Children's Day 2023

Sunday

5 March 2023

CHILDREN’S DAY 5 MARCH 2023

Children’s Day (Te rā o ngā Tamariki) celebrates children in Aotearoa New Zealand. It’s a National Day of Awareness held annually on the first Sunday of March each year: 5 March in 2023. It was started in 2000 by the first Children’s Commissioner, who aimed to encourage a healthy environment for children (tamariki) and young people (rangatahi).

Children’s Day is a day for families and whānau to spend quality time with their children This is one of the best ways to help build their mana, their sense of self-worth and their ability to overcome challenges.

Results can include fewer behavioural issues at home or at school, fewer risky behaviours such as drug and alcohol usage, increased resilience, and even increased physical health. Quality time doesn’t need to involve spending money.

Here are some ideas for spending quality time with children and young people, while really listening to what they’re saying as well as showing them warmth and affection.

• Colours – Children’s Day colours are grass-green, deep purple, orange, and yellow. Have fun by wearing one or more of these colours, eating food of these colours, and naming as many things around you that are the same colours.

• Get creative – make handprints, family photo collages, 3D art, friendship quilt, build a robot.

• Put on a show – singing, dancing, acting. The floor is yours.

• Take over the kitchen – bake, make bread, cook a meal together, or invite grandparents over for a Devonshire tea with all the old-fashioned trimmings.

• Set up an intergenerational games’ day – with parents, grandparents and children learning the games that each generation played or play as children.

• Make a time capsule.

• Play board games.

• Hold a treasure hunt, dance party, or movie night.

• Get active – walk in the bush, swim at the pool, or play backyard soccer or cricket.

• Get outdoors – pack a picnic and take a trip to the park or the beach. Or go camping in your backyard or living room.

• Tell stories.

More fun ideas for family and whānau

Spend time as a family or whānau by planning a family fun contest. Here are some ideas:

• The longest unbroken apple peel.

• Coin spinning – see whose coin spins the longest.

• Blink challenge – stare at each other and see who blinks first.

• Laugh-a-thon – try to make opponents laugh by cracking jokes and making faces.

• House of cards – who can build the biggest house of cards.

• Jump rope – who can skip the longest.

• Handstands – who can stay up in the air the longest.

Supporting children and young people

Community celebrations of Children’s Day

Children’s Day is also celebrated with community events in some towns and cities around the country.

If you’re planning an event for tamariki in your community, register now at www.childrensday. org.nz. You can also go to www. childrensday.org.nz/find-events and find out what’s on in your community.

In Pahiatua, for example, Children’s Day celebrations will take place between 10am and 2pm at Bush Multisport Park in Huxley Street. There will be free entertainment and activities including a sausage sizzle, mini hot rod care rides, face painting, play area, bouncy castle,

dress-up characters, obstacle course, sports skill sand drills, and Police and Fire & Emergency displays. Bring your own drink bottle for freshwater refills.

If you’re a child or young person (tamariki or rangatahi) who needs to talk to someone about your life and your feelings, you can contact any of the groups below: Youthline works with young people, their families/whānau and those supporting them.

Free call 0800 376 633 | Free text 234 | Webchat at www.youthline.co.nz

The Lowdown is a website and free 24/7 helpline created with rangatahi, for rangatahi. It supports hauora (wellbeing), identity, culture, and mental health.

Free call 0800 111 757 | Free text 5626 | Visit www.thelowdown.co.nz

Whatsup is a safe place for children and young people to talk about anything at all. Free call 0800 942 8787 | Webchat at www.whatsup.co.nz