Over the course of this week, I had the opportunity to speak with several people who are committed to giving little ones the best possible start in life. However, at the end of Great Week for Young Children, it becomes clear that respect for certain fundamental rights does not seem to be guaranteed for all young children in Quebec.
Take, for example, the right to food, clothing and a safe place to live. In other words, the base. The latest Quebec parent survey found that in 2022 in Quebec, 25% of parents of children aged 0 to 5 years felt their income was insufficient or very insufficient to meet their family’s basic needs, namely shelter, food and clothing .
Doubly vulnerable
There is cause for concern when we know that children growing up in low-income households are more at risk when they start school; that those experiencing food insecurity are at greater risk of experiencing delays in cognitive, motor and neurophysiological development; that those who live in homes that are not adapted to their family’s needs because they are too small or too expensive are more likely to have poorer academic performance and suffer abuse.
Certain children deserve special attention because they are particularly affected by these inequalities because they live in a disadvantaged environment, because they are indigenous, have a migrant background or because they need special support. These children are doubly vulnerable: they live in the most difficult conditions and face barriers to accessing services, be they geographical, financial, linguistic or even administrative.
lever
Scientific literature and practical experience point us to several possible levers for creating favorable conditions for the development of young children in the family.
What if the affordable housing that will soon be built was designed for families that were large enough and located in the heart of safe neighborhoods where children could move and socialize?
What if fruits, vegetables and dairy products were subsidized for parents who can’t afford them for their child?
What if the church created a support network for families going through a difficult time?
What if children who need special support were supported as soon as they arise, without having to wait for a formal diagnosis?
What if we took inspiration from community organizations that find a way to overcome barriers to accessing services, rather than asking already-buried families to overcome them themselves?
According to the United Nations International Convention on the Rights of the Child, governments have a responsibility to ensure that the rights of children are respected. They must also help parents protect these rights and create an environment that promotes the development of children’s potential.
Small children are completely dependent on us adults. They have neither the right to vote nor political or economic influence. Because their brains are so receptive to what presents themselves in their environment, it is important that their needs are met during this amazing time of early childhood.
Julie Cailliau, Director, Infant Observatory