Your best interests must be taken into account

Children’s rights include the principle that adults must make decisions that benefit the child. This is known as the best interests of the child. Your best interests must come first in decisions that concern you.

However, it is not always easy to determine what is in a child’s best interests. In such cases, the child’s rights must be considered collectively, rather than some being emphasised over others. The long term should always be considered, and the child’s views must be taken into account.

What does this mean?

Your parents or other guardians are responsible for making sure that you have the best possible opportunities to lead a good life. They must constantly consider what is best for you, for example when deciding on when you should go to bed or what kind of food you should eat. They should protect you from dangerous situations and ensure that you stay healthy and well.

It is also important that adults remember to ask for your opinion and explain the reason for decisions you are not happy with. This will often be because they believe the decision to be in your best interests and good for you in the long term.