The mission of BE BEST is to focus on some of the major issues facing children today, with the goal of encouraging children to BE BEST in their individual paths, while also teaching them the importance of social, emotional, and physical health. BE BEST will concentrate on three main pillars: well-being, online safety, and opioid abuse.
BE BEST will champion the many successful well-being programs that provide children with the tools and skills required for emotional, social, and physical health. The campaign will also promote established organizations, programs, and people who are helping children overcome some of the issues they face growing up in the modern world.
“Over the past two years, Be Best has played a major role in spreading awareness, highlighting successful programs and acts of kindness, and encouraging public-private sector relationships to help children overcome the struggles they face every day,” said First Lady Melania Trump.
THREE PILLARS
WELL-BEING
“When we teach our children to cherish our values and care for each other, they are better prepared to carry on Americans’ legacy of compassion, service and patriotism.”
By promoting values such as healthy living, encouragement, kindness, and respect, parents, teachers, and other adults can help prepare children for their futures. With those values as a solid foundation, children will be able to better deal with the evils of the opioid crisis and avoid negative social media interaction.
Highlights:
- Partnered with Second Lady Karen Pence at the Red Cross in Washington, D.C. to assemble holiday comfort kits for overseas troops; and, in Charleston, South Carolina, Mrs. Trump and Mrs. Pence pitched in to help the Red Cross Pillowcase Project, an emergency preparedness program designed specifically for children
- Promoted our National Park Service and resources for children to help bring awareness to the important relationship between America’s natural heritage and the next generation
- Visited numerous schools across the country focused on incorporating character education and social emotional learning throughout their curriculum
- Hosted a Sickle Cell roundtable at the White House to bring awareness to the disease and reaffirm the Nation’s commitment to finding a cure
- Advocated for supporting child welfare in order to improve the lives the lives and well-being of children and youth in foster care throughout the Country
- Met with the President’s Task Force on Protecting Native American Children in the Indian Health Service System (IHS) to discuss recommendations that deter, mitigate, and respond to allegations of child sexual abuse in the IHS
Resources:
- Teach your children how to prepare for a disaster or emergency with “Prepare with Pedro”, a disaster preparedness activity book created by FEMA and the American Red Cross
- Click here for a workbook designed to help children cope during the Coronavirus Pandemic
- Public Service Announcements from First Lady Melania Trump
ONLINE SAFETY
“By teaching our children uplifting, positive, and respectful online interactions, we take them one step closer to the safer lives and incredible futures that await them.”
When children learn positive online behaviors early-on, social media can be used in productive ways and can effect positive change. Mrs. Trump believes that children should be both seen and heard, and it is our responsibility as adults to educate and reinforce to them that when they are using their voices—whether verbally or online—they must choose their words wisely and speak with respect and compassion.
Highlights:
- Visited a Seattle, Washington, tech company to learn more about their programs and applications meant to teach children online safety, as well as technology innovations meant to help children with disabilities
- Participated in HHS’ Federal Partners in Bullying Prevention Summit on Cyberbullying and provided remarks promoting the need to provide children with information and tools for safe online habits
- Delivered opening remarks addressing the importance of responsible online behavior and the positive impact it could have on our youth during the Family Online Safety Institute’s annual conference on “Creating a Culture of Responsibility Online”
- Participated in a listening session with students from Microsoft’s Council for Digital Good and discussed their youth-focused online safety policy work and the tenets of responsible digital behavior established by the teen council
- Addressed the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) Legislative conference about the importance of educating and promoting healthy, secure, and positive online behavior for children
Resources:
- Parents, click here to read “Talking with Kids about Being Online,” a Federal Trade Commission booklet
OPIOID ABUSE
“Promoting education and awareness is crucial to overcoming this drug epidemic. If we continue to work together, I know we can create a safer, healthier, and more hopeful world for our children.”
Opioid dependence, addiction, and abuse are an epidemic in this country. BE BEST will support the families and children affected by this crisis, bring attention to neonatal abstinence syndrome, and help educate parents on the importance of healthy pregnancies.
Highlights:
- Met with Congress to promote its SUPPORT Act legislation and its importance in helping to reduce opioid use during pregnancy and how to recognize early childhood issues related to substance abuse
- Provided remarks and participated in an opioids town hall in Las Vegas, Nevada, stressing the importance of focusing on programs that help educate mothers and families on the dangers of opioid abuse
- Visited hospitals and attended roundtables across the country to highlight the important and innovative work being done for babies born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome and their families
- Stressed commitment to supporting more treatment facilities that help both mothers and babies recover during the Rx Drug Abuse and Heroin Summit
- Addressed the Department of Justice National Opioid Summit to discuss how opioid abuse impacts the lives of children
- Partnered with the Office of National Drug Control Policy’s (ONDCP) Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program to prevent youth substance use and raise awareness about the consequences of illicit drug use
- Highlighted the important components of recovery by hosting a roundtable at the White House that expanded on the power of recovery tools and resources in the community, and the role personal connection plays in achieving sobriety
Resources:
- Parents, help your teens understand the dangers of opioid abuse with this fact sheet from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
BE BEST INTERNATIONAL
“It is my hope that by talking about the values of Be Best with young people in the United States and around the world, our children, teachers, and parents will strive to share them with family and friends throughout their own communities.”
india
In February 2020, the President and First Lady traveled to New Delhi, India, for a State Visit. While there, the First Lady visited with teachers and students at Sarvodaya Co-Ed Senior Secondary School. “Wonderful to see the principles of #BeBest are not just limited to the U.S., and can be found throughout the world,” said Mrs. Trump of the Sarvodaya School’s ‘happiness curriculum.’
japan
While the President and First Lady were in Tokyo, Japan, Mrs. Trump accompanied Mrs. Abe, the spouse of Japan’s Prime Minister, on a tour of the teamLab Borderless Exhibit at the Mori Building Digital Art Museum in Tokyo. The tour included stops into several of the exhibits—including the flower room, waterfall room, crystal room, cave room, lamp room, and landscape exhibit—each made up of light shows and interactive demonstrations. At the digital aquarium, children participated in drawing sea animals and scanning them into a computer that projected them onto the walls.
africa
In October of 2018, First Lady Melania Trump embarked on her first major solo international trip! She began her trip to Africa in Ghana where she toured Ridge Hospital, paid respects at the Cape Coast Castle, and more. Continuing on to Lilongwe, Malawi—known as the “warm heart of Africa”—Mrs. Trump visited Chipala Primary School and spoke with First Lady Mutharika on empowering children through education.
In Nairobi, Kenya, the First Lady fed baby elephants at the Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage, toured Nairobi National Park, and visited with infants and children at Nest Children’s Home.
On Mrs. Trump’s last stop in Cairo, she visited a few of Egypt’s many cultural sites including the Sphinx, and the Great Pyramid – one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. She also received a briefing about USAID’s Water Table Reduction Project at the base of the Sphinx.
united kingdom
First Lady Melania Trump joined President Trump on his trip to the United Kingdom in July of 2018. While in London, the First Lady visited the Royal Hospital Chelsea (RHC), which cares for over 300 Chelsea Pensioners (former soldiers of the British Army), along with local school children from St. George’s Church of England Primary School. At St. George’s, students are educated under the school’s motto “the best that we can be.” Mrs. Trump spent time learning more about what the motto means to each of the children, making poppies (a symbol of remembrance for fallen soldiers), and playing a lawn game known as bowls!
Activities For Kids To Do at Home
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