Just So Stories

Children’s Week 2024

This week the Story Bridge and other significant structures of Brisbane, were lit up with dazzling turquoise, the colours of Children’s Rights Queensland, marking a week of events, activities and actions to celebrate Children’s Week 2024.

Tomorrow, 27th October, as the week draws to a close, there will be a launch of a brand new book, commissioned by CRQ that will help inform and empower even our youngest children, and help them to understand what rights and, in particular, their own rights mean. I am proud to say I was given the highly enjoyable and rewarding task of writing teaching notes to accompany Brisbane author Dannika Patterson‘s book The Big Book of Rights.

Dannika undertook extensive research with young children gathering their responses and understanding of the meaning of ‘rights’ before embarking on this cleverly written book that puts all the UN Rights of the Child articles into an easy-to-grasp format that will provide educators of children from as young as three up to end of primary a springboard for meaningful discussion and, hopefully, even more meaningful taking action.

Amanda Letcher’s sweet and expressive illustrations along with CRQ’s own dynamic funky font (love it!) make this a completely attractive as well as useful package. It also follows earlier books produced by CRQ: The Right to be Me, and This is Me.

If you haven’t got onto these books and resources yet, I would suggest you do so without delay. Follow the link to the CRQ website for the books and more information.

My teaching notes are very much geared to suggesting activities that can be used or adapted across year levels and the addition by Dannika of the history of the formulation and establishment of children’s rights make a great basis for your educational program. And, I have to say, I think these are my ‘prettiest’ teaching notes ever, now that they are in their party dress!

It was a privilege to make my own contribution to children’s rights and Children’s Week 2024. I know many of you will have had experiences of sadness, concern and even tragedy around children in your care, just as I have. It’s up to us all to protect our kiddos and more than that, teach them how to protect themselves. Highly recommended for Smalls to Not-So-Smalls from 3 years upwards. with a 5 💙💙💙💙💙 rating.