By Shamsiya Hussainpoor
The State Government helped local communities celebrate Children’s Week with hundreds of fun and educational activities and events across Victoria.
Children Minister Lizzie Blandthorn visited the Richmond Community Learning Centre on Monday, 21 October, to celebrate more than 200 recipients of grants that delivered Children’s Week activities.
Councils and not-for-profit organisations shared in more than $180,000 to provide a wide range of exciting activities for families across Victoria, including music and dance workshops, cooking sessions, arts and crafts, outdoor games, performances, gardening, exhibitions, storytelling, and local fairs.
Running from 19 to 27 October, Children’s Week 2024 engaged thousands of young Victorians in activities organised by early childhood services, community groups, cultural organisations, libraries, and local councils.
The theme for that year’s Children’s Week focused on kids’ right to a clean and safe environment, and the Hills had a range of activities to keep the kids busy throughout the week.
Yarra Ranges Council ran a programme at Monbulk Creek that taught kids about the local platypus habitat, hunted for water bugs, and played games to highlight waterway conservation.
Stevie, who lives in the Hills, came to Monbulk Creek for Kids Week with her mum, dad, and sister.
“We have to keep the water clean and not put any rubbish in it so the platypus can survive,” five-year-old Stevie said.
Matthew and his mum, Sandra, are new to the Yarra Ranges and really appreciate the great variety of free activities that the Yarra Ranges Council offers for families and kids.
“We make the water so polluted, people put so much stuff into the water that doesn’t belong, and it becomes dangerous for the platypus and other animals,” eight-year-old Matthew said.
Cockatoo Community House, along with Windana, hosted a ‘Storytelling Through Collage’ workshop. Children explored environmental conservation by creating a collage or book, using recycled materials to craft scenes of clean parks, recycling efforts, and wildlife habitats, while fostering teamwork and inspiring action for a cleaner, safer planet.
The Basin Community House offered sessions focusing on outdoor learning, play, and fun. Activities and stories were outdoor-themed, focusing on sustainability and First Nations culture, through totems and yarning circles. Activities included a themed scavenger hunt and catering with healthy food.
Knox City Council encouraged families and children to connect and play in their space, with activities such as songs, movement, storytime, a book swap, and a road safety session.
Upwey Ferntree Gully Baseball Club showcased female State and National elite athletes in sport to inspire junior female athletes. For junior males, an external speaker discussed their role in providing a safe, inclusive environment for their female teammates. Modified baseball games ran after these discussions.
The Dandenong Ranges Music Council, along with the Ranges Young Strings, hosted Children’s Week for primary school-aged children, allowing them to experience a variety of stringed instruments at local primary schools.
The first Belgrave South Scouts presented the first Dandenong Ranges Youth Market and Community Day, where activities for children included scout activities like a rope bridge, a visit from The Lizard Wizard, and tree planting and biodiversity education provided by Cloudy Forest Farm.
Selby Community House invited local children and families to a Movie and Pizza Night, encouraging everyone to wear their favourite pyjamas and bring along a beanbag or cushion to sit on while watching a family-friendly movie and enjoying some pizza. Families also explored the Indigenous Bush Foods garden and Minak Reserve.
The annual national campaign celebrated the right of children to enjoy childhood, showcasing their talents, skills, achievements, and rights while providing educational experiences for them and their families.
More than 40,000 children and families participated in Children’s Week activities in 2023, with the Labor Government supporting over 200 community events through grant funding.
Children’s Week events were entirely free for families with children up to 12 years of age, providing an opportunity for Victorian families to come together and enjoy fun, engaging, and educational experiences in their communities.
Check out the January school holiday programs, to stay updated on future programs, families can subscribe to, Yarra Ranges Council.
