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Home / Rotorua Daily Post

Rotorua families encouraged to celebrate their kids this Children's Day

Shauni James
By Shauni James
Rotorua Weekender reporter·Rotorua Daily Post·
10 Feb, 2022 08:26 PM3 mins to read

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Children's Day is a day of national awareness, annually recognised on the first Sunday of March. Photo / Getty Images

Children's Day is a day of national awareness, annually recognised on the first Sunday of March. Photo / Getty Images

As Whitney Houston has sung before, "children are our future".

Children's Day is a day of national awareness, annually recognised on the first Sunday of March. It provides New Zealanders with an opportunity to celebrate and give time to children.

Normally run over two days in Rotorua, the events bring together whānau to enjoy to enjoy free events that conclude with the Redwoods Children's Day. With the red traffic light setting in place, and the highly transmissible Omicron in the community, there wasn't a way to manage the event safely.

However, the premise behind Children's Day can still be brought to the fore.

Marc Spijkerbosch, Rotorua Lakes Council community arts adviser, has been involved with Children's Day at the Redwoods for seven years.

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He says every year he had found the event to be a totally heartwarming experience, with families connecting and sharing art in a special, natural environment.

"Enjoying such simple things like digging out huhu grubs, building a fern hut or playing bucket drums together.

"Although the formal event is unable to proceed safely in a red traffic light setting, I'd encourage families to venture into the Redwoods in any case.

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"Get a little off the beaten track and enjoy some fresh air, tranquillity and creativity together. Even if it's just picking up pine cones to paint.

He says people could celebrate the children in their life by spending time with them: go on an adventure around the district, do some art and crafts together, create a scavenger hunt for the garden.

Rotorua Library will be providing some free busy bags filled with craft items for whānau to complete, so watch out for details on its Facebook page.

"Creating special memories for our children and loved ones - who could wish for more."

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He says, "I've heard it said 'every day should be Children's Day'."

Children's Day was introduced by the first Children's Commissioner in the year 2000.

Marc says children are the future, and the concept behind Children's Day has three main pillars: Aroha — showing warmth and affection builds trust and positive self-esteem, Whānau — safe, loving, supportive whānau and communities help them to grow and flourish, and Kōrero — talking and really listening to what they say makes them feel heard and builds their confidence.

"It is not about expensive toys but spending time with them doing something you all enjoy."

Other ideas include having a family concert, planting a special Children's Day flower or tree, camping in the backyard, and having a board game challenge.

There plenty other ideas on how you could celebrate at www.childrensday.org.nz.

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