Here's your chance to be heard. How many
times have you felt that nobody is listening to you? There are ways to present
our ideas and opinions that make people more willing to hear what we have
to say. Do you think that kids should have a right to express what they feel
and take part in decisions that affect them? We will think about these things
in our discussions this week.
Discussion
Questions
Everyone wants to have
a say in matters that affect them. Name some of the circumstances or "matters"
that are important to you.
Think about a time
when you really wanted to have a say in something that affected you but it
was denied. How did it make you feel?
Why do you think that
adults don't always include kids in decision making?
Do kids in some countries
have more freedoms to express their opinion? Ask your friends in this project
from other countries what kinds of decisions they are able to make for
themselves.
Are you allowed to
make decisions about how you spend your free time for sports or hobbies?
Do your family members
like your type of music? Are you allowed to play your music at home in your
room?
Can you display posters
in your room?
"Just when I get my
room the way I like it, my mom says 'Clean your room!'" Comments?
Are there strategies
that help us express our opinions in a positive and nonthreatening way? Ask
other participants what strategies worked for them.
Should schools use
filtering software for the World Wide Web?
Is some information
harmful for kids?
Do you think that
kids should have the right to privacy?
Classroom
Activities
As a class, brainstorm
a list of issues and circumstances for which kids would like to have some
input. Divide your list into three areas: home, school, community. Break
into small groups and plan ways that your ideas can be heard. Share these
with the class.
Role play situations
where kids are presenting their ideas to adults. Be convincing. Support your
suggestions with valid information.
Arrange to meet another
class on Kidlink's chat network and discuss some of these questions.
Think of something that
you believe should be changed in your town. Write a letter to the editor
of the local newspaper or your elected official.
Use watercolor or any
type of paint and design a poster for your room asking the other members
in your house to respect your privacy. Make it *positive*, not negative.
Write a poem that tells
your parents what rights you think you should have at your home.
Kidlink
English
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2003
