Putting children first isn’t idealism, it’s necessity

As a new year gets underway, governments, organisations and households are making decisions about what matters most – what to fund, what to protect, and what can wait. Too often, putting children first is treated as an ideal rather than a necessity. But in a world shaped by climate shocks, instability and growing inequality, putting children first is not optional, it’s essential.

In a remote coastal community in Solomon Islands’ Malaita Province, king tides now flood the village most months. Sea levels are rising, saltwater is contaminating soil and freshwater sources, and families are being forced to adapt in real time. Food gardens have been moved to higher ground. Parents climb the hills with children at their side, tending crops that once grew easily near the shore. They worry about what tomorrow will bring and whether their children will have enough to eat. Families who have lived here for generations now fear they may one day have to leave the land they call home. 

This is not a future scenario. It’s happening right now and is reshaping childhood in our Pacific neighbourhood.

In 2026 children are facing some of the greatest pressures in modern history, at the same time as the systems designed to protect them are under severe strain. From climate change and conflict to food insecurity and disrupted education, the risks to children are growing – particularly in regions already facing inequality and limited resources. 

Last year exposed just how fragile our humanitarian and development systems have become. Sudden shifts in international aid funding saw vital programmes paused or cut, leaving communities without reliable access to food, healthcare, education and protection. 

These funding shocks did not arrive in isolation. They came as climate change accelerates, extreme weather events intensify, and families are pushed closer to the edge. Children are living with the consequences – disrupted schooling, poorer nutrition, and increased exposure to harm.  

Climate change is accelerating these challenges, especially in low-lying island nations and climate-vulnerable regions. 

But despite growing pressure on human and child rights globally, there have also been signs of progress. Across the regions we work in, communities, governments and young people themselves continue to push for change. In Solomon Islands, the Government signalled support of the proposed increase to the legal marriage age from 15 to 18, following long-term campaigning by Save the Children and others to end child marriage in the country. Other landmark reforms around the globe include banning corporal punishment in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Thailand, to Bolivia criminalising child marriage and passing a digital protection law.  

But the events of the past year have also exposed a deeper truth: the humanitarian and development system must evolve. Over-reliance on a small number of donors leaves vital services vulnerable to political and economic shifts far beyond the control of affected communities. The future must be more resilient, more diverse in its funding, and more locally led. 

We are already seeing momentum toward change. Across the sector, there is a growing commitment to shifting power and resources closer to communities themselves – recognising that local organisations are often best placed to respond quickly, effectively and sustainably. Innovation, too, is playing a greater role, from digital tools that improve transparency to community-driven approaches that put children and families at the centre of programme design. 

Children do not stop wanting to learn, play or feel safe simply because the world around them is unstable. They remind us why this work matters so deeply. 

Each year, I meet children and families across the Pacific, Asia and here in Aotearoa. What they ask for is not complicated: a chance to grow up healthy, educated and heard. They want adults, including leaders and decision-makers, to listen to them and act in their best interests. If 2025 exposed the fragility of the old aid model, then 2026 must be the year we build something stronger. A system that is more accountable, more inclusive and better equipped to meet the realities of a changing world. 

Putting children first is not sentimental. It is the most practical, urgent, and far-sighted choice we can make. Decisions made today shape outcomes for decades: poor nutrition, interrupted education, or exposure to violence can leave permanent scars on a child’s life, while strong support unlocks their potential and strengthens communities. Investing in children delivers some of the highest returns of any public investment, from healthier economies and safer communities to more resilient societies able to recover from disasters. Ignoring children undermines long-term stability, while listening to them – giving them education, protection, and a voice – leads to smarter policies, stronger programmes, and a fairer future. How we treat our children reflects who we are: putting them first is a measure of our values, our priorities, and our willingness to build a world where every child can thrive. 

Save the Children’s founder, Eglantyne Jebb, once said: “Humanity owes the child the best it has to give.” More than a century later, that promise still stands. Our challenge now is to ensure that we honour it, and put children first, always, everywhere. 

Heather Campbell is Save the Children New Zealand’s Chief Executive and has spent more than two decades leading both development and humanitarian portfolios.