Child Rights

Children have all the same rights as adults, and they should be treated fairly. This includes rights to health, education, privacy and protection from discrimination.

Getting Information

Children should have information from lots of different sources, so that they can make their own decisions about how to live. They should also be able to ask questions and get answers from people they know. They should also be able to talk to their governments and other people who work for them about what they think and how they are being treated.

Looking After them

When children can’t be looked after by their parents, they should be looked after by other adults who are good at doing this. These people are called “guardians”. They should try to do the best they can for the child. They should respect the child’s religion, culture and language and make sure they do their best to help them grow up in a happy and safe place.

Keeping them Active

Being outside helps kids get more exercise and stay healthier. It can also help them focus and be less stressed.

Developing Responsibility

Being outdoors can teach kids that they have to take care of their environment, even if it’s just a sandbox. This will prepare them for adulthood when they may need to take charge of more important things in life, like finances or a career.

Developing Trust and Self-Esteem

Being around others is also essential for healthy development. Abuse and neglect can be damaging to a child’s ability to trust and build relationships with other people, and can make it harder for them to develop their social skills and learn how to communicate in a way that works for them.

Developing the Future

Children need to have access to quality education and healthcare, so that they can be healthy and have a chance at living happy and fulfilling lives. This can be hard for children in poorer countries, where they may have to choose between education and food or a job and a roof over their heads.

Developing their own Identity

Every child should have their own identity and have the chance to make it through life without being discriminated against because of their gender, race, religion or disability. This is a right set out in international law and should be guaranteed by all States parties.

Having a legal identity is important for claiming rights and receiving services when they’re older. This means having a birth certificate and other documents to prove that you’re who you say you are.

A legal identity can give you access to the things that you need in life, like health and education. It can also help you to get a job or start your own business.

Growing Up in a Poverty World

While most of us might think of childhood as the safest and most stress-free time of our lives, it’s actually a pretty stressful period. And while the industrialized world is arguably safer than it was in earlier times, children’s physical and mental well-being can still be disrupted by poverty, abuse and neglect.