KinderRijk Children’s Council: Creating better after-school care together!

The KinderRijk Children’s Council was held on 20 November: International Children’s Rights Day. As many as 18 children from 10 different after-school care locations gathered for the seventh time to discuss our educational policy with our director Margreet Hellemons-van Dijk.

After a pleasant lunch together, the Children’s Council members were officially welcomed and received the special Children’s Council button. They then discussed what makes after-school care fun. And they also talked about the activities: are they inspiring enough and do the children themselves also think up activities? In addition, children were asked to share their thoughts on outdoor play and eating and drinking times. The children then formed groups to work together.

They wrote down their tips and tops about after-school care on post-its and shared them with each other. This way, they not only contributed their own ideas, but also those of their fellow after-school care children. Afterwards, we all had a pleasant chat in the canteen and the children received a bouquet of flowers and a KinderRijk goodie bag as a thank-you gift.

We will include the valuable feedback provided by the Children’s Council in our policy evaluation. At KinderRijk, we believe it is important to listen to children and actively involve them in decisions. They can use this voice through the Children’s Council. Because thinking, participating and helping in decisions is equally important to children in after-school care!