By BEST Childcare Consulting
ANZAC Day holds a special place in the story of Australia, and within early childhood it offers a gentle, meaningful way to begin introducing children to the idea of community, remembrance and care for others. While young children are far too little to understand war, they are deeply capable of understanding human connection — of noticing kindness, recognising fairness, and feeling what it means to belong. It is through these simple, everyday experiences that ANZAC Day finds its place in early learning.
In our classrooms, ANZAC Day is not about history lessons or complex explanations. It is about creating space for children to explore what it means to help others, to be a good friend, and to be part of something bigger than themselves. It is about the quiet moments — placing a poppy, sharing a story, or sitting together in reflection — that allow children to begin forming an early sense of respect and empathy.
When approached with care, intention and sensitivity, ANZAC Day becomes more than a commemorative event. It becomes an opportunity to nurture children’s developing identity and connection to their world, while honouring the values that continue to shape our communities today.
Aren’t they too young? Will it traumatise children?
This is one of the most important and valid questions educators and families ask — and the answer is no, when done appropriately, ANZAC Day will not traumatise young children. In fact, it can be a safe, positive and meaningful learning experience.
Young children are not developmentally ready to understand war, violence or complex historical events — and they should not be exposed to these concepts. However, early childhood education does not approach ANZAC Day in this way. Instead, educators intentionally focus on values-based learning, such as kindness, helping others, bravery in everyday situations, friendship and community connection. These are concepts children already experience in their daily lives, making the learning both familiar and emotionally safe.
Trauma risk arises only when children are exposed to graphic, fear-based or developmentally inappropriate information. High-quality early childhood practice avoids this entirely. Educators use gentle language, play-based experiences and child-led conversations, ensuring children are never overwhelmed. For example, discussions might centre around “people helping others,” “being a good friend,” or “remembering people who helped keep others safe,” rather than anything related to fighting or harm.
Educators also play a critical role in reading children’s cues. If a child shows disinterest, confusion or discomfort, the topic is adapted or redirected immediately. This responsive approach aligns with best practice in supporting children’s emotional wellbeing and ensures that learning remains within a child’s zone of proximal development.
Importantly, avoiding ANZAC Day altogether can mean missing valuable opportunities for children to develop a sense of belonging, cultural awareness and respect for community traditions. When approached thoughtfully, ANZAC Day supports children to build empathy, identity and social understanding — all of which are core outcomes of the Early Years Learning Framework.
It is not about teaching children about war — it is about teaching children about people, values and community.
Educational Programming Ideas
Poppy & Symbol Exploration
- Open-ended poppy creation (loose parts, paint, collage)
- Discuss symbols of remembrance
- Explore colour meaning
Peace & Kindness Conversations
- “What does being a good friend look like?”
- Link ANZAC to peace, helping and caring
- Use stories about friendship and teamwork
Cooking ANZAC Biscuits
- Hands-on cooking experience
- Link to history (food sent to soldiers)
- Numeracy + cultural understanding
Real-Life Connections
- Invite family/community members
- Look at photos, medals, stories
- Build intergenerational understanding
Link: https://anzacday.org.au/an-introduction-to-anzac-day-for-early-childhood/
Dramatic Play & Role Play
- Hospital tents, care stations (focus on helping roles)
- Dress-ups focused on support roles, not combat
- Encourage empathy and teamwork
Simple Commemoration
- Short moment of silence
- Listening to soft music (e.g. bugle sounds)
- Making a class wreath
https://www.careforkids.com.au/blog/anzac-day-recognition–how-your-services-mark-the-day
Storytelling & Literacy
- Use age-appropriate books
- Encourage questions and discussion
- Focus on feelings, not fear
QIP WRITE-UP
QA1 – Educational Program & Practice
Exceeding Theme 1: Practice is embedded in service operations
Educators embedded ANZAC Day learning into the program through intentional and spontaneous, child-led experiences that promoted inquiry, identity and connection to community. Learning experiences consistently reflected age-appropriate, strengths-based approaches focused on kindness, helping others and belonging.
Exceeding Theme 2: Practice is informed by critical reflection
Educators critically reflected on how ANZAC Day concepts were introduced, adapting teaching strategies to ensure discussions remained developmentally appropriate and focused on peace, empathy and community values.
Exceeding Theme 3: Practice is shaped by meaningful engagement with families and/or the community
Family input, including stories and cultural perspectives, informed curriculum decisions, ensuring learning experiences were authentic, inclusive and meaningful for all children.
QA2 – Children’s Health & Safety
Exceeding Theme 1: Practice is embedded in service operations
Educators consistently embedded practices that prioritised children’s emotional wellbeing, ensuring ANZAC Day learning was delivered in a sensitive, supportive manner that promoted safety, belonging and security.
Exceeding Theme 2: Practice is informed by critical reflection
Educators reflected on children’s responses and adjusted approaches to ensure content remained appropriate, minimised distress and supported children’s emotional expression.
Exceeding Theme 3: Practice is shaped by meaningful engagement with families and/or the community
Family perspectives were actively sought and incorporated to ensure respectful, culturally sensitive approaches to discussing ANZAC Day.
QA3 – Physical Environment
Exceeding Theme 1: Practice is embedded in service operations
The environment consistently reflected intentional design, incorporating meaningful provocations such as poppies, books and artefacts that supported calm, respectful exploration of ANZAC Day concepts.
Exceeding Theme 2: Practice is informed by critical reflection
Educators evaluated and adapted the environment to ensure spaces supported reflective, peaceful engagement and minimised overstimulation.
Exceeding Theme 3: Practice is shaped by meaningful engagement with families and/or the community
Family and community contributions, including artefacts and shared experiences, were incorporated into the environment to enhance authenticity and connection.
QA4 – Staffing Arrangements
Exceeding Theme 1: Practice is embedded in service operations
Educators worked collaboratively to ensure a consistent, respectful and developmentally appropriate approach to ANZAC Day across the service.
Exceeding Theme 2: Practice is informed by critical reflection
The team engaged in ongoing reflective discussions to evaluate language, tone and teaching approaches, ensuring alignment with best practice.
Exceeding Theme 3: Practice is shaped by meaningful engagement with families and/or the community
Educators incorporated family insights into practice, strengthening shared understanding and ensuring culturally responsive approaches.
QA5 – Relationships with Children
Exceeding Theme 1: Practice is embedded in service operations
Educators consistently engaged in warm, responsive interactions, supporting children to explore concepts of kindness, fairness and helping others within a secure and respectful environment.
Exceeding Theme 2: Practice is informed by critical reflection
Educators reflected on their interactions to ensure conversations were inclusive, supportive and responsive to individual children’s needs and understanding.
Exceeding Theme 3: Practice is shaped by meaningful engagement with families and/or the community
Family perspectives informed how educators approached discussions, ensuring cultural sensitivity and relevance for all children.
QA6 – Collaborative Partnerships with Families & Communities
Exceeding Theme 1: Practice is embedded in service operations
Ongoing partnerships with families were embedded in daily practice, with educators consistently inviting contributions to support children’s understanding of ANZAC Day.
Exceeding Theme 2: Practice is informed by critical reflection
Educators reflected on engagement strategies to ensure they were inclusive, meaningful and accessible to all families.
Exceeding Theme 3: Practice is shaped by meaningful engagement with families and/or the community
Family and community engagement directly informed the program, with shared stories and experiences shaping authentic learning opportunities.
QA7 – Governance & Leadership
Exceeding Theme 1: Practice is embedded in service operations
Leadership supported educators to embed reflective, ethical and culturally responsive practices when observing ANZAC Day, ensuring alignment with EYLF, NQF and the service philosophy.
Exceeding Theme 2: Practice is informed by critical reflection
Systems and processes supported ongoing critical reflection through team discussions and planning cycles, driving continuous improvement in practice.
Exceeding Theme 3: Practice is shaped by meaningful engagement with families and/or the community
Leadership prioritised and facilitated meaningful engagement with families and the community, ensuring their voices informed decision-making and practice
Links & Resources
ANZAC Day Early Childhood Guide
https://anzacday.org.au/an-introduction-to-anzac-day-for-early-childhood/
Aussie Childcare Network Ideas
https://www.aussiechildcarenetwork.com.au
Department of Veterans’ Affairs Education Resources
https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au
Australian War Memorial (Education)
https://www.awm.gov.au/learn
Early Learning Articles (CELA)
https://www.cela.org.au
BEST Childcare Consulting
When ANZAC Day is approached with intention, reflection and respect, it becomes more than a commemorative event — it becomes a powerful opportunity to build identity, empathy and community connection in young children.
As always, use these inspirations to lead your service throughout the whole year in your everyday practices to truly earn an exceeding rating.
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