Children's Week falls this month between the 22nd and 30th of October. Established in 1996, it's a week dedicated to celebrating the health and well-being of children everywhere, as well as recognizing their talents and achievements. As the Children's Week Council of Australia puts it "Children’s Week celebrates the right of children to enjoy childhood."
Each year a different article of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child (UNCRC) is chosen as a theme by the Children's Week Council of Australia, to help promote and advocate for the rights of children. This year's theme is "All Children have the right to a standard of living that supports their well-being and healthy development", article 27 of the UNCRC.
This week is a great chance to consider what we can do as adults to support children in their lives and endeavours both on an individual and societal level. It's a chance for us to think about not just our own children, but children around Australia and the world that aren't afforded their basic rights to be a child. Children are the future, and it is essential that every one of them is given a chance to thrive - to grow up happy and healthy, regardless of their background or abilities.
This week is a great chance to consider what we can do as adults to support children in their lives and endeavours both on an individual and societal level. It's a chance for us to think about not just our own children, but children around Australia and the world that aren't afforded their basic rights to be a child.
- YPRL Staff Author
These days, libraries are a great place for children and their families alike not just to read but explore any of their interests. From school holiday programs designed for fun and to encourage creativity through art and play, to Code Clubs that help children develop their digital literacy and problem-solving skills, libraries have become a pillar for learning and recreation in the community. At YPRL, we have other great programs centered around children's health and well-being too, such as our Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden program that helps teach kids about cooking and gardening, and our 'Active Arvos' that encourage kids to be physically active through playing games.
Aside from programming, libraries support children and their families in other less obvious ways. Some libraries, such as Thomastown Library, have become locations of 'Community Pantries' that help people (including children and families) tackle food insecurity. We also support initiatives throughout the year including RUOK? and Week Without Violence which can also affect children.
If you visit your local library, it's quite likely you might discover children's artwork or other creations displayed in our spaces - other than just their right to live happily and healthily, Children's Week is also about celebrating children's talents and achievements, and this is something we try to do throughout the year! Ultimately, libraries aim to provide a safe space for children to socialize and learn and thus it is important for the spaces to be theirs. This includes children having a say in the space we provide, the programs we run and the books we collect!
Libraries have been supporting children in the community for decades. In fact, the American Library Association has been able to trace children's collections and story times all the way back to the 1800s!
This week, across Australia activities are organized, often by local governments, to celebrate Children's Week. You can find more out about events happening in Banyule, Nillumbik and Whittlesea on the Victorian Government's website. Other organizations, such as schools, play groups and libraries also organize their own celebrations.
You can find what out about what programs YPRL is running for Children's Week in another blog we've written here: Children's Week Activities.
Children's Week pretty much comes down to this: children are our future, and they're pretty great!
They are worth celebrating and protecting.
So, what are you doing for Children's Week?
