Too Young To Carry This Much Caregiving | EP040

What if the person giving your aging parent a bath, managing their meds, or cooking their meals is just 12 years old? I shine a light on the overlooked crisis of child and teen caregivers—millions of young people in kinship care who take on adult responsibilities far too early, often in silence. These kids don’t just lose their childhoods—they risk their mental health, education, and future. Add to that the rollback of child labor protections across the U.S., and we’re creating a pressure cooker of stress and exploitation. If we really value caregiving, we have to protect the youngest ones doing it. They shouldn’t have to carry what so many adults struggle to hold.Resources: Legislation:Arkansas (2023): Repealed age verification requirements for workers under 16Iowa (2023–2024): Passed legislation allowing teens to work more hours and in jobs previously restricted for safety reasonsMissouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin: Introduced similar bills to expand youth laborEconomic Policy Institute (EPI): Reports on deregulation of youth labor lawsNational Employment Law Project (NELP): Research and legal challenges to child labor law rollbacksDepartment of Labor (Wage and Hour Division): Enforcement statements and child labor trendsGenerations United: Research on intergenerational caregiving and youth caregiversNational Alliance for Caregiving: Surveys and statistics on young caregiversScholars such as Dr. Diana Pearce (University of Washington) and Dr. Melinda K. Lewis (University of Kansas) have written about hidden labor in low-income households, including caregivingLinks to Internet Resources:Eldercare.acl.gov (resource locator)Reports from Economic Policy Institute: https://www.epi.orgNational Employment Law Project:  https://www.nelp.orgGenerations United:  https://www.gu.orgNational Alliance for Caregiving: https://www.caregiving.orgNational Conference of State Legislatures tracking: https://www.ncsl.org/about-usEpisode 18—Terry Tucker:Captivate link: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/93d1fc30-a9ab-4f88-83ee-42ba15343c73/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP4Wxq8zTEc&t=7sAbout Me:I have cared for many family members across the life span, experiencing the joys and challenges of child-rearing, the poignance of caring for parents, friends, and elder partners. I realized that I could not handle the stress of family caregiving 24/7/365. It was time for a new approach to caring. My health and happiness were slipping away. This is how Think to Thrive for Caregivers evolved. Let your mind meet your heart so you don’t lose track of your life.Connect with Me:https://www.deborahgreenhut.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborahgreenhut01/Find my books hereThanks for listening!Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page.Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!Subscribe to the podcastIf you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app.Leave us an Apple Podcasts reviewRatings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.