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ANZAC Day is one of the most important national commemorative occasions in Australia, marking the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand armed forces during World War One.

The time leading up to ANZAC Day is a perfect opportunity to talk to your children about the importance of the day. However approaching this topic with younger children and toddlers can prove challenging, therefore we have some tips on how you can increase their understanding from a young age.

Keep Anzac Day Simple

• Focus on the collective pride of the country.
• The spirit of ANZAC through courage, mateship and sacrifice
• Talk about the freedom we have to feel safe because of their sacrifice
• Talk about caring for each other and the world as a whole
• Let them ask the questions, be open to their ideas on what they think it was about and guide them gently to the truth
• Numbers can be overwhelming, especially for school-aged kids who learn how many soldiers lost their lives. Follow this sad realisation with the reinforcement of how they did this to keep our country safe, that this is why we live in such a peaceful place today, how thankful we are to them.
• Have a moment of silence in honour of those who fought so hard for our freedom, holding hands as a family.
• For older children, a dawn service may also be appropriate or the city parade to see the collective pride of the community.

Depending on the age and comprehension of your toddler, visuals are a great tool. There are a lot of books and visual resources available with younger audiences in mind to explain war and related themes.

Here are some recommended books:

ANZAC Ted – Belinda Landsberry
Written and illustrated for the youngest audience in mind, this book tells the story of a teddy who has seen better (or worse) days, tying together Anzac Ted’s life from then and now.
Listen on YouTube here

My Grandad Marches on Anzac Day – Catriona Hoy
A picture story about a little girl who has a grandad who marches in the ANZAC Day parades after having served in war.
Listen on YouTube here

The Australian War Memorial website also offers some great free resources to help you gain a deeper understanding before explaining to your children, as well as free printable resources. The “Their Spirit, Our History” booklet is a great visual aid full of images, letters and information relating to ANZAC Day, its origins, and background on each of the significant wars in history.

Enjoy the time spent with your families on Anzac Day and lest we forget.