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Childrens Day
Children’s Day is a great opportunity to turn words about treasuring children into action
Children’s Day is about celebrating children in positive ways. It is an opportunity to ask
ourselves, how we can become involved in growing a healthy environment that will support
children in their development.
“Children are our main asset and our future” says the Governor General, Dame Silvia Cartwright. She believes that it is important to take time out and reflect on whether we are giving our youngest their due. Children’s Day is about families and communities giving time to children, not about buying a gift for a child. It is a day for all New Zealanders to have fun with children and start new traditions as well as continue old ones. Few countries in the world offer a nationally recognised day for children. This year we celebrate the third Children’s Day in New Zealand. The inaugural Children’s Day was held in October 2000 with the intention that Children’s Day would occur on the last Sunday of October each year. The five key messages identified for Children’s Day are; giving time, love and affection, praise and encouragement, listening and talking and new experiences. During this year’s celebrations the two messages of giving time and new experiences will be encouraged as a focus. Do something new or special with the children in your life, have fun with them and create new memories. Each year Children’s Day highlights an indigenous animal for children to learn about. This year is the New Zealand native frogs. Frogs are great indicators of how healthy an environment is, they are particularly sensitive to toxins and as a result their numbers are rapidly depleting. New Zealand has four native species of Frogs which have developed a little differently to frogs in other countries due to our isolation. They do not have a vocal sac making them relatively silent and they develop inside the egg sac and emerge as Froglets. “One of the most important things in a child’s life is interaction with adults, not just close family, but also neighbours and friends,” says Dame Silvia. It is hoped that community groups, families and schools will embrace Children’s Day by becoming involved in organising and participating in big and small events scattered throughout the country that will encourage adults and children to give time to each other. Send us an email so we can log your event on the Children’s Day website so that families in your community and those travelling around the country on labour weekend will know where they can go to participate in these activities. Dame Silvia supports Children’s Day and recognises that participation in the Day and giving time is a way of saying “yes I value our children and understand their needs.” “It is a fantastic idea and I invite all New Zealanders to get involved.”
Children’s Day contact details
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