Universal Children's Day celebrations come to Parliament House

Parliament House was overrun by children today as they celebrated Universal Children's Day with their parents, teachers and Members of Parliament.

Education and Training Minister Geoff Wilson said students from local State, Independent and Catholic schools attended the lunchtime event and participated in array of craft activities and storytelling.

"We wanted to help make their day extra special and what better way to do that than invite them to the very special place that is the Parliament of Queensland," he said.

"A few MPs even took time to read to the children because they know just 20 minutes of reading a day can make all the difference to a child's learning.

"I'd like to thank the Pyjama Foundation's Executive Director Bronwyn Sheehan, Children and Young People Commissioner Elizabeth Fraser and Brisbane Roar's mascot 'Roary' for their help with the celebrations."

Mr Wilson said Universal Children's Day was initiated by the United Nations in 1954 as a day of worldwide friendship and understanding between children.

"It was also intended that Universal Children's Day be a day of activity to promote the welfare of children around the world," Mr Wilson said.

"Universal Children's Day falls within Queensland Children's Week, which has been celebrated around the state since 1971.

"The early focus of Children's Week was on children in care but it is now also about recognising the need to protect and celebrate all children.

"It reminds us of our responsibility as individuals and as a community to provide a safe and caring environment for children's growth and development, particularly in the early years.

Mr Wilson said the Queensland Government was committed to this goal and had supported Children's Week since 1999.

"Over the past 12 months, my department has launched a number of initiatives that focus on the education and wellbeing of young Queenslanders," Mr Wilson said.

"We're rolling out up to 240 new kindergarten services around the state by 2014, with six new kindies already opened this year.

"More than 300 long day care services have also been approved to offer kindy programs."

"The Queensland Ready Readers program is being rolled out in state primary schools which will see volunteers reading with children in classrooms right across the state.

"It aims to improve children's literacy in the early years and encourage a lifelong love of reading.

"All these initiatives fit so well with the ethos of Universal Children's Day and Queensland Children's Week because they're about giving our children a flying start into learning and life."

Last Updated: November 2, 2010

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