By BEST Childcare Consultancy
Children’s Week is a celebration of children, their voices, and their rights. In 2025, we focus on Article 24 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child:
“Children have the right to the best health care possible, safe water to drink, nutritious food, a clean and safe environment, and information to help them stay well.”
For children under five, this means exploring health, safety, fairness, and belonging through play, art, and everyday routines — helping them feel confident that their ideas matter and their voices are heard. These experiences are perfect for embedding rights-based practice and demonstrating Exceeding practices.
Honour children’s rights every day in early childhood education settings
In an early childhood education setting, we honour children’s right to health and wellbeing by creating safe, clean environments and embedding healthy habits into everyday routines. We provide fresh drinking water, nutritious meals and snacks, and involve children in mealtimes to build independence and choice. Educators model and teach hygiene practices through songs, stories, and playful experiences, helping children understand how to stay well. Warm, trusting relationships support children’s emotional wellbeing and give them confidence to speak up when they need help. By sharing health information with families and inviting community health professionals to visit, we strengthen the connection between home and service, ensuring every child feels valued, safe, and supported to thrive.
Elevate your daily practices to an exceeding level
To elevate these everyday practices to an Exceeding level, services move beyond simply meeting health and safety requirements and actively embed children’s rights into every decision and interaction. Educators intentionally create opportunities for children to exercise choice and agency — such as selecting their own meals, deciding when to drink water, or helping design health displays — so children experience their rights in action. Teams critically reflect on their routines and environments, asking whether all children, including the quietest or most vulnerable, are empowered to participate fully. Leaders allocate time and resources to support staff professional learning on rights-based practice and regularly update policies to reflect children’s voices. Families and community partners are meaningfully engaged in co-creating wellness initiatives, and children’s contributions are documented, celebrated, and revisited to inform future practice. This consistent, collaborative approach shows that children’s health, safety, and wellbeing are not just requirements to be met but core values that guide the service’s culture.
Activity Ideas + Useful Templates / Examples / Websites
- Friendship Hands / Kindness Hands
- Use a hand-trace template (printable) or just freehand trace each child’s hand and decorate.
- Example / printable: The ACT Children’s Week resources page offers bunting, posters, crafty ideas, editable poster templates you might adapt for “Hand of Friendship.” actchildrensweek.org.au
- Alternatively, you could create a simple “What I can do to be a good friend” one-finger per finger prompt (draw, sticker, write) and display.
- Play with Someone New / Buddy Play
- Create a “buddy chart” or “play partner wheel” (a circle or chart where children’s names go and rotate who they play with next).
- Use a simple “Bear Buddy / Friend Buddies” board template (a poster or chart) to record which two children will partner for certain times.
- Our Healthy Bodies Collage / Wellness Posters
- Use free printable colouring or cut-and-paste sheets from Junior Landcare (they have early childhood / preschool activity sheets) Junior Landcare+1
- Use a large butcher paper or roll paper and let children collage pictures of things that keep us healthy (food, water, sleep, hand washing, exercise).
- You might overlay a simple template (body outline) and have children glue or draw healthy parts inside (water, food, exercise images).
- Water Play = Water Rights
- Use scoops, jugs, cups, and include prompts like “How much water do plants need?” or “How can we share water?”
- Use Children’s Week “Activities & Tip Sheets” from the national site to find water-oriented activity ideas you can adapt. childrensweek.org.au
- Mini Passion / Project Choices
- Offer simple choice boards / visual choice cards (pictures of planting, caring for plants, tidying, caring for toys) for children to pick their mini project.
- Use an editable “interest survey” or “what I care about” template from the ACT Children’s Week resources(editable poster templates, crafty ideas) actchildrensweek.org.au
- Also the national “Inspiration Booklet” from Children’s Rights Queensland includes creative activity ideas you can turn into templates. childrensrights.org.au
- Storytime with Rights Books + Discussion Prompts
- Use existing children’s rights colouring / activity sheets from Children’s Week “Activities & Tip Sheets” for follow-up after reading. childrensweek.org.au
- After reading, use a simple “Question Cards” template (with visuals) to scaffold discussion: “What do you think?”, “How would you feel?”, “What could you do?”
- Dress-Up “Healthy Heroes” / Role Play
- Use capes, props, hats, and printable masks. The Children’s Week ACT resources often include craft / mask templates and bunting you can repurpose. actchildrensweek.org.au
- You could create a “Hero Rule Card” template: children draw or write (or with help) what their hero does (e.g. “reminds friends to wash hands”).
- Music & Movement / Rights Songs
- Use the “Building Belonging Toolkit” from the Australian Human Rights Commission: it includes a song with actions and posters. Australian Human Rights Commission
- Adapt the lyrics or include simple verses about friendship, health, helping each other, and embed into movement.
- Nature / Outdoor Scavenger Hunt
- Create a picture checklist of natural items (leaf, stick, flower, smooth rock, etc.).
- Use printable activity sheets from Junior Landcare or similar for nature scavenger hunts. Junior Landcare+1
- Use the play-based children’s week guide by Step4, which gives ideas like nature hunts or treasure hunts. Step4
- Decorate & Display + Shared Exhibits
- Use Children’s Week WA or state sites for printable posters, colouring sheets, bunting, etc. Childrens Week WA
- Use Aussie Childcare Network Printables (colouring pages, posters) and adapt for rights / health / friendship themes. Aussie Childcare Network
- Create a “Rights Wall” or “Our Pledges” display using cut-outs, photos, children’s voices.
QIP write ups for Children’s week
QA1 – Educational Program and Practice
Embedded Practice
- Educators plan Friendship Hands, Buddy Play, and Storytime with Rights Books as part of the weekly program.
- Mini Passion Projects and Healthy Bodies Collages are embedded into learning cycles, allowing children to revisit ideas over several days.
- Children’s agency is visible — they choose buddies, pick projects with visual cards, and contribute to displays at child height.
Critical Reflection
- Teams review whether activities are inclusive of all children (quieter children, different abilities, diverse cultural backgrounds).
- Educators reflect on whether children’s voices are truly influencing program decisions (e.g. were their passion projects acted on?).
- Documentation of reflections is added to planning meetings, ensuring continuous improvement.
Meaningful Engagement
- Families are invited to share books, photos, or cultural stories for Storytime with Rights Books.
- Parents contribute ideas for projects (gardening, tidy-up rosters, community helpers) and share feedback on their child’s engagement.
- Results of buddy play and friendship hands are shared via newsletters or online apps to strengthen home–service links.
QA2 – Children’s Health and Safety
Embedded Practice
- Our Healthy Bodies Collage and Healthy Heroes Dress-Up are incorporated into daily health routines (handwashing, teeth brushing, drinking water).
- Water Play = Water Rights is used to model safe play, hygiene, and environmental care (watering plants, reusing water).
- Educators scaffold language (“we take turns”, “water keeps us healthy”) and embed health messages into group times.
Critical Reflection
- Teams review safety of water play areas and check that hygiene routines allow children independence (child-height sinks, self-serve cups).
- Educators discuss equitable access to health routines and whether additional supports are needed for children with sensory or mobility needs.
Meaningful Engagement
- Families receive “Healthy Habits Bingo” or photo challenges to complete at home (e.g. brushing teeth, eating vegetables).
- Parents are encouraged to share their own healthy habits or water-saving tips for display, reinforcing home–service continuity.
QA3 – Physical Environment
Embedded Practice
- The environment includes a “Friendship Wall” and “Rights Wall” where children’s artwork and voices are displayed at eye level.
- Buddy charts and project spaces are permanent fixtures, signalling children’s right to belong and participate.
- Outdoor play areas include Nature Scavenger Hunts and planting spaces linked to children’s projects.
Critical Reflection
- Educators reflect on whether all areas of the environment are welcoming and accessible (quiet zones, open-ended play spaces).
- Teams review whether displays represent all children equally and rotate regularly to stay relevant to children’s interests.
Meaningful Engagement
- Families are invited to add photos, pledges, or natural materials to displays.
- Local community members contribute plants or natural loose parts for scavenger hunts and gardens.
QA4 – Staffing Arrangements
Embedded Practice
- Familiar staff support buddy play and passion projects for consistency.
- Educators are intentionally rostered to remain with groups during Children’s Week activities to strengthen relationships.
Critical Reflection
- Rosters are reviewed to minimise disruptions to continuity of care, particularly during extended projects or collaborative displays.
- Teams discuss staff confidence in facilitating child-led initiatives and plan professional learning if needed.
Meaningful Engagement
- Families are informed of staff roles in Children’s Week projects, so they know who to approach for updates.
- Educators share reflections on children’s participation and ideas with families through portfolios and documentation walls.
QA5 – Relationships with Children
Embedded Practice
- Educators model respectful, warm interactions during buddy play and conflict resolution, validating children’s voices.
- Friendship Hands and “kindness language” are used daily (“I am a kind friend when…”).
- Storytime and music/movement sessions include opportunities for children to express feelings and problem-solve together.
Critical Reflection
- Teams reflect on whether some children dominate group play and how quieter children’s ideas can be supported.
- Staff discuss strategies for helping children form new friendships and overcome shyness or exclusion.
Meaningful Engagement
- Children co-create group agreements (e.g. “Friendship Rules”) and help decide on buddy rotations.
- Educators document children’s quotes and display them to share with families and reinforce children’s voices.
QA6 – Collaborative Partnerships with Families and Communities
Embedded Practice
- Families are asked to contribute photos, natural items, and health ideas to the Children’s Week displays and projects.
- Guest visitors (community health nurse, library storyteller) are invited to share knowledge with children.
Critical Reflection
- Educators reflect on whether all families have equal access to participation (considering work schedules, cultural needs).
- Teams review whether community visitors reflect diversity and bring meaningful learning opportunities.
Meaningful Engagement
- Host a mini “Community Expo” where children present passion projects to families.
- Share updates and photos of activities via newsletters, family apps, or at pick-up times to strengthen engagement.
QA7 – Governance and Leadership
Embedded Practice
- The service philosophy and policies reference children’s rights and are displayed during Children’s Week.
- Leaders allocate time and materials to ensure activities (e.g. displays, buddy charts) are well supported.
Critical Reflection
- Leadership reflects on whether annual planning includes events like Children’s Week that promote advocacy and child voice.
- The QIP is updated with outcomes from Children’s Week projects to demonstrate continuous improvement.
Meaningful Engagement
- Families and community stakeholders are consulted on how the service can further embed children’s rights year-round.
- Leadership shares reflections and next steps with staff and families, creating transparency and shared ownership of goals
Links for Templates & Resources
- ACT Children’s Week Resources: actchildrensweek.org.au/resources
- Children’s Week National Activities & Tip Sheets: childrensweek.org.au/resources
- Junior Landcare Early Childhood Resources: juniorlandcare.org.au
- Children’s Rights Queensland Inspiration Booklet: childrensrights.org.au
- Building Belonging Toolkit (Songs & Posters): humanrights.gov.au
- Aussie Childcare Network Printables: aussiechildcarenetwork.com.au
BEST Childcare Consultancy
Children’s Week is a perfect time to slow down, listen to children’s voices, and make sure their rights are visible in your space. Use play, art, music, and stories to let even the youngest children explore ideas of fairness, health, and belonging. Document their ideas and share with families — this not only supports children’s learning but strengthens your Exceeding evidence.
As always, use these inspirations to lead your service throughout the whole year in your everyday practices to truly earn an exceeding rating.
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