Vocabulary

Advocacy involves speaking up for others to make sure that their rights are respected and their wishes are heard and acted upon by decision makers. It also involves taking part in decisions and matters that affect one's life.
Empowerment is a process that helps people gain control over their own lives and act on issues that are important to them. It is also a social process because it occurs in relationship to others.
Statement is a definite or clear expression of something in speech or writing.

Purpose - 
Advocate for Play

Using the 3-Step-Tool to Empowerment, children identify a cause and write a statement of a situation worth advocating for that relates to any community's right to play. Some children may wish to examine organizations that work for this right to ascertain whether they wish to accomplish this work collaboratively with the organization.

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Child Asks: Where is there a community in need of better play opportunities for children?
Children's Rights Education enables the child to identify a community's need for the right to play.
Child Answers: I realize that some communities are deprived of the right to play.

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Classroom Learning Activities

1. Identify a Community's Need for the Right to Play
Students refer to the 3-Step-Tool to Empowerment to identify a cause worth advocating for that relates to a community's obligation to provide the right to play for every child. This includes the following process:

1. Research a community to determine whether it provides for the right to play. Children might decide to examine an organization that works to advocate for this right. 
2. Identify why this community is not fulfilling its obligation to provide every child with their right to play.
3. Write a Statement regarding the cause you are advocating for. 

3-Step-Tool Classroom Material available here.

Knowledge of rights guides the child to identify a cause worth advocating for. 

Go here to purchase this poster for your classroom.

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Relevant Convention Articles

Article 12
1. States Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views of the child being given due weight in accordance with the age and maturity of the child.
2. For this purpose, the child shall in particular be provided the opportunity to be heard in any judicial and administrative proceedings affecting the child, either directly, or through a representative or an appropriate body, in a manner consistent with the procedural rules of national law.
Article 13
1. The child shall have the right to freedom of expression; this right shall include freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of the child's choice.
2. The exercise of this right may be subject to certain restrictions, but these shall only be such as are provided by law and are necessary:
(a) For respect of the rights or reputations of others; or
(b) For the protection of national security or of public order (ordre public), or of public health or morals.
Article 14
1. States Parties shall respect the right of the child to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
2. States parties shall respect the rights and duties of the parents and, when applicable, legal guardians, to provide direction to the child in the exercise of his or her right in a manner consistent with the evolving capacities of the child.
3. Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health or morals, or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others.
Article 15
1. States Parties recognize the rights of the child to freedom of association and to freedom of peaceful assembly.
2. No restrictions may be placed on the exercise of these rights other than those imposed in conformity with the law and which are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, public order (ordre public), the protection of public health or morals or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.
Article 31
1. States Parties recognize the right of the child to rest and leisure, to engage in play and recreational activities appropriate to the age of the child and to participate freely in cultural life and the arts.
2. States Parties shall respect and promote the right of the child to participate fully in cultural and artistic life and shall encourage the provision of appropriate and equal opportunities for cultural, artistic, recreational and leisure activity.

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Online Resources and References

Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children (2011): Children's Right to Rest, Play, Recreation, Culture, and the Arts
Play = Learning: Yale University Conference on Play by Singer, Dorothy, Golinkoff, Roberta, and Hirsh-Pasek, Kathy