We at Children’s Guide, our extended families and our circles of friends all have different types of families, different parenting methods and very individual beliefs on what are the best way to raise our children and interact with our communities.
However, for the purposes of the Children’s Guide website and publications, for providing information and registering businesses we have a few philosophies.
Core philosophy
All children, families and communities should be safe, healthy, nurtured and happy – always, everywhere, with everyone.
Safe
All children should be safe and feel safe, with their families, carers, friends, peers and strangers, at home, in their communities and beyond, all the time.
Healthy
For the majority of children who are born healthy, they should be given every opportunity to stay that way throughout their childhood and into teens, providing great foundations and positive attitudes to becoming and remaining a healthy adult.
For children who are born with health issues, or where health issues present themselves later, children should have the right to easily and affordably access services, products, treatments, for an improved quality of life while living with, treating or recovering from health issues.
Nurtured
Support, services, networks, products and information should be readily available right from the very start for planning and caring for children, developing their social skills, learning and interests, and nurturing each child’s own individual and unique growth.
Happy
Children should have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of activities which communities have to offer, freedom to use their imaginations and opportunities to be resourceful in developing their own activities. “I’m bored” is a complaint which seldom should be heard, and when it is heard, children should be offered options which will keep them happy when at home, and suit their families and budgets when planning an outing or choosing products.
Family
For Children’s Guide, a family is at least one parent, or caregiver in the parent role, and at least one child of any age who depends on that parent. All children should find safety, love and happiness with their immediate and extended families. Families should spend quality time together, and lots of it.
Parents
All children, families and communities should have an equal right and an equal voice to ask questions, seek information and share knowledge, and to be heard. To keep children safe, healthy, nurtured and happy at home and in their communities, parents should have the right to make their own choices. Parents should have the freedom to access relevant, varied and sufficient information and resources, to enable them to make informed decisions on what is best for their families. Parenting should be a joy, not a burden.
Community
Children should find safety, comfort, happiness and belonging in their communities, to develop socially and be supported in their individuality, to be able to learn from their communities, and to find out about, appreciate, respect and enjoy other individuals, groups and communities.
Balance
Children should have a balanced range of activities to stay safe, healthy, nurtured and happy, so that they may enjoy and fondly remember their childhoods, with the hope and promise of safe, healthy, nurtured and happy teen and adult years ahead.
Respect
Families and communities should have respect for and teach their children respect for all other families and communities, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, political, religious, philosophical, environmental, professional, associations or any other lifestyle choices or beliefs.
Inner child
We believe that every adult should feel free to unleash their inner child.
