Acknowledging and Understanding Children’s Theories

Article 12 gives the child the right to express his/her views freely and have them considered.

The rights of all children & young people are stated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

This takes action to ensure children and their families know what their rights are and how to put this entitlement into practice. Children are empowered to secure their rights and make their voice heard. Young children can be represented by an advocate to speak and interpret on their behalf.

Child C is a seven year old boy. It is important at this stage of my intervention to be aware of the issues regarding the ways in which our society treats people at such a young age. It is difficult for a child’s voice to be heard; therefore it is essential that I listen and advocate on his behalf if necessary.

But children are a special case they cannot always stand up for themselves. They therefore need a special set of rights which take in to consideration their vulnerability and which ensures the adults that surround them take responsibly for their welfare, protection and development.

1.2 Describe the importance of supporting the rights of all children and young people to participation and

describe the importance of supporting the rights of all children and young people to participation and equality of access.

- The United Nations Convention on the rights of children (UNCRC) states that all children have voices and have the right to be heard, whether this is regarding activities they are doing or what is happening in their lives both in school and at home, the should be allowed to express their feelings and opinions. It also states that children have the right to be protected from all forms of physical, mental and sexual abuse as well as neglect.

It is important to support the rights of all children to equality of access and participation as every child is entitled to the same opportunity of education, it is their human right.

Empowering children means making them aware that they have the right to live in a safe and supporting environment and teaching them how to make responsible decisions about what is good for them and what is not. It is important that children are aware of information that recognises them as individuals and that respects their views and opinions. They should feel empowered by knowing that they have rights which are internationally recognised under the UNCRC.

It includes children’s rights to protection from abuse, their right to express their views and be listened to and the right to care and services for disabled children or children living away from home.

For a child to understand the world, he/she will understand that people have different beliefs, colour skin and religion, the world and technology. A child will also learn other children’s names, talk about family and friends. This has a huge impact on a child’s social development; they will have awareness of the world and the people around them, and therefore are able to confidently make new friends as they go through transitions such as moving schools. It is important that children and young people are given the opportunity to speak about themselves, their lives at home and also listen to others, and this gives them a perspective on the fact that everybody does different things, others’ lives differ to theirs and this is something that needs to be recognised and respected and not judged.

Insufficient consideration of the Childs individual views and needs the voice of the child is not

Explain the importance of promoting the rights of all children and young people to participation and equality of access.

The United Nations Conventions on the Rights of the Child (1989) is an international human rights treaty that grants all children a comprehensive set of rights. The convention has 54 articles and it sets out in detail what every child needs to have for a safe, happy and fulfilled childhood. Article 19 states children’s rights to be ‘protected from all