Why Are People in Idaho Painting Just Their Thumbnails Blue?

Even the guys are doing it! It's not some wacky trend that your teens have been sucked in by. It's part of a much bigger picture!

For those of you who don't know, April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and for as long as we can remember, blue has been the awareness color used to spread the message that it shouldn't hurt to be a child.  During April, we celebrate the amazing things happening in the Treasure Valley that promote healthy child development and take a stand to prevent child abuse and neglect.

To help spread the word this year, the Idaho Children's Trust Fund, St. Luke's CARES and other organizations supporting healthy kids have created a social media campaign called Thumbs Up 4 Idaho Kids where they're asking you to paint your thumbnail blue and take a "thumbs up" selfie or group photo to show that you support happy, healthy kids and child abuse prevention across the state.  Post it to your social media accounts using #ThumbsUpIdaho to spread the word and encourage your friends to do the same! Having one fingernail painted is is a great conversation piece and an opportunity to have an important discussion with friends and family members.

So join me, Governor Little and thousands of other Idahoans by painting your fingernails blue! I'll even bring some blue polish with me to the 5th Annual Child Abuse Prevention Rally at the Capitol on Friday if you don't have any laying around the house.  The event begins at the Boise Center on the Grove at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, April 5.  Child abuse prevention supporters will march to the Capitol steps for the rally scheduled to start at Noon.  The rally will feel speakers who are instrumental in keeping kids here in the Treasure Valley and across the state of Idaho safe!