Children's Day

We explain what Children's Day is, its origin and when it is celebrated. In addition, the principles of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child.

children's day children's rights
Children's Day is an international celebration.

What is Children's Day?

Children's Day or Universal Children's Day is an anniversary celebrated around the world, which aspires to celebrate current achievements in the defense and protection of children, while at the same time drawing attention to the risks and suffering that the world's disadvantaged children still suffer. It is an international celebration, but celebrated in different ways and on different dates depending on the country and culture.

The fight for children's rights and the protection of minors in the world occurs in very different ways depending on the geographical region and the economic status of each one. It is often developed in coordination with international institutions such as Unicef ​​or the United Nations (UN).

Both organizations have set the goal of offering future generations a more harmonious, safe and peaceful childhood, as a way to guarantee happier, more stable and healthier adults in the future. The celebration of Universal Children's Day makes these efforts visible.

According to the UN, This date should serve to promote compliance with the 10 fundamental principles of the Declaration of the Rights of Children approved on November 20, 1959, which are:

  • Principle first. All children must enjoy the rights stated without exception.
  • Second principle. Children must have the conditions, services, opportunities and laws necessary for their optimal development and growth, in freedom and dignity.
  • Third principle. Every child has the right from the day of birth to a name, an identity and a nationality.
  • Fourth principle. Every child must enjoy the benefits of social, medical and educational security.
  • Fifth principle. Every child who suffers from any type of physical, social or mental impairment should receive the necessary help to deal with it in a positive way that does not impede their development as an individual.
  • Sixth principle. Every child requires love and understanding for their full development as an individual. In the case of homeless children, the State must ensure that they are provided with the necessary conditions for proper personal development.
  • Seventh principle. Every child has the need and right to receive a formal education and to freely exercise their creativity, or to practice physical exercise and sports.
  • Eighth principle. Children should be the first individuals to receive protection and help in the event of disasters or dangers.
  • Ninth principle. Every child must be protected by society from abandonment, exploitation and cruelty, and child labor must be punished and prosecuted.
  • Tenth principle. Every child must be educated in the principles of peace, tolerance, respect and universal brotherhood, free of prejudices and discriminatory practices.
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Origin of Children's Day

The celebration of Children's Day It is a product of the growing concern for the defense of childhood that arose after the First World War which caused non-governmental organizations such as Save the Children and the International Red Cross to promote the first declaration of children's rights in history.

This declaration was presented to the League of Nations, a precursor body to the current UN, and On September 26, 1924, it was part of the Geneva Declaration on the Rights of the Child where the creation of International Children's Day was proposed, an anniversary that would be celebrated on June 2 of each year.

However, the League of Nations was an ineffective organization in its international representation, so again UNICEF and the Organization of American States drafted in 1952 a Declaration of Universal Children's Principles, which urged member countries to choose a day to celebrate childhood and childhood and raise awareness about the efforts necessary to defend them.

Two years later, the UN did the same with its member countries, by decision of the General Assembly. This body finally approved the Declaration of Children's Principles in 1959, giving a formal and global character to the anniversary, but leaving each nation to choose its best date for Children's Day.

When is Children's Day celebrated and why?

Children's Day is celebrated on different dates depending on the country or the international organization in charge of promoting it. So, for example, The UN celebrates November 20 as Universal Children's Day since on that date, but in 1959, the Declaration of the Rights of the Child was approved for the first time in the General Assembly of this multilateral organization.

On the other hand, many countries celebrate it on different dates, such as, for example:

  • Germany. International Children's Day (International Kindertag) is celebrated on June 1, although in some cities, such as Berlin, World Children's Day is also celebrated (Weltkindertag) on November 20.
  • Argentina. Children's Day has been celebrated since 1960 during the month of August, but its exact day has changed over time from the 1st Sunday of the month to the second in 2003 and then to the 3rd Sunday of the month in 2013. The local market of Toys have a great impact on the management of the celebration date.
  • Australia. Children's Day (Children's Day) has been celebrated since 1977 every 4th Wednesday of the month of October. Initially, this anniversary was linked to sick children and children's charities, but since 1985 it was consecrated as a national anniversary by the Australian Congress.
  • Brazil. Children's Day (World Children's Day) has been celebrated on October 12 since 1924, but it has had notable national relevance since 1960, due to the commercial impact that this date has on the local toy industry.
  • China. Children's Day (儿童节) has been celebrated every June 1 since 1950, and since 2007 it has also been a day of holiday for all citizens under 14 years of age.
  • Spain. Children's Day is celebrated in almost the entire country on April 15, except in the Autonomous Community of Madrid, which celebrates it on the second Sunday in May.
  • Japan. Children's Day (こどもの日) is celebrated every May 5, a date that was previously reserved for Boy's Day, since Girl's Day was celebrated separately every March 3.
  • Mexico. Children's Day in Mexico has been celebrated since 1969 on April 30, and it is a particularly important day in the country's school agendas.
  • Venezuela. Children's Day has been celebrated since 1990 on the 3rd Sunday in July, typically in parks and green areas that are used as a meeting and entertainment point.
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Importance of Children's Day

children's day children's rights importance
Children's Day seeks to raise awareness about the efforts necessary to defend childhood.

Children's Day is an important symbol to remember that the protection of children is one of the pillars of the modern world. In fact, the concept of childhood is a modern concept, since in ancient times children had to work and respond to society in the same or similar way as adults.

Therefore, celebrate Children's Day serves to remember the great achievements achieved in the field and the enormous work pending in the world since child labor and exploitation, as well as family and domestic abuse, have not yet been eradicated.

On the other hand, this celebration usually has a significant commercial impact in the toy industries and its celebration is often stimulated by intense promotional campaigns. With this, unfortunately, there is also the risk of trivializing the anniversary and forgetting the important message that underlies it.

Phrases about childhood

Some famous phrases about childhood and the importance of children are:

  • “Educate children and you will not have to punish men” – Pythagoras (c. 569-475 BC), ancient Greek philosopher and mathematician.
  • “Before you punish a child, make sure you are not the cause of his mistakes” – Austin O'Malley (1858-1932), American literature professor.
  • “In every child humanity is born” – Jacinto Benavente (1866-1954), Spanish playwright.
  • “The wonderful thing about childhood is that anything in it is a wonder” – GK Chesterton (1874-1936), British writer and journalist.
  • “All children are born artists; The problem is how to continue being artists when we grow up” – Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), cubist painter and sculptor.
  • “All older people were at first children, although few of them remember it” – Antoine de Saint Exupéry (1900-1944), French aviator and writer.
  • “Children are the world's most important resource and the best hope for the future” – John Fitzgerald Kennedy (1917-1963), US president.
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Ideas to celebrate Children's Day

The following are five simple ideas to celebrate Children's Day:

  • Plan a day of board games. Whether at home or in an outdoor setting, it is possible to play a few games of your favorite board games, and pair them with some fun foods.
  • Have a movie marathon at home. See everything at once The Lord of the Ringsall harry potter or some other film saga that children are fans of.
  • Plan a picnic in the park. Spend the entire day in a pleasant and safe park, in the healthy company of some balls, toys and the house dog, to spend an afternoon of sports.
  • Play treasure hunt. Something similar to the tradition of the Easter egg hunt: the gifts are hidden in different parts of the house and the children are given a series of coded clues that they can decipher to find them.
  • An afternoon of video games with mom or dad. Buying a new video game and playing it with your child can be a great plan for an entire afternoon.

Continue with: Father's Day

References

  • “Children's Day” on Wikipedia.
  • “Universal Children's Day” at Unicef.
  • “Ten ideas to celebrate Children's Day” in La Nación (Argentina).
  • “When is Children's Day” in Business Standard.