Big Challenges for Children of the World

One of the best ways teachers can help students grow is by challenging them to look at things in a new way. This means that teachers sometimes have to discuss issues that are difficult to broach, such as the challenges children face throughout the world. Every day there are children who deal with the effects of poverty, war, and inadequate medical care. Some of these children even live in the United States.

In 1954, the United Nations General Assembly voted to institute a Universal Children’s Day. The day has several objectives that include enhancing understanding between children and promoting the welfare of young people. In the United States, International Children’s Day is celebrated June 1st. This celebration can be a time to discuss the progress that has been made to secure children’s rights and the steps that still need to be taken.

The Problems Children Face Worldwide

A good way to enter into a discussion of children’s rights is to ask your class what they know about the challenges youngsters face due to political, economic, or social problems. They can list the problems and then discuss what, if anything, has been done to address these issues. UNICEF has a list of press releases that delve into a variety of issues relating to children’s basic rights. This information could be used to spur discussion about these topics.

Then, you can discuss the Millennium Development Goals devised by world leaders in 2000. The MDG’s were devised as a means of tackling such problems as extreme poverty, the spread of HIV/AIDS and the lack of educational opportunities for many children worldwide. The target date for completion of these objectives is 2015.While the goals relate to humankind as a whole, six of the eight goals directly relate to children.

The Millennium Development Goals are:

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2. Achieve universal primary education
3. Promote gender equality and empower women
4. Reduce child mortality
5. Improve maternal health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
7. Ensure environmental sustainability
8. Global partnership for development

There is a wealth of information about the Millennium Development Goals on the United Nations website. If you click on each of the goals, you will see a list of facts about each of the issues. For example, if you click on the icon labeled eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, you will see that one of the goals is to reduce by half, the number of people making less than $1.25 a day. The fact that people make less than $1.25 a day in other countries should be eye-opening for your students. This could lead to an interesting and fruitful discussion about the minimum wage in the United States, the definition of poverty, and other related topics.

Learning the Facts about Circumstances Children Face

One way to interest your class in children’s rights is to ask them to research a particular topic and report their findings back to the class. You could have them choose one of the Millennium Development Goals that relate to children, and have them find out as much information as they can about the topic. They can look for articles, books, YouTube videos and other materials that relate to their chosen issue. This would be a great time to review the difference between reliable and unreliable sources. Work together with your pupils to come up with a list of resources that would provide the best, most reliable information. Also take the time to discuss where they might find less reliable, or unreliable information. 

International Children's Day is Really All about Children

A discussion of International Children’s Day should provide pupils with a more complete understanding of the issues young people face throughout the world. This knowledge can help them make informed decisions in the future. Here are a few resources from Lesson Planet to help you plan your class's observance of International Children's Day. 

International Children’s Right’s Organizations

Kids learn about the ways advocacy groups help children throughout the world. They discuss how children’s advocacy groups work. This is a great way for learners to understand how the objectives listed in the Millennium Development Goals are put into action.

Children of War

By reading first-hand accounts of children involved in wars, learners get an idea about what this experience might be like. They compare the experiences of children in different parts of the world. The lesson culminates with theater exercises.

The Rights of the Child

Using the UN’s Declaration on the Rights of a Child as a guide, kids talk about personal rights. They create their own bill of rights. Then, they create a display to share their work. 

What Countries Say/What Countries Do Regarding Children’s Rights

Countries throughout the world are expected to provide children with basic rights. Pupils evaluate whether a country has made progress toward their goals. This is a creative way to have your class discuss what countries are doing to ensure that everyone’s needs are met.