Children's Renegade Rights

A child has :

• A right to unstructured free play.
• A right to choose her own playmates.
• A right to use props and choose his own play themes.
• A right to uninterrupted play during playtime.
• A right to feel safe.
• A right not to have objects taken from her (forced sharing).
• A right to move and use his body vigorously.
• A right to be outside.
• A right experience and express full range of her emotions.
• A right to ask questions and know things.
• A right to stand up for his own rights by setting limits on others' behavior.
• A right to be listened to, to be respected, and to have her rights consistently supported by adults.
• A right to grow at his own unique pace, following the natural course of child development.

But the must and most important rule need to be applied, that is : It's OK if it's not hurting people (physically and emotionally) and property.

And of course, rights and limits go hand in hand. It is also important for parents to set appropriate limits.


From the book : It's OK Not To Share.