Children's Week 2021
This week, Queensland celebrates Children’s Week to remember, acknowledge and bring attention to the rights that every child is entitled to, as outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified in 1990.
Children’s Week is an annual event celebrated in Australia held around the fourth Wednesday in October. A diverse range of events and activities are organised at national, State and Local levels, to focus the attention of the wider community on children, their rights and achievements. The heart of Children’s Week is to celebrate the right of children to enjoy childhood.
The theme for Children’s Week 2021 celebrates Article 15 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child which recognises the right of children to choose their friends and safely connect with others.
So what does that look like for the children and families who visit State Library of Queensland?
- In our spaces and delivery of holiday programs and special events for children and families we work hard to create safe and welcoming spaces to encourage children from all backgrounds to meet with each other, participate safely in activities they enjoy, and feel comfortable talking about issues that are important to them.
- For children under 5, this might look like providing them opportunities to make decisions like selecting their own books to read from our browsing collection or inviting them to suggest a favourite song to sing in one of our Rhyme Time or Story Time sessions.
- For older children attending holiday programs and events; opportunities to cooperate, collaborate and work together with others provides a safe environment for meeting people and sharing ideas without fear of discrimination.
- Families will see our staff fostering opportunities for children to have an active voice in their choices; providing children and their families the space to learn and grow; encouraging safe connections with each other, and actively listening and respecting children’s choices.
- It means we work hard to make spaces welcoming and inviting for their families and friends and the people they want to spend time with.
The Right to Be Me
As part of the 2021 Children’s Week celebrations being held across the state, this year, State Library of Queensland hosted a special story time with our friends at Children’s Rights Queensland to launch The Right to Be Me, a picture book written by Allison Paterson and illustrated by Amanda Letcher (JSAcreative) that translates the rights of children into language and concepts that are easy to access and understand.
The Right to Be Me, published 2021 by Children's Rights Queensland.
The book follows the story of Lowanna and Jack, who reconnect with their friends and learn about their rights. It also features the TypeRights font, inspired by Queensland children who designed the letters as part of Children’s Week 2020.
You can access a digital copy of the book here or watch a reading here.
To celebrate the special kids in your life this this week, why not share this book with your little ones or consider some of these other ideas, shared by Robyn Monro Miller and Children’s Week Council of Australia:
- Go on a picnic – pack a picnic and go find a grassy place in the shade and enjoy a picnic together. Let them pick the spot!
- Play “Family” Guess Who – share baby and childhood photos of the adults in your child’s life – grandparents, a favourite Uncle or Aunty and yourself! Take the opportunity to help them connect with their heritage. Don’t forget to add your children to the mix too!
- Play board games together – board games bring families and friends of all ages together to connect, strategise, compete and have fun.
- Connect with family and friends – Draw pictures or make a card for friends or relatives who live out of town and help your child send it to them!
Article 15 and this year’s theme, celebrating the right of children to choose their friends and safely connect with others, is a wonderful reminder of the role we play as adults in a child’s life to help them learn to work side by side their peers and grow as respected members of our community. We all have a role to play to help uphold this important right and all rights of children to ensure they have the best foundation to build on for life.
For additional Children's Week information and resources visit:
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