The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (barnkonventionen) has been Swedish law since 2020 and shapes everyday life in förskola (municipal preschool, from age one) through four core principles: all children have the same rights, the best interests of the child must be weighed in every decision, the child has a right to development, and the child has a right to be heard. In practice it is about how rest time, meals, conflicts and the conversations with you are handled.
A framed copy of the convention hangs in the hallway of many preschools, but rarely does anyone explain what it means when your child refuses to sleep at rest time or two four-year-olds are fighting over the same bike. Here are the four principles, and what they mean on an ordinary Tuesday.
What the convention is
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child was adopted in 1989 and Sweden signed it the following year. It contains 54 articles covering everything from the right to a name to protection from violence. For thirty years it was an agreement that Swedish laws had to follow but could not be invoked directly. Since 1 January 2020 it has been Swedish law, which means a preschool, a social services office or a court must apply it like any other law. The preschool curriculum is built on it, and The Swedish preschool curriculum, explained for parents explains how the two fit together.
The four core principles
| Article | What it says | In preschool |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | All children have the same rights | No child is treated differently because of background, language, disability or the parents' situation |
| 3 | The best interests of the child come first | Decisions about groups, rest, food and routines must be explainable in terms of the child, not just the operation |
| 6 | The right to life, survival and development | The preschool must support each child's development, not just the group's |
| 12 | The right to express an opinion and be heard | Children get to have a say, in their own way and according to age, and staff genuinely listen |
Other articles you notice day to day
| Article | What it covers | How it shows |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Protection from violence and abuse | Staff are obliged to report concerns to social services, and the preschool has procedures for it |
| 23 | Children with disabilities | The right to support so the child can take part, not just be present |
| 28 | The right to education | Preschool is part of the education system, with a curriculum and qualified staff |
| 30 | The right to one's own language and culture | Children with another mother tongue may use it and receive support in it |
| 31 | The right to play, rest and leisure | Play is not a break from the programme, play is the programme |
How it shows in everyday life
- Rest time. A child who does not want to sleep should not be made to lie still for an hour. The preschool must find an approach that works for the child.
- Meals. No one has to clear their plate. Children can taste, choose and say no.
- Conflicts. Both children must be heard before staff decide anything.
- Language. Children with another mother tongue have the right to support in it, and to use it.
- Conversations with you. The child's own voice should be part of the development review (utvecklingssamtal), even when the child is three.
- Grouping. When children are split into groups, it should be possible to explain why that way, based on the children and not just the timetable.
- Time outdoors. The right to play applies even when it rains. A child who is cold should come in, but a child playing in a puddle should be allowed to carry on.
What the convention does not mean
That the child always gets to decide. The right to be heard means the child's view must be weighed, with regard to age and maturity, not that a three-year-old decides whether the group goes outside. The child's best interests can be something the child does not want: a rest, washing hands, waiting their turn. The difference is that staff must be able to explain why, to the child and to you. A preschool that says the children decide everything has misunderstood the convention just as badly as one that does not listen at all.
What you can expect and ask for
A preschool that works with the convention can explain how. At inskolning (the settling-in period when your child starts), ask how they work with children's influence, how they handle conflicts and what they do with children who do not want to sleep. The answers tell you more about the preschool than any brochure.
Five questions that get useful answers:
- What do you do when a child does not want to sleep at rest time?
- How do the children get to influence what you do during the day?
- What happens when two children fight over the same thing?
- How do you work with children who have another mother tongue?
- How does the child get a voice in the development review?
Answers that begin with an example from last week are good answers. Answers that begin with a statement of values are not. We describe how the conversation with the preschool works in our guide to Parent-teacher meetings at förskola.
If something is not right
If you feel the preschool is doing something that is not good for your child: speak first with the staff on your child's section, then with the head (rektor). Frame it as a question about the child's best interests rather than an accusation, and you are more likely to get a real answer. If that does not help, the municipality (kommun) has supervisory responsibility for both municipal and independent preschools, and Barnombudsmannen (the Ombudsman for Children) is the authority that monitors compliance with the convention in Sweden, although it does not take on individual cases.
The convention and your nanny
The convention applies to public authorities, not private individuals, but the principles are just as good at home. When we match a nanny with a family, we ask the child, not only the parents. Does it feel right to a four-year-old? That is what decides it, and it is why you always meet the nanny at home before you make up your mind.
How we do it with our families
The child's best interests are also the reason we never swap nannies from week to week. A child who knows who is coming on Tuesday has something to look forward to, and an adult who knows the child makes better decisions in the moment. It is the convention in miniature. When the nanny comes to your home for the first meeting, she spends a while on the floor with the child before talking to the parents, and the child is part of the visit. If a five-year-old says afterwards that it did not feel right, we listen. It rarely happens, but when it does, the child is the one who is right.
Would you like a nanny who comes on the same days every week and whom the children know? Book a free first meeting with the nanny at your home, and we will work out a quote for your hours.
Read more: The Swedish preschool curriculum, explained for parents · Parent-teacher meetings at förskola · Settling in at förskola · FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is the Convention on the Rights of the Child law in Sweden?
Yes, since 1 January 2020. That means Swedish public authorities, including preschools, must apply it directly and that it carries more weight when other legislation is interpreted. Sweden signed the convention back in 1990, but it was only as law that it gained real weight in daily life.
Which articles matter most in preschool?
Article 2 on all children having the same rights, article 3 on the best interests of the child, article 6 on the right to life and development, and article 12 on the child's right to be heard. These four are called the core principles. Article 31, on the right to play, rest and leisure, is the one you notice most on an ordinary day.
What do the best interests of the child mean in practice?
That when staff decide something that affects the child, they have thought through what is best for that particular child and can explain it. It applies to everything from rest time to how a conflict between children is handled. It does not mean the child always gets their way, but that their needs are weighed in.
Can we as parents refer to the convention?
Yes. If you feel the preschool is doing something that is not good for your child, you can ask them to explain how they have considered the child's best interests. It is a legitimate question, and a good preschool is happy to answer it. If you get no answer, you can turn to the head, and after that to the municipality, which has supervisory responsibility.
Does the convention apply at home?
The convention is addressed to the state and public authorities, not to parents, so it cannot be invoked at the kitchen table. But the principles work just as well at home: the child gets a say, gets an explanation, gets to play and rest. It is what most parents already do, without calling it anything.