The Convention contains a full list of rights for all children under the age of 18. Each year, the Canadian Child Care Federation focuses on one Convention article. This year, it selected Article 2 – that all children have rights.
“We remind ourselves all children have rights and deserve respect regardless of gender, family make-up, socio-economic status, religion – no matter what their circumstances,” said NIC Instructor and ECCE Faculty Co-Chair Laurie Tulloch. “Children have great ideas and instead of regarding children as our future, children are our now. That’s the focus of National Child Day and it’s our focus with students.”
To mark the day, ECCE students and faculty welcomed Early Childhood Educators of BC President Charlene Gray to class to discuss the importance of early childhood education.
“Coming to speak to students is one of my favourite things to do,” said Gray. “They’re so enthusiastic, eager and optimistic about being an early childhood educator. They’re coming in at such an incredible time in history right now where Early Childhood Care and Education is at the forefront as a critical social program. On National Child Day we are reminded every child has the right to access a quality early care and learning experience.”
Research has shown the importance of early learning and its impact on determinants of health throughout a person’s life. There has also been a growing awareness of the importance of early learning with parents and caregivers, said Tulloch.
“We know there are windows of opportunity for different learning in the brain,” said Tulloch. “Early learning is hard-wiring the brain. The more hard-wiring we have in a young child’s brain the stronger children become.”
While National Child Day is a single day to remember the rights of children, Tulloch would like people to bring the message into their daily life.
“Celebrate children and your image of the child on National Child Day and apply it to your practice or your parenting with children every day, said Tulloch. “It’s a good reminder to us of the importance of children.”
For more information on NIC’s Early Childhood Care and Education programs, visit: www.nic.bc.ca/health-human-services or call 1-800-715-0914.
Media Contact
Christiana Wiens
Media Liaison, North Island College
O. 250-334-5280 | M. 250-218-4097
christiana.wiens@nic.bc.ca
