Children's Day

Like in many countries, in Holland they celebrate father’s day and mother’s day too. However, children’s day doesn’t exist over there. As a child I always asked my parents “how come there is no children’s day? That is not fair!”. I, and many a Dutch child with me, always received the very unsatisfactory answer that it was children’s day every day. In hindsight I can understand the answer, but as a child I always thought it to be very unfair.

Well, here in NZ the children can eat their heart out, because tadaaaa: NZ celebrates children’s day! This year it was held on March 4. All kinds of small events are being organised on children's day, like a picnic with free bouncy castle in the park, family-discount on a boat trip around the Christchurch harbour, the library takes part, the museum takes part, you name it, they do it.

Children’s day is not about presents; it is about spending quality time with the kids. Quality time that is also well overdue for most kids here. A few weeks ago there was a Unicef report about child well-being. On certain aspects NZ was on the very bottom of the list of developed countries! Especially the time parents spend talking to their kids received a very low score. Child abuse is also a very big problem here.

But at least they have Children’s Day! Yes! :-)