Anzac Day Activities for Kids Aged 0–13: Teaching Respect Through Meaningful Moments

Anzac Day Activities for Kids Aged 0–13: Teaching Respect Through Meaningful Moments

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Anzac Day is a solemn day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand—a time to honour the bravery and sacrifice of those who served, especially in the Gallipoli campaign of World War I.

For many of us with kids, it’s also a day of reflection on how to pass this legacy on to the next generation.

But how do you explain something as big as war and sacrifice to a toddler? Or a curious ten-year-old who asks the hard questions? You don’t have to have all the answers.

What you can do is create simple, age-appropriate ways to bring the meaning of Anzac Day into their world—through hands-on activities, honest conversations, and quiet moments of connection.

Here are meaningful, engaging Anzac Day activities for kids aged 0–13 that not only teach respect but help them feel connected to this important day in a personal, lasting way.

For Toddlers (0–3 years)

At this age, it’s not about understanding war—it’s about gently introducing the idea of remembrance, kindness, and gratitude.

1. Poppy Craft Time

Red poppies are a symbol of remembrance. Use red paper, tissue paper, or felt to help your toddler create simple poppies. Even scrunching tissue into a flower shape and sticking it onto card is enough. It’s about sensory fun and visual connection.

2. Read Together

Choose picture books with gentle messages about courage, kindness, and helping others. While not all Anzac-themed books are suitable for toddlers, stories like Anzac Ted by Belinda Landsberry offer a soft introduction to the day’s meaning through the eyes of a beloved toy bear.

3. Attend a Community Service Briefly

Many towns have dawn or morning services. You don’t have to stay for the whole thing—just being there for a short time, holding your child close, can plant a seed of awareness.

For Preschoolers (4–6 years)

Preschoolers are full of questions and love to create. This is the perfect age to introduce symbolic activities and start shaping simple ideas about bravery and remembrance.

4. Make an Anzac Day Wreath

Using cardboard, leaves, and paper flowers, help your child create a wreath they can lay at a local memorial or display at home. Let them write (or scribble!) a message of thanks on it. This tactile activity helps make the abstract idea of remembrance more concrete.

5. Bake Anzac Biscuits Together

It’s a classic for a reason. Talk about how these oat biscuits were made to last on long journeys and sent to soldiers far from home. While you mix, you can chat about what it might have felt like to be away from your family and why we remember the people who went through that.

6. Simple Role Play

Dress-ups can be a gentle way to introduce the concept of service. Set up a pretend “parade” at home with uniforms, flags, and musical instruments made from household items. Let them march around and “honour the heroes” in their own way.

For Early Primary (7–9 years)

At this age, kids begin to understand the deeper meanings behind events. They can ask thoughtful questions and reflect on ideas like courage and loss.

7. Write a Thank You Letter

Have your child write a letter or draw a picture addressed to “A soldier” or “A nurse” to thank them for their service. These can be mailed to veterans’ organizations or kept as a personal act of gratitude.

8. Learn the Story of Simpson and His Donkey

Kids love stories of loyalty and bravery—and this one hits the mark. Read or watch a child-friendly version of the tale of John Simpson Kirkpatrick, who rescued wounded soldiers using a donkey. Then, create your own illustrated version or a mini puppet show to retell the story.

9. Visit a Local Memorial or Museum

Field trips make it real. Many museums and memorials offer kid-friendly exhibits or activity sheets.

Walking through a place that honours Anzacs can open up meaningful conversations, especially when paired with quiet reflection or a drawing session afterward.

For Tweens (10–13 years)Older kids can handle more nuanced discussions and may even take on leadership roles in group activities or school commemorations.

10. Attend a Dawn Service

This can be powerful for tweens. Explain the significance of the early start (the Gallipoli landings happened at dawn), and prepare them emotionally for the solemn tone. Bring a small candle or poppy to place at the cenotaph.

11. Host a Family “Lest We Forget” Night

Create a family evening of reflection. Watch a documentary or short film together—many are available through educational sites or public broadcasters. Follow it with a group discussion or journaling session where everyone shares what they’ve learned or felt.

12. Create a Visual Tribute

Let your child take the lead in designing a display for your front yard, window, or letterbox—something that honours the spirit of Anzac Day. It could be a poster, flag, candlelight setup, or handmade wreath. Encourage them to explain their choices and meaning behind their design.

13. Explore Family History

This is a great age for storytelling. If someone in your family served, share their story. If not, help your child research a real Anzac soldier’s story through the Australian War Memorial’s online archives. Kids can create a biography page, write a poem in their honour, or make a timeline of their life.

Why These Activities Matter

The goal isn’t to burden kids with the full weight of war—it’s to build empathy, connection, and respect.

Whether your child is painting poppies or reading about Simpson and his donkey, they’re learning that bravery isn’t always loud, that remembrance is active, and that honouring the past can be deeply personal.

We don’t need to turn kids into historians. We just need to help them feel part of the story. Through small, thoughtful activities, they start to understand that Anzac Day isn’t just something that happens in the background—it’s something we live, together.

Helpful Tips for Parents and Carers

Keep it honest, but age-appropriate. Don’t shy away from talking about death or conflict, but frame it in ways your child can understand. For younger kids, focus on helping, caring, and being brave. For older ones, bring in the complexity.
Answer their questions, even the hard ones. It’s okay to say, “I’m not sure” or “Let’s look that up together.” Let it be a shared learning experience.
Balance solemnity with creativity. Kids learn best when they’re engaged. Let crafts, food, and storytelling carry the message.
Be inclusive. Remind kids that Anzac Day is also about New Zealand soldiers, Indigenous diggers, nurses, and all the people who were affected by war.

Final Thoughts

Anzac Day gives us a chance to pause as a family. It’s not just a public holiday—it’s a bridge between generations.

Through simple, meaningful activities, you can help your child connect to that deeper sense of gratitude and community.

So whether your little one is squishing red tissue paper into a poppy or your tween is standing quietly at a dawn service, know this: you’re planting seeds. Seeds of empathy.

Seeds of memory. Seeds that grow into people who remember, who care, and who understand what it means to stand together—even long after the bugle fades.

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