At Little Tulips Family Child Care, we believe that every day is ‘Child Day’, but on November 20th, we recognize National Child Day.  National Child Day has been celebrated across Canada since 1993 to commemorate the United Nations’ adoption of two documents centered on children’s rights: the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The founding principles of the Convention include:

• Acting in the best interests of the child.
• Genuinely considering the views of the child in all decision-making that affects them.
• Ensuring children have the right to primary consideration in all economic, social, and political decisions, policies, programs, and expenditures that impact upon them.

There are many reasons to celebrate children, but most of all because children deserve to be recognized as important members of our community.

• All children have the right to an adequate standard of living, health care and to play.
• All children have the right to express their views about things that affect them and to participate in communities, programs and services.
• All children have the right to be protected from abuse, neglect, exploitation and discrimination.

By ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1991, Canada made a commitment to ensure that all children are treated with dignity and respect. This commitment includes the opportunity for children to have a voice, be protected from harm and be provided with their basic needs and every opportunity to reach their full potential.

As parents and child care providers, we have the ability to have a direct positive impact on the lives of our children. We take this opportunity to celebrate children, and raise awareness of children’s rights!

The early years last a lifetime. The first five years of a child’s life are the most critical time of growth and learning. In fact, 85% of the human brain is developed by the time a child graduates kindergarten. Research is showing that public investment in effective early learning programs produce benefits to children, families, communities and society that far outweigh the costs.

The Jimmy Pratt Foundation, The Margaret & Wallace McCain Family Foundation and Memorial University’s Harris Centre have launched a discussion paper and fact sheet on Early Childhood Education in Newfoundland and Labrador.

These two recent publications have sparked quite a bit of discussion among Early Childhood Educators in our province.  It is upsetting to know that Newfoundland has the poorest rated early learning services in Canada.  Surely, something needs to be done about that.

At Little Tulips Family Child Care, we take pride in the fact that we offer a quality, licensed and regulated, inclusive early learning program that focuses on children with special needs. We appreciate each child’s uniqueness, and provide individualized attention when introducing new experiences and promoting the development of new skills.

Here are the two recent publications.  Please read, share and discuss!

12 Things You Need to Know About Early Childhood Education in our Province

October 2013: Launch of Discussion Paper – “The Early Years Last a Lifetime”