Giving kids a voice

Brazilian Association of Greater Geelong's Arizete Guarino and Jennifer Mendes O'Connor will bring Big Rights for Little People to Armstrong Creek. (Ivan Kemp) 509734_02

Armstrong Creek East Community Hub will celebrate Children’s Week (11 to 26 October) with two interactive and cultural events this weekend.

Brazilian Association of Greater Geelong will host Big Rights for Little People, featuring a musical workshop, storytelling and yoga from 11am on Saturday 18 October.

President Arizete Guarino said the event would celebrate the rights, voices and choices of children.

“We will teach children how important it is to breathe and listen to their bodies to feel calm, safe and strong,” she said.

“This day is designed to be interactive and open to participation, so everyone can be involved, regardless of whether they are Brazilian or not.

“This is a vibrant and engaged event designed to immerse children in the rich culture of Brazil through various activities like traditional music, dance, crafts, storytelling, and yoga.”

Geelong Latin American Movement will host the Your Emotions, Your Voice event from 10am on Sunday 19 October, including activities such as yoga, arts, puppets and parent-child interactions.

Event coordinator Maria Peñaranda said the best way for children to learn about emotions was to move their bodies.

“It’s mostly to teach them about emotions and how to regulate them in a safe and fun environment through movement and parent and child interactions,” she said.

“We will do a puppet show where we will talk about a situation where the puppet said yes to something that she was not feeling right about or didn’t want to do.

“There will also be yoga for a half-hour session so kids can learn a pose and how to breathe and how to connect with their bodies and emotions, along with arts and crafts workshops.”

Visit eventbrite.com.au to register for the Children’s Week events.