Children are the world’s most valuable resource and deserve to have all of their rights fully realized. Every child has the right to a healthy start in life, an education and a safe childhood – fundamental opportunities that translate into a productive and prosperous adulthood. But around the globe, millions of children are deprived of these rights because of their place or family of birth; their race, ethnicity or gender; or their poverty, disability or vulnerability.

The Bible is clear that God made children and they are part of His plan (Deuteronomy 5:29; Psalm 100:3). Children are gifts from the Lord, who wants them to be part of loving families. Through these families and their communities, children develop their identities, beliefs, morals, values and customs.

We need to understand that children learn best when they are emotionally engaged, not just physically or cognitively. This means that we need to provide children with emotional and social experiences that are appropriate for their age – things like listening to music, playing games, exploring nature, doing arts and crafts or cooking. In addition, we need to help children develop a sense of identity by helping them feel valued and important to the people in their lives.

It’s also important for parents to set clear boundaries, both for themselves and their children. It’s a lot easier to teach children about how to treat others, how to behave in public and to follow rules if they see their parents do it. Children are more likely to listen if they think their parents care about them and want them to be the best they can be.

In teaching children to read, it’s important to encourage them to sound out words and blend sounds instead of relying on visual cues from the text. This will help them be fluent readers when they get to higher-level texts, such as books on history or science, and will reduce their frustration and anxiety.

Children learn by imitating the adults in their lives. So, it’s important to model positive behavior and give kids praise for their efforts. This will make them more confident in their abilities and motivate them to keep trying, even when it’s difficult.

When we focus on building relationships with our kids, they’ll be more willing to take risks and try new things. They’ll also be more willing to ask questions when they don’t understand something and will be able to work through any challenges.

There is some good news: many countries now have laws that protect children from physical, mental and sexual violence; campaigns are raising awareness of the negative impact of violence on children’s well-being; and efforts are underway to end the recruitment and use of children by armed groups in conflict situations. But much more needs to be done, particularly for displaced and refugee children. The inclusion of a target to end violence against children in the 2030 Agenda is a welcome step in this direction.