on campaigns – from leaning on Joe Biden to issue a declaration of climate emergency based on a -300ppm standard, to supporting litigation in the United States that requires ecocentric (300 ppm or less) solutions to the climate crisis as a constitutional right. These campaigns each help further every child’s fundamental human right to an eco-social Fair Start in life.

Take Action:

Will the organizations you support join as well? Urge them to reach out to us at info@fairstartmovement.org to learn more!

After five years of research and evolution, we are excited to announce that HavingKids is becoming the Fair Start Movement. This comes from the input of many voices from diverse and intersectional areas in advocacy, as the organization pivots to more of a collective structure increasingly led by identities with more at stake. 

The Fair Start Movement is a collective of parents and young people, child advocates, activists, health practitioners, social scientists, ethicists, and institutions from a range of causes who come together to advance Fair Start efforts at the state, federal, and global level. 

We advocate for informed, inclusive policies rather than ones focused on short-term and unsustainable economic growth with damaging ecological consequences. We call on those with a platform to speak out, from celebrities to those in governance. We also build our movement through a growing coalition of organizations. But most importantly, we empower young people and parents to share their stories and force accountability from those who oppose giving kids a fair start and threaten our and our children’s future.

Child-first collective family planning, beyond the isolation of “nobody else’s business” is happening. Most people maintain a taboo against talking about collective family planning because they fear the top-down power of the state. The reality is that we perceive the state as a threat, which in a democracy makes no sense, because of our failure to implement Fair Start or comparably inclusive family planning models.

Our focus remains on work with the greatest long-run impact on the crises we face today: Rights-based Fair Start reproductive justice reforms that override all competing interests. If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a village to plan for one. Our interventions are built around three pillars: 1) fertility delay and parental readiness, 2) distribution of resources geared around birth equity, and 3) a universal ethic of sustainable families.

We remain committed to our 2021 plans of action, including: 

Plans for our first peaceful demonstration as the Fair Start Movement demanding that Exxon officials, past and present, publicly acknowledge their obligations to compensate future generations against a zero baseline, given the climatological harm they have caused. They are obligated to right that wrong by funding climate restorative projects to ensure all kids an ecosocial fair start in life, a moral fact we are also urging the UN to institutionalize through correct interpretation of Article 16 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It’s time for both governments and big business to stop working together to exploit future generations. Fair Start is the first and overriding human right, superseding the property rights of those who have harmed future generations, and who must compensate them through Fair Start and other effective mechanisms.

Join the coalition as an organization or sign up to follow the latest opportunities to take action. 

By Bea Krasner

Sure, a once-in-a-century virus crash-landed onto Earth — but never fear! We’ve got a list of pandemic-friendly activities for kids in Southern California.

San Diego Beaches

San Diego is one of the most scenic places in southern California, and the area beaches are picturesque. So why not plan a sun-and-sand weekend in “America’s Finest City”? If you’re searching for things to do with kids in San Diego, Mission Bay Beach and the neighboring Playa Pacifica Park are great spots for families. Plus, it’s a bucket list item for anyone interested in Americana, as Mission Bay is the largest man-made park in the country. Moonlight Beach, with its gigantic playground, is also a good time.

Want to wash the sand off your car before returning home? Hit up a drive-through car wash and pop on the Star Wars theme while going through. The kiddos will love it!

Leo Carrillo State Park

Going to the Leo Carrillo State Park in Santa Monica, which includes a beach, is a fun day out with the kids. Windsurfing, beachcombing, and fishing are all on tap. Plus, it has tide pools, sea caves, and reefs teeming with natural wonders.

Malibu Canyon

With its lurking paparazzo, Runyon Canyon is where celebrities, influencers, and aspiring fame-seekers head for a hike. But if you’re looking to explore with the wee ones, Malibu Canyon is the better choice. Part of Malibu Creek State Park, it’s got hikes for all levels and incredible views. Located about 25 miles from downtown Los Angeles, Malibu Canyon is part of the Agoura Hills in Calabasas.

Fans of vintage television shows may recognize the area since it was used in many a M.A.S.H. episode.

Neighborhood Scavenger Hunt

Staying outside is preferable during the pandemic — so why not do a neighborhood scavenger hunt?

Parents, we’re not going to sugarcoat it: this option will take a bit of prep on your end. But we think it’s worth it.

Step One: Stake out a neighborhood. Make a note of both exciting and commonplace things around the town, like benches, statues, murals, and store names.

Step Two: Make a scavenger hunt card. It can be a list or something resembling a bingo card. You can find examples here, here, and here.

Step Three: Slap on some sunscreen, make sure the camera phone is charged, and head out the door with materials in hand! Don’t forget to bring pens, pencils, or markers to tick off found items.

Step Four: Complete the hunt. As a bonus, take pictures of each found object and turn them into a craft or digital art project at home

This DIY activity is a great way to expose children to people from different walks of life. It can also serve as a teaching tool that introduces children to the realities of systemic inequities and environmental challenges. It’s never too early to bring awareness to the alarming rates of inequality, particularly child inequality, to your young ones. We’ve compiled a fantastic list of child inequality facts that you can share with your kids. 

Parents interested in solving institutional inequalities should check out the fair start family planning model and movement. 

Drive-In Movies

Maybe it’s the gigantic screens or the novelty of watching a film from the car, but for kids, there’s something magical about drive-in movie theaters — and Southern California has lots.

Options include:

• Mission Tiki Drive-In Theater — Montclair
• Paramount Drive-In Theater — Paramount
• Vineland Drive-In Theater — City of Industry
• The Roadium — Torrance
• We Drive-Ins — Santa Monica
• West Wind Drive-In Theater — Santa Barbara
• Rubidoux Drive-In — Inland Empire

Long Beach Aquarium

Some people call it Long Beach Aquarium, but its official name is Aquarium of the Pacific — and it’s a super Southern California spot to spend a pandemic day with the kids. They have a whopping 11,000 aquatic animals under their care!

The aquarium is now fully open, but if you want to play it safe, stick to the outside, socially distanced exhibits.

If you live closer to Monterey, that city’s aquarium is also a treat.

Things may be a bit different for now, but they’re getting back to normal. In the meantime, play it safe and pick pandemic-friendly activities for a day out with the family.

Disclaimer: Neither myself nor fairstartmovement.org received compensation for this guest article.

By Jennifer Dawson

When it comes to the many choices parents must make when they decide to have a child, ‘parenting style’ is one of them. Because parents tend to adopt a blend of styles or strategies, it perhaps befits the topic to do as scientists at Kobe University did in a study, and talk about ‘methods’ instead of ‘styles’. In the study, scientists found that parents tend to use one or more of the following methods when raising children: supportive, strict, indulgent, easy going, harsh, and average (the latter involves having average levels for all other key factors). Although it is impossible to define one specific combination of these factors as ideal, factors certainly emerge that are either positive or detrimental to positive growth and happiness in children.

Giving Children a Fair Start

Before discussing parental styles, it is important to clarify that one’s chosen style very much depends on the model of family one chooses to adopt. Having Kids’ Fair Start model aims to help parents make wise choices so that their children can have all their needs met (both material and affective). By planning families better and waiting until they are ready to have children, parents can work on issues that are important to them and their future family – including education and career stability. These, in turn, set up better outcomes for children and increase their chances of a good future. Inequality is something that society as a whole should work to eliminate to give all children a fair start. Currently, around 14.8 million children in the U.S. do not have enough food to eat and around 41% of them live in or near poverty.

Classic Parental Style Definitions

In other research (for instance, one study published by the Society for Consumer Psychology), researchers divide parenting into four defined ‘styles’ – authoritative (parents tell children what to do but give reasons for this), warm (parents relate well with children while expecting them to act maturely and follow set rules at the same time as enjoying independence), neglecting (parents offer little guidance and monitoring of a child’s life and activities), and indulgent (parents give children adults’ privileges but do not set responsibilities). In this study, some clear results did emerge. Children who were taught to have responsibilities and follow rules made safer choices, interacted positively with the world around them, and chose healthier diets. The researchers stated, “We found a lot of evidence that demonstrated that it is okay to be restrictive with kids…It’s also important to explain to kids why the restrictions are important.”

An Example Of Rule Setting: Making Healthy Choices In Life

Diet is one area which authoritative and warm parents tend to prioritize, as are areas like restrictive use of technology, and an emphasis on the importance of doing homework. This type of parent may take things further, teaching children how to avoid harmful products like BPA – a substance found in a plethora of modern products, including plastic food holders. BPA is known to disrupt the endocrine system and potentially cause or trigger asthma, infertility, early puberty, obesity, and even resistance to chemotherapy. Authoritative and supportive parents may avoid BPA-containing plastics, then, while being honest about the reasons why children have to take glass or BPA-free containers to school. The aim is to interest children in health and to explain why some choices need to be made, even if it means spending time researching healthier alternatives to commonly sourced products.

Understanding Dos And Don’t In Terms Of Methods

The Kobe study came to similar findings as the Society for Consumer Psychology research did. Children who had been reared with plenty of support and positive attention earned more money, enjoyed greater academic success, and were happy. Those who were reared very strictly had high levels of achievement but greater stress and lower happiness levels. Attention, interest, and a commitment to helping children understand why specific rules are set up are key. Perhaps, then, the idea isn’t to choose one parenting style, but rather, to give children time, attention and responsibilities, while also explaining reasons for rules and giving children the independence they need to grow into their own person.

It is difficult (and most probably unfruitful) to strictly define one parenting style that results in success, happiness, health and wellbeing for children. However, studies do show that investing quality time, care and attention in children does make for happier, well adjusted adults in the future. Neglect and strictness with no rhyme or reason do a child little good, and indeed this can be easy to understand for any adult who has ever worked for authoritarian management that left little room for ideas, innovation and independence. In the end, children are not that different from adults after all.

*Neither the author nor Having Kids received compensation for this piece.

President Biden is unveiling his American Families Plan this week. It aims to support families with the cost of childcare, expanding child tax credits, providing paid family leave, among other things. But is this enough to meaningfully reduce U.S. inequality (the highest in the developed world) and set up the next generation for a healthy, equitable and sustainable future?

Leaders on both sides of the aisle already agree that early childhood is critical in positioning kids for success throughout life. Just look at programs like Head Start, SNAP, Medicaid, etc.) The American Families Plan even includes spending for pre-k education. 

But we need to invest in kids even earlier. We really should be starting from conditions at birth. That is how to truly give kids a fair start in life.

Given that, shouldn’t we also pursue family planning investments that have more than 50 years of proven results in reducing poverty and improving lives? These are efforts like encouraging delayed parenthood, birth spacing and investing more in each child.

Yes, family planning decisions are ultimately between parents. But our policies have significant implications for the conditions in which children are born.  

Therefore, lawmakers must ask key questions as they devise policies if they really want to give kids a fair start in life:

• How can we help parents be financially ready? 

• How can we help parents provide stable and healthy home environments?
• How can we act to reduce inequities and the climate crisis, rather than exacerbate these harms? 

Here are a few ways the Biden administration could advance parental readiness and improve equity to give all kids a fair start:

• Encourage delayed parenthood by releasing funds being held up in the development of the male pill.
• Making higher education more accessible, allowing parents to better provide for their families throughout their lifetimes. The good news? Tuition-free community college is already included in the American Families Plan!
• Improve family planning education to arm young people with information about the benefits of delayed parenthood, birth spacing, and focusing resources on kids. Future parents can set themselves up for greater lifetime success and give their future kids a fair start. Why aren’t we giving them this information?
• Cut all benefits to wealthy families who don’t need the funding.
• Use those savings as cash incentives to power up family planning and early childhood investment systems in the United States to
  • Target child abuse by amending the federal child abuse law
    
  • Incentivize delaying having kids until parents are really ready
  • Promote more sustainable families for all regardless of income, as well as fostering and adoption – changes that have twenty times the impact on climate emissions, relative to short term fixes. 

TAKE ACTION: Add your name to urge President Biden to improve his American Families plan.