Introduction

All children need to know their rights. Rights help to keep children safe. It helps children, parents and other persons to know what is right and wrong to give and do to children. In this book, you will learn that children have rights to food, clothes, a home and good health  ( United Nations, n.d). When we keep children's rights, they get what they need and grow into the best that they can be.

Jimmy looked through his bedroom window.

“Wah, Wah,” Jimmy cried. Mummy left Jimmy home alone .

He was feeling very sad, hungry, afraid and lonely.

Jimmy’s mummy is never at home. She went out with her friends.

Jimmy has not bathed. His mum did not give him water to drink or food to eat. Jimmy was only five years old and he had to take care of himself. 

(Violin, 2010). 

As Jimmy was looking through the window, he saw a lady.  She had an orange shirt and green hair. Is this Aunty Pam? thought Jimmy. It was. She is Jimmy’s favourite aunty. When she comes to see him, she brings snacks, toys and nice clothes for him.

(Pylones Studio, n.d.).

Jimmy rushed to open the door and ran to hug her. He had not seen his aunty for a long time now.

He cried, “ Aunty, I am so happy to see you! I am so hungry.” 

Aunty Pam was so shocked to see Jimmy. He was so dirty and smelly. 

(FreePik, n.d.). 

She asked, “ Where is Mommy Lizzy?"

He said, “ Mummy is with her friends. She always leaves me home alone.”

Aunty Pam was so upset that Jimmy’s mummy did not feed or bathe him. 

She made him some pancakes, with eggs and a warm glass of chocolate tea.

(Recipes.net Team, 2020).

She said to him, “Listen Jimmy, every child must have food to eat, clean clothes to wear, clean water to drink and a home to live in. This is a child’s right.”

Jimmy said, “ Mummy  gave me a home but I am always alone.”

Aunty Pam said, “This is called child neglect."

(Dreamstime, n.d.). 

(Clean shirt,n.d.)

(Prior Lake Minnesota, n.d.).

(HGTV, 2020).

Then she went to bathe Jimmy. When Jimmy moved his shirt, she saw a very bad sore on his tummy. 

“What happened here Jimmy?” she asked.

 “Yesterday, I was frying an egg and the oil splashed on me. I got burnt,” he answered.

Aunty Pam said, “ Jimmy, it is your right to have good health. Your mummy needs to take care of you.”

She cleaned up the sore and put some medicine  and a band aid on it.

Then, in came Jimmy’s mummy. 

Aunty Pam walked angrily to her and said, “ Lizzy, where are you coming from? Why did you leave Jimmy home alone?”

She answered and said, “ Jimmy is a big boy. He can take care of himself.”

Aunty Pam answered and said, “ No, he is not. He is a child. You need to feed him, bathe him, give him clean water to drink, and take care of him when he gets hurt. If you do not do so, I will let the police know. Then, they will make a way for him to get a better home.” 

Jimmy’s mummy was quiet.

Aunty Pam said to Jimmy, “ If mummy does not take care of you, tell your teacher. If she leaves you home alone, press 999 on the phone to call the police. They will get someone to take care of you.”

Later that day, Aunty 

Pam went home.

One month later, Aunty Pam went to see Jimmy.  Jimmy was not home alone.  He was making a cake with his mummy. He was happy, clean and healthy.

 Jimmy’s mummy did not want the police to arrest her. She did not want them to take Jimmy away. She knew it was Jimmy’s right to be cared for.