How does this issue impact YOU and the people you care about?
STEP 1: 5 MINUTES
Get Curious: Pick A Story
Which stories and videos make you interested in learning more about this issue?
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Let's explore
Children's Rights
Rights - opportunities and resources that everyone should have, no matter who they are or what they do.
Ageism - Unfair assumptions and ideas that suggest middle-age adults deserve power over older adults and children.
Childism - Actions, rules, and ideas created by adults that suggest that a an adult's feelings, experiences, and ways of learning are more important and superior to those of children.
Child / Minor - a person who is younger than the age of 18 (in the US).
Guardian - an adult who has permission to make legal decisions that impact or control a specific minor's experiences, including their money, private information, where the minor goes, and who the minor spends time with.
SMASH THE KYRIARCHY
Why Act Now?
Children hold all of the responsibility for solving our future problems - with none of the power to prevent these challenges from getting worse.
A child doesn't have the same rights to protect themselves that adults do under current US laws. Guardians may share their child's private information - including photos of their bodies and details about embarrassing experiences, with strangers on the internet.
Guardians may hit, yell, and control a child in ways they are not allowed to do to other adults. Guardians may control a minor's property and money, lie to a child about their own medical information and bodies, and prevent children from learning about themselves and connecting with other kids like them.
This seems unfair, right? But we can change the laws and rules so all children can protect themselves from guardians who hurt them, learn about what's best for themselves, and make informed decisions about their future.
Children’s Rights & Anti-Childism: A Family Action Toolkit
For Youth Activists Against Childhood Exploitation
Ages 4-7
Ages 4-8
Ages 4-7
Ages 4-7
Ages 8+
Ages 12+
CHOSEN BY KYRIARCHY-SMASHING KIDS
Best Kids Stories About Youth Advocates
STEP 2: 10 MINUTES
Ask Questions
Talk about this topic with an adult who you trust to be honest with you..
How...
How do you feel when adults tell you:
"You're too young to understand."
"I'll tell you when you're older."
"Because I SAID so."
Which...
Which parts of your life do you want more control over?
How can you tell when adults create rules to keep you under their control?
How is this different from rules adults create to keep you safe and help you?
Who...
Who can you talk to if you don't like how an older person is treating you?
What are you afraid will happen if you disobey older people?
How will you listen and show respect to younger people as you grow up?
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STEP 3: USE WHAT YOU HAVE
Get Creative
Flex your brain using what you've learned & discover what's within your control to change.
Pre-K+
My Rights: Affirmation Cards
Print & decorate these Children's Rights Affirmation Cards.
As you move through each one - what does it mean to have each right? How do we protect these rights for other kids?
Which rights are not included? Create your own - and tell us about them in the comments below.
Pre-K+
We Move Together Activity Sheets
Most spaces are not designed for kids. When we create 'access' for people - we make a space safer and more welcoming for them.
Kids need access to spaces beyond schools and playgrounds. How can we make spaces more accessible for you?
Elementary+
Design Child-Centered Spaces
Beyond playgrounds - how would your day be different if restaurants, stores, and hospitals were designed for kids, and not just adults?
Tell a story, draw a picture, create a collage, use blocks, cardboard, or clay - design a space for kids like you.
Who would you need to talk with to create this space? What would you need to learn and do to create a space like this?
Elementary+
Quiz: Intro to Children's Rights
Find out how much you know about children's rights
Review the questions on your own, or take these three quizes on Kahoot to learn about the UN's Convention on the Rights of Children.
Available in multiple languages
RAISING LUMINARIES
Raising Luminaries creates workshops, training, and educational resources for parents & caregivers igniting the next generation of kind & courageous leaders.
ABOUT | MISSION | FINANCIALS | ACCOUNTABILITY
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
STAY IN TOUCH
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Posts may contain affiliate links and sponsorships, which allow me to earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
PARTNERS IN CAHOOTS
TOPICS
CONTACT
RECIPROCATE
Collaborate with Raising Luminaries on an issue important to you.
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IT'S STILL OKAY TO LAUGH
Hard conversations with humor & joy
Every month the Luminary Braintrust tackles a new member challenge to make talking about social justice easier in real life.
STEP 4: ASSESS YOUR CAPACITY
Step Into Your Power: Take Action
Whether it's time, money, or our voice - we all have something to contribute.
if you have 10 minutes
Grant Safe Passage for Unaccompanied Children
Every unaccompanied child deserves the chance to seek safety and refuge.
Urge the Biden Administration right now to ensure that unaccompanied refugee children and other vulnerable protection seekers can safely access asylum at the border.
DIG DEEPER
Bonus Resources
Share what worked for your family (and what didn't).
Add the resources you suggest in the comments below to help families like yours.
POSTER & ASL VIDEO
Elements of Children's Rights
Child-friendly posters, descriptions, and videos to help kids learn about international children's rights.
Multiple languages available
via Child Rights Connect
VIDEO
What Happened When We Let Kids Design Our City
By staying tenacious and resilient, we can keep working together toward the future we want.
Via Mara Mintzer for TEDx
VIDEO + OUTLINE
How Childism Shows Up In Progressive Kidlit
What happens when adults write kidlit about children, centering the adult gaze?
Via Ashia Ray & Raising Luminaries
Not a member yet? Join us.
REFLECTION PROMPTS
Trusting Our Kids To Take the Torch
Short articles in the style of a 5-day devotional reflection & journal prompt through a deconstructionist agnostic lens.
Via Ashia Ray & Raising Luminaries
Stay Curious, Stand Brave & Smash The Kyriarchy
Raising Luminaries reduces the workload on overworked caregivers
igniting the next generation of kind & courageous leaders
Ashia (they/them or she/her)
Raising Luminaries is founded & run by me, Ashia Ray – an Autistic, multiracial (Chinese/Irish) 2nd-generation settler raising two children alongside my partner on the homelands of the Wampanoag and Massachusett people. I support families and educators in raising the next generation of kind & courageous leaders, so we can all smash the kyriarchy together.
Reciprocate & Contribute
Help me keep these resources free & accessible for all
RAISING LUMINARIES
Raising Luminaries creates workshops, training, and educational resources for parents & caregivers igniting the next generation of kind & courageous leaders.
ABOUT | MISSION | FINANCIALS | ACCOUNTABILITY
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
STAY IN TOUCH
Get free weekly email notifications with toolkits, guides & little delights
FREE STUFF
JOIN OUR COMMUNITY
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Posts may contain affiliate links and sponsorships, which allow me to earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
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Collaborate with Raising Luminaries on an issue important to you.
You’re welcome to share & boost this toolkit, with attribution to Raising Luminaries.
Raising Luminaries is anchored in the land of the Wampanoag & Massachusett People.
Support Wôpanâak early childhood education here.
©2024 Ashia Ray of Raising Luminaries™. All rights reserved.
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Photographs via Unsplash & Illustrations via Storyset, used with permission.
2 comments
hi there i’m not able to access the PRE-K+
My Rights: Affirmation Cards in the Children’s Rights Toolkit.. it takes me to a google drive link & says I need to request access…
Thanks for pointing this out! I’ve opened access to the public, so you should be able to see it now. Reach out if you have any questions or need help.