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Arkansas (2023): Repealed age verification requirements for workers under 16

Iowa (2023–2024): Passed legislation allowing teens to work more hours and in jobs previously restricted for safety reasons

Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin: Introduced similar bills to expand youth labor

Economic Policy Institute (EPI): Reports on deregulation of youth labor laws

National Employment Law Project (NELP): Research and legal challenges to child labor law rollbacks

Department of Labor (Wage and Hour Division): Enforcement statements and child labor trends

Generations United: Research on intergenerational caregiving and youth caregivers

National Alliance for Caregiving: Surveys and statistics on young caregivers

Scholars 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 caregiving

Links to Internet Resources:

• Eldercare.acl.gov (resource locator)
• Reports from Economic Policy Institute: https://www.epi.org
• National Employment Law Project: https://www.nelp.org
• Generations United: https://www.gu.org
• National Alliance for Caregiving: https://www.caregiving.org
• National Conference of State Legislatures tracking: https://www.ncsl.org/about-us

Episode 18—Terry Tucker:

Captivate link: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/93d1fc30-a9ab-4f88-83ee-42ba15343c73/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP4Wxq8zTEc&t=7s

About 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/