NATIONAL CHILDREN’S WEEK – A CELEBRATION OF CHILDREN’S RIGHTS
Next week is national Children’s Week and Broken Hill early childhood education and child and family services are working together to implement a week of activities to celebrate children and highlight the importance of their right to play.
Children’s Week is a national celebration of children’s rights, talents and citizenship and is always celebrated around Universal Children's Day which is held on the fourth Wednesday of October in Australia.
Maari Ma’s Early Years Project Leader, Lesley Harvey who also chairs the region’s Early Years Discussion Group (EYDG) said the week helps to increase community awareness of children’s needs and how we can respect their rights.
“National Children’s Week recognises that children's rights are human rights and they have a right to play, learn and to be safe in their communities.
“It highlights the importance we all have of ensuring children have these opportunities and above all to recognise the rights of children to enjoy their childhoods” Ms Harvey said.
Next week there will activities held over three days which aim to draw attention to the rights of children to play, learn and feel safe.
Monday 23rd - reading at The Community Hub - Creedon St 11:00am - 1:00pm,
Tuesday 24th - reading in the Town Square 10:00am - 11:00pm and
Wednesday 25th - Children‘s Day at Sturt Park for play and free food10:00am - 1:00pm.
Ms Harvey said the activities embrace all that reading and play offer.
“Sitting down with a book provides children with a time for quiet and calm in their busy lives.
“Stories can stimulate imagination and play, and reading provides parents with more opportunities to bond with their children.
“Stories also provoke curiosity and discussion, and reading a variety of books exposes children to a wide range of language features and vocabulary assisting literacy skills and language development.
“Play is essential to development because it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social and emotional wellbeing of children, and youth.
“Play is so important for child development that it has been recognised by the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights as a right of every child.
“It allows parents to appreciate the uniqueness of each child and offers an ideal opportunity for parents to engage fully with their children.
“Playing can also be a stress reducer for parents - laughing and relaxing are just as important for the wellbeing of parents as they are for children.
“On behalf of the EYDG and Child and Family Interagency I encourage all Broken Hill parents of young children to join us next week with their kids and enjoy our reading and play activities.
“Let’s work together to improve the development and wellbeing of our children and above all let’s celebrate their rights to be kids.
ENDS:
19 October 2017