World Children's Day. What rights actually mean to a child.

My daughter turned to me one day and said: I have a right to say what I think. She was eight. She had learned this at school — the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child had been mentioned in a lesson. She was not being defiant. She was stating something she understood to be true and wanted to confirm.

I said: yes. You do. And I have to listen to what you think. That doesn't mean I have to do what you say. But I have to listen.

She thought about this. Then: 'Most adults don't actually do that.' I said: you're right. Many don't. It's something we're all trying to do better.

My daughter turned to me one day and said: I have a right to say what I think. She was eight. She had learned this at school. She was not being defiant. She was stating something she understood to be true and wanted to confirm. I said: yes. You do. And I have to listen to what you think. That doesn't mean I have to do what you say. But I have to listen. She said: most adults don't actually do that. I said: you're right. Many don't. It's something we're all trying to do better.