Children’s Day website goes batty

Child, Youth and Family has set up a Children’s Day website that is absolutely batty.

The official Children’s Day website has loads of activities within a ‘bat cave’ – home to this year’s Children’s Day mascot, Pekapeka the indigenous bat.

“Bativities” in Pekapeka’s cave include sending e-cards, creating comic strips, colouring in, and listening to recordings of well-known New Zealanders talking about their childhoods. There is also a list of discussion topics for the six-week run-up to Children’s Day, October 26.

Children need to be safe when using the Internet and the Children’s Day website gives them an opportunity to learn more about safety in cyberspace.

"Child, Youth and Family deserve a lot of credit for setting up a Children's Day experience online that takes into account cybersafety issues," said Liz Butterfield, Director Internet Safety Group

Chairperson of the National Steering group for Children’s Day, Penny Gaylor from Barnardos, said the day was an important one for all New Zealanders to remember the right of every child to be treasured.

Children’s Day is organised by a national steering group comprised of 10 Government and non-government agencies.

This is the fourth Children’s Day and this year’s theme is about listening to children and talking with children.

Te Aroha Welsh-Morris a 13 year old Wellington student says, “when people listen and talk to us it tells us that we are important and that they really care about what happens in our lives".

Communities around the country will be holding special events on Children’s Day, which is also the Sunday of Labour Weekend.

The website has information on these activities as well as news updates, interesting facts and figures, and suggestions for celebrating Children’s Day at home and at school.

The Children’s Day website will be officially launched by Ruth Dyson, Associate Minister Social Development and Employment (Child, Youth and Family) on October 1. Explore the website at www.childrensday.org.nz

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