CHILDREN’S WEEK – 6 October to 10 October

Sen. Lect. Sandra Martinuč

“Let Children’s Week be a celebration of joy, play, and friendship.”

Children’s Week, which we are celebrating this year from October 6 to 10, is an important event dedicated to children, their creative expression, play, socializing, and mutual connection. It is a week that highlights the importance of childhood, children’s rights, and a supportive environment in which children can develop, learn, and express their feelings, ideas, and talents. The purpose of Children’s Week is to strengthen the bonds between children, parents, educators, teachers, and the wider community, and to promote understanding of how important it is for children to grow up in a safe, friendly, and supportive environment where they feel accepted, valued, and heard.

Childhood is a period that plays a key role in shaping personality, self-image, and social skills. Professional literature emphasizes that through play, creative activities, and socializing, children develop empathy, independence, creative thinking, and a sense of belonging to the community. Play is not just fun, but a fundamental way of learning and discovering the world—through play, children explore, develop problem-solving skills, understand emotions, and learn to cooperate and respect others. Play also strengthens motor skills, concentration, and creative abilities, which are key to balanced development, as they enable children to navigate different situations independently and confidently.

It is important that adults give children the space, time, and support they need to play and be creative, listen to them, and encourage them to express their thoughts, desires, and feelings. This helps children develop self-confidence, a sense of responsibility, and the social skills they need to live in a community. Children who feel heard and accepted find it easier to learn, cooperate with others, and build positive relationships. Experts point out that children who grow up in a stimulating, safe, and supportive environment develop better social skills, greater curiosity for learning, and greater resilience to life’s challenges, which helps them successfully integrate into school and later adult life.

Children’s Week is also an opportunity for us as a society to show how important it is to value and respect children’s rights. Through various activities, children learn values such as friendship, cooperation, respect, and tolerance. These values form the basis for understanding, mutual assistance, and caring for others. At the same time, we remember that children’s happiness, curiosity, and sincerity are invaluable, and that it is the responsibility of adults to provide them with a carefree and safe childhood full of play, creativity, and warmth.

Children’s Week reminds us that every child is precious and that their well-being reflects the quality of society as a whole. By providing a supportive environment where children feel safe, accepted, and heard, we strengthen their self-confidence and emotional stability. Play, creativity, and socializing are not just activities, but key elements that enable children to develop their personalities, build positive interpersonal relationships, and learn values that will be important throughout their lives. Investing in childhood means investing in the future—in a society based on understanding, mutual respect, compassion, and shared values.

Children’s Week is an opportunity for us to come together as a community, celebrate the joy of childhood, and show children that they are heard, important, and valued. Let this be a week full of laughter, play, creativity, and warmth that will leave children with unforgettable memories and encourage them to continue exploring the world around them with curiosity and joy.