Day for Daniel 2024 will be held on Friday, October 25th. This day is Australia’s largest child safety awareness and education event, organized by the Daniel Morcombe Foundation. Participants are encouraged to wear red, educate, and donate to promote child safety and honor the memory of Daniel Morcombe.
As an early childhood educator, you might find this day particularly meaningful. You can incorporate activities that teach children about personal safety in a fun and engaging way. There are many resources available, such as posters, videos, and activities, to help you develop activities that promote safety awareness for young children.
Activity Ideas For Day For Daniel
Here are some engaging activities you can incorporate into your classroom for Day for Daniel:
1. Safety Role-Playing
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Objective: Teach children how to respond in different safety scenarios.
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Activity: Create simple scripts for scenarios like getting lost in a store, dealing with strangers, or what to do if they feel unsafe. Have the children act out these scenarios in pairs or small groups.
2. Red Day Parade
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Objective: Promote awareness and solidarity.
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Activity: Organize a mini-parade where children wear red and carry signs or banners they’ve made about child safety. You can invite parents to join and make it a community event.
3. Safety Poster Creation
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Objective: Encourage children to think about safety messages.
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Activity: Provide art supplies and ask children to create posters that depict safety tips or messages. Display these posters around the classroom or school.
4. Story Time with Safety Themes
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Objective: Use storytelling to teach safety concepts.
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Activity: Read books that focus on safety, such as “The Safe Side” by John Walsh or “I Can Be Safe” by Pat Thomas. Discuss the stories and what the children learned from them.
5. Safety Song and Dance
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Objective: Make learning about safety fun and memorable.
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Activity: Teach children a simple song about safety rules and create a dance to go along with it. Perform it as a group.
6. Interactive Safety Quiz
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Objective: Reinforce safety knowledge in a fun way.
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Activity: Create a quiz with questions about safety rules and scenarios. Use a game format like a quiz show to make it exciting.
7. Guest Speaker
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Objective: Provide real-world insights into safety.
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Activity: Invite a local police officer, firefighter, or child safety expert to talk to the children about safety and answer their questions.
8. Safety Craft Projects
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Objective: Combine creativity with learning.
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Activity: Have children make safety-themed crafts, such as traffic light models, safety badges, or “safe place” maps.
These activities not only educate children about safety but also engage them in a way that makes the learning process enjoyable and memorable.
Linking To The EYLF
Linking Day for Daniel activities to the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) can enhance children’s learning experiences and ensure they align with key learning outcomes. Here are some ways to connect the activities to the EYLF:
1. Safety Role-Playing
- Outcome 1: Children have a strong sense of identity
- Children learn to express their feelings and ideas about safety.
- They develop confidence in their ability to respond to different situations.
2. Red Day Parade
- Outcome 2: Children are connected with and contribute to their world
- Children participate in a community event, fostering a sense of belonging.
- They learn about the importance of community and collective action.
3. Safety Poster Creation
- Outcome 4: Children are confident and involved learners
- Children use creativity and imagination to convey safety messages.
- They engage in problem-solving and critical thinking while designing their posters.
4. Story Time with Safety Themes
- Outcome 5: Children are effective communicators
- Children listen to and discuss stories, enhancing their language and literacy skills.
- They learn to articulate their thoughts and understandings about safety.
5. Safety Song and Dance
- Outcome 3: Children have a strong sense of wellbeing
- Children engage in physical activity, promoting health and wellbeing.
- They experience joy and satisfaction through music and movement.
6. Interactive Safety Quiz
- Outcome 4: Children are confident and involved learners
- Children demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of safety concepts.
- They engage in collaborative learning and enjoy the challenge of a quiz format.
7. Guest Speaker
- Outcome 2: Children are connected with and contribute to their world
- Children interact with community members, learning from their experiences.
- They develop an understanding of different roles and responsibilities in the community.
8. Safety Craft Projects
- Outcome 4: Children are confident and involved learners
- Children use various materials and techniques to create safety-themed crafts.
- They explore and express their ideas through art and design.
By aligning these activities with the EYLF, you can ensure that they not only promote child safety but also support the holistic development of children in your care.
The Daniel Morcombe Foundation was established in 2005 by Bruce and Denise Morcombe in memory of their son, Daniel, who was tragically abducted and murdered in 2003. The Foundation’s mission is to make Australia a safer place for children by providing personal child safety education and supporting young victims of crime.
Key Objectives:
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Child Safety Education: The Foundation develops and distributes educational resources to teach children and young people how to stay safe in both physical and online environments.
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Support for Victims: They offer direct support to young victims of crime, including counseling services through their Walk Tall program.
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Community Engagement: The Foundation organizes events like Day for Daniel, which is Australia’s largest child safety awareness event, encouraging communities to wear red, educate, and donate.
Notable Programs and Resources:
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Day for Daniel: An annual event held on the last Friday of October to promote child safety awareness.
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Educational Resources: Free resources for schools, parents, and carers to help educate children about safety.
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Counseling Services: Support for young victims of crime to aid in their recovery.
The Foundation’s efforts have had a significant impact, with thousands of schools and early learning centers participating in their programs and millions of people engaging in their events.
FREE Printables/Resources
Teaching Children About Personal Safety
Internet Safety For Children
My Body Safety Rules Posters
My Early Warning Signs Posters
NSW Child Safe Standards
The Daniel Morcombe Foundation has also created a FREE Education Toolkit for ages 4 - 7. The theme will focus on enthusiastic consent including how to give and receive it, and how to identify grooming and coercive behaviours.
To download for FREE: Early Years Education Toolkit
For more information: Daniel Morcombe Foundation
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