At Mount Peter Early Learning, all children’s voices are heard and celebrated. Recently, our Kindergarten children created their own “Children’s Charter of Rights”, expressing what they believe every child is entitled to. Their words were simple yet powerful: “the right to feel safe, the right to play, the right to have a voice and the right to learn in different ways.” This artwork hangs proudly at our centre as evidence of our important relationships and consultations with children around issues that affect them and about what is most important to them – that is, fairness, respect, safety, and their power to be heard.
What the Children’s Charter of Rights Means
The Children’s Charter of Rights signifies meaningful participation of all children in our care and education in decisions and processes that affect them, empowering and safeguarding children’s voices, strengthening children’s capacity, their agency and building the expectation of our teams to speak directly and consult with children to protect their rights.
Why Teaching Children About Their Rights Matters
We believe educating all children about their rights is critical in ensuring future generations grow up on a foundation built upon respect. We believe that when we educate children about their right to a voice, we are working against racism and helping children to attain the attributes necessary to advocate for themselves and others, instilling in them the courage to be that voice of change.
These small, everyday practices help children develop resilience and empathy. They learn not only to stand up for themselves but also to recognise and respect the rights of others. For more on how children’s rights connect to early education in Australia, you can read this article from Community Early Learning Australia
How We Bring the Charter to Life at Mount Peter
The Children’s Charter of Rights ultimately guides the way we work with all children and is a visual reminder that even the smallest voices matter and deserve to be heard.
At Mount Peter Early Learning, our practice of ‘Listening to children’s ideas’ is visible in the way we consult with children, planning educational programs and inquiries based upon children’s interests, weaving their thoughts and understandings into planned activities. Our ‘practice of ‘encouraging choice’ is visible in each studio from the resources available for children’s play, flexible routines and the way the children demonstrate ownership in our educational programs. We are extraordinarily proud of the way our service philosophy, based upon Kindness and Gratitude, creates future generations of children who genuinely care and show empathy for others. There is immense research around the benefits of embedding kindness and gratitude, and the lifelong benefits to mental health and relationships. We believe that ensuring children are valued, consulted with and heard is the best way of ensuring the next generation of children are resilient, confident, autonomous and empathetic.
Our Promise to Families
At Mount Peter Early Learning, the Children’s Charter of Rights is more than words on paper. It is a daily commitment to every child who walks through our doors. We promise to listen, to protect, and to empower children so they feel safe, respected, and valued.
If you would like to see how this comes to life in our centre, we would love to welcome you for a tour.