You Have Rights! Learn About Children's Rights and the CRC

You have rights! A right is something every child deserves to have. Rights help keep you safe, healthy, and happy.

The United Nations, called the UN, made a special list of rights for all children. This list is called the CRC. Canada signed the CRC in 1991. That means Canada promised to protect your rights.

You can learn about Community Rules to see how rules and rights work together to keep everyone safe.

Right to a Name

Every child has the right to a name. Your name is how others know who you are. You get your name when you are born.

Right to Food and Clean Water

You have the right to food so you can grow and be healthy. You also have the right to clean water every day. These are basic needs that every child deserves.

Right to a Safe Home

You have the right to a safe place to live. A home gives you shelter, warmth, and security. Every child deserves a safe home.

Right to See a Doctor

When you are sick, you have the right to see a doctor. Doctors help you stay healthy and get better. Health care is an important right for every child.

Right to Learn

You have the right to go to school and learn. Learning helps you grow and reach your goals. Going to school is a right that all children have.

Right to Play and Rest

You have the right to play and enjoy free time. Play helps you grow, learn, and be happy. You also have the right to rest and sleep so you can feel your best.

Right to Love and Care

You have the right to love and care from the adults in your life. Being loved helps you feel safe and happy. Every child deserves to be loved and looked after.

Right to Share Your Feelings

You have the right to share your thoughts and feelings. Adults should listen to you. Being heard makes you feel valued and important.

Right to Know Your Culture

You have the right to know and learn about your culture. In Canada, many cultures are celebrated. First Nations children have the right to speak and learn their own language too.

Right to Be Treated Fairly

All children have the right to be treated fairly and equally. No child should be treated worse than another. Every child gets the same rights, no matter who they are or where they live.

Right to Be Safe from Harm

You have the right to be safe from harm. No one is allowed to hurt you. Being free from bullying is also a right you have at school.

You have rights, and you also have responsibilities. A responsibility is something you must do to help others. You have the responsibility to follow school rules and be kind to others.

Adults have responsibilities too. Parents, caregivers, and community helpers all have a role to protect your rights. Teachers help you use your right to learn every day.

You can explore Family Roles and Responsibilities to learn more about how families help protect your rights at home.

Rights: Rights are things every child deserves to have. They help keep you safe, healthy, and happy. For example, you have the right to food and a safe home.

CRC (Convention on the Rights of the Child): The CRC is a special list of rights made by the UN. It protects children all over the world. Canada signed the CRC in 1991.

UN (United Nations): The UN is a group of countries that work together. The UN made the CRC to protect children's rights everywhere.

Responsibilities: Responsibilities are things you must do to help others. Following school rules and being kind are responsibilities you have.

Basic Needs: Basic needs are things every child must have to live and grow. Food, water, shelter, and safety are basic needs.

Culture: Your culture is where you come from and the traditions your family shares. Every child has the right to know their culture.

Fair Treatment: Fair treatment means every child gets what they need and deserve. No child should be treated worse than another.

You can draw a picture of one of your rights. Think about your right to play or your right to go to school.

You can also talk with a grown-up about your rights at home. Ask them how they help protect your rights every day.

Learning about Respect for Others can help you understand how rights and kindness go together.

You already know about your Human Basic Needs: Water, Food, Shelter, and Emotional Security. These basic needs are also your rights!

You also know about Community Helpers who work every day to protect your rights and keep you safe.

Knowing about Group Participation and Shared Resources helps you understand how everyone works together to make sure all children have what they need.

Learning about your rights connects to many other important topics. Here is how they all fit together!

You will learn about Personal, Social, and Environmental Responsibilities. This topic shows you how your rights come with responsibilities to care for others and the world around you.

You will also explore Social Roles: Family, Teams, and Peer Relationships. This helps you see how the people around you support your rights every day.

Understanding Community Rules shows you how rules in your community help protect everyone's rights.

Learning about Respect for Others helps you understand that respecting others is part of making sure everyone's rights are honored.

You can connect your rights to Group Participation and Shared Resources, which show how working together helps everyone get what they need.

Knowing about Family Roles and Responsibilities helps you see how your family protects your rights at home.

Learning about Community Helpers shows you the adults who work to keep your rights safe every day.

Your knowledge of Human Basic Needs: Water, Food, Shelter, and Emotional Security connects directly to your rights, because your basic needs are also your rights.

This topic prepares you for bigger ideas like Balancing Individual Rights Against Public Interest, Civic and Environmental Duties: People and Planet Stewardship, Laws and Safety, and Decision Makers and the Impact of Their Choices.