Gearing up for Children’s Day: how to celebrate with your little ones

Whether you’ve got grandkids, nieces and nephews or a pint-sized neighbour that you’ve taken under your wing, children can be an incredible source of joy. With the first Sunday of March on the horizon, we’ve put together some colourful ideas on how to celebrate the tamariki in your life this Children’s Day.

Organise an event

Are you a natural planner? Why not use this Children’s Day as an excuse to throw your very own event designed to celebrate the little ones in your life? Head over to the official Children’s Day NZ website for a step-by-step guide on how to register your event. Whether it’s a small neighbourhood party of a large-scale community festival, there’s no better way to spoil your kids.

A new experience

Make this Children’s Day one to remember by treating your special little monsters to a brand-new experience they’ve never tried before. Whether it’s an overnight camping adventure in the bush (or the backyard), a horseback ride in the countryside, tickets to their first live music concert or a fun-filled afternoon at a Children’s Day event, giving the gift of a new experience is guaranteed to go down a treat.

Big love

If you’re thinking this Children’s Day will be a quiet affair there are still some powerful ways you can celebrate your tamariki. Start with a little korero, an ancient Māori practice that describes the practice of sharing stories, listening to others and passing down knowledge from generation to generation. Add in plenty of aroha, aka shower your little ones with love, warmth and affection. Not only does this build trust and strengthen your relationship, but it also boosts self-esteem. Next is immersing them in whānau, a safe, supportive and nurturing environment where they can grow, learn and flourish.

Give back to the community

Children’s Day is a great opportunity to not only spoil your kids but also teach them the value of building strong communities. For an action-packed day out why not write up some invitations to a community picnic, slip them into the mailboxes of kids on your street and organise a BYO picnic featuring intergenerational games, activities and competitions. It’s a great way to get to know your neighbours and help the kids make new friends. If your little ones are social butterflies why not call your local children’s hospital and ask if it’s OK to drop by with board games, cupcakes and storybooks?

How will you be celebrating Te rā o ngā tamariki this year?