At The Cridge Children’s Services, we are often privileged to be with children from their infancy through the toddler years and into elementary school, as many continue with us as they enter out-of-school care. We delight in watching children grow, and we take their development seriously at every age and stage.
A central focus of our work is supporting children in discovering and valuing their own strengths. Our team nurtures each child’s self-worth so they can move through the world with confidence. We aim to equip children to care for their own well-being while becoming respectful members of their community. We do this by teaching children to develop agency, the ability to make choices and have a say in things that affect them. Practicing agency helps children recognize their abilities and value themselves, which builds self-respect.
With self-respect as a foundation, children gain the confidence to actively advocate for themselves. Together, these skills create a positive cycle: exercising agency builds self-respect, and self-respect empowers children to speak up and act with confidence.
Self-advocacy is especially important for teaching consent and building healthy relationships. When children can express their needs and respect their own limits, they are better able to ask for permission, say “no” when something doesn’t feel right, and honour the choices of others. How this looks depends on a child’s age: for infants, it might mean telling them you’re about to wash their face rather than surprising them; for toddlers, asking if they want help with their shoes; and for older children, allowing them to decline a hug, even from a loved family member.
Teaching children to advocate for themselves helps them grow into confident, caring individuals who respect themselves, others, and the world around them.
