Rights: Now! A resource to support conversations with children and young people on COVID-19

A resource to support conversations with children and young people on COVID-19 for teachers and those working with young people.

As you and your students settle back into onsite learning, no doubt there will be ongoing COVID-19 conversations with children and young people, not only about their learning but their current and future aspirations in general.

We have heard a lot from politicians, and the health and business communities regarding COVID-19 impacts and hopes. However, the voice of children and young people has been relatively absent.

To support children and young people to share their voice during this time, the Office of the Children’s Commissioner would like to recommend our ‘Rights: Now! Engaging with children on matters that affect them’ resources.

For students years 3-6

The Rights: Now! education resource provides a great introduction for you and children and young people to develop an understanding and practical application of children’s rights. 

This resource has a specific focus on a child’s right to have their say, participate and be heard on issues that affect them.

It is a level 2-3 education resource which includes two sessions and hands-on activities as well as background information and resources.  It provides children with the opportunity to exercise their right to have a say in their world, whether it be in their school, community or the whole country and is a great way to support them to plan and share their thoughts and ideas regarding COVID-19.

For students years 7 – 10

This Rights:Now! self-directed learning resource is intended to be read alongside other resources which talk about rights. You can download this below.

Young people are provided with introductory information on their rights and suggested lines for individual inquiry and subsequent engagement.

Links with the New Zealand Curriculum

Our ‘Rights: Now! Engaging with children on matters that affect them’ resources are designed to encourage learners as innovative thinkers and to critically analyse questions related to their rights. It aligns with principles and values from the Curriculum including future focus; innovation, inquiry, and curiosity; and community participation.

Other supporting resources

To support student COVID-19 inquiries, we suggest referring to the COVID-19 Wellbeing ‘modules’, specifically modules two and three, where you will find useful activities and resources to support learning.

We would love to hear from you!

If you would like to share links to your students’ COVID-19 projects and/or engagements on social media, please share by tagging ‘Children’s Commissioner NZ’ on Facebook or Twitter or by sending us the link to the post. We would love to hear about and see what they have been doing!

We wish you and your students all the best for the months ahead.