Children and parents gathered at the Sylvan Lake Community and Family Centre for an afternoon of safe fun to celebrate National Child’s Day.
National Child’s Day recognizes a child’s fundamental rights, and themes each year around one of their rights on Nov. 20.
This year the theme surrounding the day was the Right to be Safe.
Krista Carlson, FCSS Youth Services Supervisor, said it is important for both children and parents to feel safe in their life.
“The theme is based on all basic rights each and every child has. We hope to be able to give kids a safe place to be,” said Carlson.
The Rights of the Child is a charter signed and ratified by the United Nations and is considered to be the most “comprehensive treaty in support of children.”
This document has been signed and ratified by more nations than any other document on human rights in history.
National Child’s Day marks two important dates for the rights of children: the signing of the UN Declaration of the Rights of the Child in 1959 and the the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989.
Sylvan Lake’s Family and Community Support Services partnered with ParentLink to provide and fun and safe afternoon for everyone involved.
Carlson said there wasn’t any particular structure to the day, just go and have fun.
“They [can] come in and run around and kind out do what they want,” said Carlson, adding there were different areas and activities for the kids to participate in at their leisure.
Sylvan Lake’s Child’s Day celebration had many different activities for kids, and their parents, to take part in.
Anything from hoola-hooping to face painting to colouring, bouncy castles and even Lego was present for kids to play with.
Juno Award nominee Mary Lambert, a children’s singer and story teller, was also present later in the afternoon to entertain kids with unique songs and stories, like why you should always bring an umbrella to the beach.
“We’ve had a lot of people come through, including a pre-school class,” Carlson said, adding those who participate in the after-school program also took part in the celebrations later in the day.
The parents also appreciated a care-free environment that allowed the kids to go and have fun, according to Carlson.
Sylvan Lake’s FCSS participates in National Child’s Day every year, which is always held on Nov. 20.
megan.roth@sylvanlakenews.com
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