A child is a human being who has not reached the age of 18. Children need to be protected, loved and cared for in order to grow up healthy. They are the future and they deserve to be happy. There are a lot of things that can make life better for children, such as good food, clean water and health care. There are also a lot of problems that can make life worse for children, such as war, poverty and poor education.

A good way to protect children is by ensuring they go to school. A well-trained teacher can help children learn about themselves, the world around them and how to solve problems. They can also teach them how to read and write. A good school can also provide children with the best food, clean water and medical care they need to stay healthy.

Almost half of the world’s population is now made up of children, and there are many issues that can affect them. These include lack of access to quality education, child labour and the exploitation of children for profit, and the risk of teenage pregnancy and violent relationships. Children are also at increased risk of being killed and injured in armed conflict.

The United Nations has an important treaty called the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which sets out all the rights that children have. Governments must respect these rights. They can only take away a child’s rights if they have a very good reason. Children have the right to be free from harm, including physical and emotional abuse. They have the right to be looked after by their parents or legal guardians. They have the right to be educated and to have their views respected. They have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and to express their beliefs in any way they choose, as long as this does not harm other people.

Children have the right to an identity – an official record of who they are, which includes their name and nationality. This record should be kept safe and should never be taken away from them. They have the right to be helped if they are sick or hurt, and to get a job and good housing. They have the right to an education and to a healthy environment, and to be treated fairly when they are in court.

If you want to read more about what the UN says about children, visit their website. You can also find out about the children’s rights organizations that work to protect them. These organizations are there to make sure that children have the opportunity to achieve their full potential. They are also there to support families, and work with other agencies to improve the lives of children. For example, the UN Children’s Fund, which supports child welfare and development, works to improve the quality of life for children through early childhood intervention, education, health care, nutrition and more.