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And how are the children?

Canada declares Nov. 20 National Child Day. What does this mean for us? It is a day to take a step back from our busy lives and focus on the kids who surround us. To take a look at the children who will make up our future generation of leaders.

Canada declares Nov. 20 National Child Day. What does this mean for us? It is a day to take a step back from our busy lives and focus on the kids who surround us. To take a look at the children who will make up our future generation of leaders. The children, who in the near future will be the care takers of those of us who will be elderly.

The Battlefords Early Childhood Community Planning Network (BECCPN) invited Dr. Jean Clinton to the Battlefords Oct. 20 to assist us in delivering a key message. It is now time to follow the recommendations of Dr. Clinton and to ask ourselves, and those around us, "and how are the children?"

Dr. Clinton posed this question to the community, when she enlightened BECCPN with several compelling talks about the importance of early childhood development. She explained that the traditional greeting passed among the Masai warriors in Africa - "Casserian Engeri" - means, "and how are the children?"

This question is still the traditional greeting of the Masai, acknowledging the high value they place on the children's well being. Even warriors with no children of their own would always give the traditional answer, "All the children are well." This means that peace and safety prevail; the priorities of protecting the young and the powerless are in place; that the Masai people had not forgotten their reason for being or their proper function and responsibilities. "All the children are well" means life is good. It means the daily struggles of existence, even among poor people, include proper care of the young and defenceless.

The BECCPN would like to suggest that on National Child's Day you ask yourself this same question. "And how are the children?" How might it affect the consciousness of our community in the Battlefords, and our children's welfare if we greeted each other in this way? We are not innocent bystanders in the lives of children, we are the adults who are guiding them, teaching them and inspiring them to be the best they can be. We have a huge responsibility to get involved in the lives of our children and to make a difference.

The BECCPN has developed a Children's Charter for the Battlefords that has been endorsed by the City of North Battleford and the Town of Battleford. Two of the rights listed in the Charter are: The right to loving relationships, which means to have adults who believe in your hopes and dreams; and the right to belong, which is interpreted as a supportive family and community that advocates for you and is responsive and accepting. Clinton shared that the number one predictor in a child's school readiness and success is their social and emotional well-being. Our kids need a sense of belonging, not just within their family and their school, but within their community as a whole. We all play a part in that.

We encourage every adult who reads this article to ask themselves today and every day, how did I impact the life of a child today? Clinton said she believes every child should have at least one adult in their life, whose eyes light up when that child enters the room. Some of our First Nation cultures believe the supportive community that surrounds a child should be even larger, and that each child should have at least five adults who's eyes light up when they enter a room.

On National Child Day we ask each of you to put the stress of your busy lives to the side, and focus your energy on our children. What did your eyes say to the kids you met today? Did your eyes light up? Did they show that child they are unique, special, loved and important? We know, as adults we can do better at this. If your eyes did not sparkle as much as you know they could, there is always tomorrow and each day after that. Let your eyes speak to the kids in your life, let your arms embrace that child and let's make sure every child in our community knows they are loved and cared for!

The BECCPN has a wish that on National Child Day, 2015 when we ask, "and how are the children?" We will not need to pause or wonder. Instead we will proudly and confidently say; "all the children are well." Our wish for you is that when you hear that, you can proudly say; "and I had a part in that!"