Library celebrates Children’s Day
Children’s Day, or Te Ra¯ o Nga¯ Tamariki, is a special occasion reserved each year to celebrate children. On the first Sunday in March, communities across Aotearoa come together to host events and activities that bring fun and joy to our tamariki.
It’s an opportunity for parents, guardians, wha¯ nau and educators to recognise the importance of safeguarding our children and acknowledge our collective ongoing commitment to protect their wellbeing and rights.
In addition to the great events taking place, there are also plenty of easy ways to celebrate as a family. It can be as simple as making their favourite breakfast, reading beloved stories or engaging in their preferred games.
One of our family’s favourite games we recently discovered is Animal Hide and Seek, which has led to hours of fun. In this game one person is the seeker, closing their eyes and calling out an animal and a number, like “Eagles, 11!”
The hiders then have 11 seconds to hide. During those 11 seconds they must move like the named animal, in this case an eagle, and find a spot where they can still see the seeker.
The seeker must stay in the same place while they spot the hiders.
It’s a fun and active version of the classic game, perfect for the backyard or a bushwalk. It has a quick turnover and the best part is, unlike regular hide and seek, the seeker isn’t left alone to wander on a long, fruitless search. The cheeky 7-year-old in our house often calls “Snakes, 2!”
Other suggestions for Children’s Day are arts and crafts, a family dance party or even getting everybody together to cook a fun, tactile meal like pizza.
If you’re looking for an afternoon outing, join us at Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-po¯ between 1pm and 4pm.