News

Childhood Studies department at Keyano College invites you to celebrate National Child Day on Friday, November 20 and to play, laugh and imagine with the children in your life.

National Child Day is celebrated each year on November 20th, marking the day on which the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989. In 1993, the Government of Canada enacted legislation to designate November 20 of each year as a national day of the child in order to promote an awareness of the Convention in Canada.

This will be the second annual event hosted by Childhood Studies at Keyano College.

"The Keyano College community and students in the department, have been asked to bring in gently used children's books for sharing with a child," explains Sherry Duncan, Chair, Childhood Studies, Keyano College.

"We have sent out a challenge to all the schools to find ways of celebrating children which may include: their school sign being changed, a note to parents encouraging them to celebrate children with a list of possible activities, and it was a topic of discussion at Keyano's Educational Assistant and Early Learning & Child Care advisory committee meetings," added Duncan.

Each member of the Childhood Studies team is actively involved in commitments to children and families after-hours.

"We believe that the message of celebrating children and the importance of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child must be shared. This is the one event in the year when we encourage the entire community to celebrate children," Duncan emphasized.

Some of the ways you can show support for this special day include wearing blue (and/or blue jeans), honouring the colour of National Child Day, wearing a blue ribbon, available through Childhood Studies for a one dollar donation, or participating in the Celebrate Children's Book Swap through either a donation of gently used children's books or by purchasing a book to pass on to another child for only one dollar per book.

All funds raised will be donated to the Children First: Community Child Care Network Society, with any remaining books distributed to local children's service programs.

"Most importantly, take the time to interact in a meaningful way with a child on National Child Day and share the joys of childhood. Here are some things you could do with your child: Go for a walk or to the play park, read a book, take a field trip to the new library in MacDonald Island, have pizza for supper, go bowling, turn the television off and play some family games and thank a teacher or child care provider," reminds Duncan.