Children's Week is celebrated from October 24 to November 1 this year and is all about recognising the talents, skills, achievements and rights of young people in our community.

As well as encompassing Universal Children's Day, as nominated by the United Nations, on Wednesday 28 October, this year's Week incorporates a new scheme from The Alannah & Madeline Foundation - Children 365: Celebrate Them Every Day.

Children 365 will be celebrated for the first time in 2009 on November 1 and is an initiative that encourages adults to take the time to think about why the children in their lives are important and how they can spend time together. We think that the lives of many at-risk young people - like the ones we work with - could be greatly improved by the adults in their lives dedicating a few minutes to how important their children are.

It signifies the end of a week of celebrating children and the commitment to cherish and protect our children every day of the year. Children365 will be launched by the Victorian Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development, The Hon Maxine Morand, on Sunday 1 November 2009, at a family day at Melbourne Museum.

The concept for Children 365 was developed after the death of Darcey Freeman. Following the loss of their little girl, Darcey's mother and her family suggested an annual day to cherish all children. They asked The Alannah and Madeline Foundation to help make it a reality and now, on the first day of Children365 each year, adults will be encouraged to make promises and declarations about their children for the year ahead and we would love for all our supporters to do exaclty that using the Alannah & Madeline Foundation's neat '365' formula...

3 reasons I love my children

6 ways they make me smile

5 things we will do together this year

For more infomation about Children 365, you can visit The Alannah & Madeline Foundation site.

Every Victorian council and shire is holidng a range of activities as part of the wider Children's Week celebrations - you can see the calendar of events on the Childre's Week website here.