National Children’s Day UK | EYFS & KS1 Activity Ideas

**Note: This page is for educational inspiration and is not officially affiliated with National Children’s Day UK. National Children’s Day UK takes place annually in May and is a key initiative of the Save Childhood Movement. It is dedicated to celebrating childhood and advocating for children's rights and well-being. The day aims to highlight the importance of creating a healthy, happy, and sustainable future for all children, reflecting on their physical, emotional, and social needs. It promotes a holistic view of childhood, encouraging families, schools, and communities to reflect on children's fundamental rights and what is needed to ensure they thrive. For official information, themes, and how to get involved, please visit the National Children's Day UK website: www.nationalchildrensdayuk.com.

Sunday 10th May 2026

May / June (varies annually)

• 🤔 What is National Children’s Day UK?

  National Children’s Day UK celebrates children, their rights, and their wellbeing. It highlights the importance of ensuring every child is:

  • safe

  • healthy

  • heard

  • valued

  It is closely linked to the principles of the Save Childhood Movement, which promotes children’s rights, play and wellbeing.

• 🌟 Understanding National Children’s Day UK in EYFS & KS1

  This theme provides a broad and meaningful opportunity to explore:

  • health and wellbeing

  • safety and self-care

  • emotions and identity

  • relationships and belonging

  • understanding the world

  This supports:

  EYFS:

  • PSED (self-confidence, relationships, wellbeing)

  • Physical Development (health, self-care)

  • Understanding the World (community, safety)

  • Communication & Language (expressing needs and feelings)

  KS1 (National Curriculum):

  • PSHE (health, safety, rights, well-being)

  • Citizenship (community, responsibility, belonging)

  • Science (health and the human body)

• 🌱 A Developmentally Appropriate Approach in the Early Years

  In high-quality EYFS practice, themes such as children’s wellbeing and safety are embedded in:

  • daily routines

  • relationships

  • consistent adult responses

  • real-life experiences

  The ideas below are:

  • flexible

  • optional

  • intended to support adult thinking

  👉 Find out more about developmentally appropriate practice in EYFS by exploring our ‘Curriculum & Pedagogy Suite’.

  Pathways available for:

  ↪ Babies | birth-18 months

  ↪ Toddlers | 18-36 months

  ↪ Preschool | 3-4 years

  ↪ Reception | 4-5 years

  ↪ Childminder | Mixed-Age Care

• 💛 Why This Theme Matters

  Focusing on children’s wellbeing supports:

  🧠 Emotional Wellbeing

  Children learn to recognise and express feelings.

  🛡️ Safety Awareness

  Children begin to understand how to stay safe.

  💪 Physical Health

  Children develop habits that support healthy bodies.

  🌱 Self-Esteem & Identity

  Children learn that they are valued and important.

  🤝 Relationships & Community

  Children develop kindness, empathy and connection.

🌿 EYFS: Provision & Child-Led Ideas (0–5 Years)

These ideas are not activities to be planned or completed. They support wellbeing through relationships, routines and everyday experiences.

• 👶 Babies (0–18 months)

  Wellbeing is rooted in care, attachment and emotional security.

  Babies may:

  • seek comfort and reassurance

  • respond to familiar adults

  • communicate needs through behaviour

  Adults can:

  • provide consistent, responsive care

  • support emotional regulation through co-regulation

  • use calm tone, eye contact and touch

  • build strong, secure attachments

  👉 Additional curriculum & planning support for this age group may be found on our ‘EYFS Planning for Babies (0–18 Months)’ hub page.

• 🚶 Toddlers (18–36 months)

  Toddlers begin to experience independence alongside strong emotions.

  Children may:

  • show big feelings

  • seek reassurance

  • begin to explore independence

  Adults can:

  • respond calmly and consistently

  • name emotions simply

  • support routines (washing hands, eating, rest)

  • provide safe boundaries and reassurance

  👉 Additional curriculum & planning support for this age group may be found on our ‘EYFS Planning for Toddlers (18–36 Months)’ hub page.

• 🧒 Preschool (3–4 years)

  Children begin to understand routines, feelings and simple safety.

  Children may:

  • talk about emotions and experiences

  • follow simple routines

  • begin to understand rules and expectations

  Adults can:

  • support conversations about feelings

  • reinforce safety routines

  • model kindness and empathy

  • encourage independence within safe boundaries

  👉 Additional curriculum & planning support for this age group may be found on our ‘EYFS Planning for Preschool (3–4 Years)’ hub page.

• 🎓 Reception (4–5 years)

  Children develop awareness of wellbeing, safety and responsibility.

  Children may:

  • understand basic safety concepts

  • talk about how to stay healthy

  • reflect on feelings and actions

  Adults can:

  • support discussion about safety and wellbeing

  • encourage independence and responsibility

  • introduce simple decision-making

  • reinforce consistent routines and expectations

  👉 Additional curriculum & planning support for this age group may be found on our ‘EYFS Planning for Reception (4–5 Years)’ hub page.

• 🌟 Key Principle Across EYFS

  Wellbeing and safety develop through:

  • secure relationships

  • consistent routines

  • responsive adults

  • real-life experiences

🌱 Environment Enhancements & Invitations (EYFS)

These are optional enhancements that may be reflected within everyday provision if they support children’s wellbeing, safety and sense of self.

• 💛 Creating Safe, Nurturing Environments

  You might enhance provision by:

  • maintaining calm, predictable routines across the day

  • ensuring spaces feel emotionally and physically safe

  • providing areas for rest, retreat and quiet regulation

  • supporting children to move confidently within the environment

  Resources that may support this include:

  • Calm space visuals

  • Routine-based prompts

• 🧼 Supporting Health & Self-Care Routines

  You might enhance provision by:

  • embedding everyday routines such as handwashing, eating and rest

  • supporting children’s growing independence in self-care

  • using consistent language to describe routines and expectations

  Resources:

  • Handwashing and Hygiene

  • Stay Healthy

  • Teeth and Oral Health

• 🚦 Understanding Safety Through Everyday Practice

  You might enhance provision by:

  • reinforcing simple, consistent safety messages through daily routines

  • modelling safe behaviour (e.g. moving safely, using equipment appropriately)

  • supporting children to recognise familiar boundaries and expectations

  Resources:

  • Road Safety

  • Stay Safe

  • Sun Safety

• 🗣️ Language, Voice & Communication

  You might enhance provision by:

  • encouraging children to express needs, choices and feelings

  • listening and responding to children’s communication

  • modelling language that supports confidence and self-expression

  Resources that may support this include:

  • All About Me resources

  • Communication and language prompts

  • Picture Communication

• 🧠 Emotional Wellbeing & Identity

  You might enhance provision by:

  • supporting children to recognise and name feelings

  • responding sensitively to emotional needs

  • helping children to feel valued and understood

  Resources:

  • Emotions and Feelings

  • Mental Health

• 🤝 Relationships, Belonging & Kindness

  You might enhance provision by:

  • modelling respectful, caring relationships

  • supporting positive peer interaction

  • encouraging cooperation and shared play

  Resources that may support this include:

  • Kindness and Friendship resources

  • “Let’s Connect” prompts

• 🌍 Understanding Self Within the Wider World

  You might enhance provision by:

  • supporting children to understand their place within a group or community

  • recognising important people in their lives

  • linking experiences to familiar contexts (home, setting, community)

  Resources:

  • Families

  • People Who Help Us

• ✨ Key Reminder

  Children’s wellbeing and safety develop through:

  • secure relationships

  • consistent routines

  • responsive adults

  • everyday lived experiences

📘 KS1 Learning Activities for National Children’s Day UK

In Key Stage 1, this theme can support more structured learning around health, safety and wellbeing.

• 🏥 Healthy Bodies & Self-Care

  Children can:

  • learn about the body and health

  • explore healthy habits

  • understand how to care for themselves

  You may use our:

  • Doctors Surgery, Dentist & Optometrist Role-Play Packs

  • Poorly Teddy Posters & Medical Word Mat

  • Teeth & Oral Health resources

  • Healthy Eating Posters & Balanced Diet resources

  • Human Body resources

• 🏃 Physical Activity & Wellbeing

  Children can:

  • explore the link between movement and health

  • reflect on how activity affects wellbeing

  You may use our:

  • Exercise Cards

  • Movement Challenge Cards (e.g. Dinosaur, General Exercise)

• 🚦 Safety & Responsibility

  Children can:

  • learn how to stay safe in different situations

  • understand responsibility for themselves and others

  Additional resources:

  • Road Safety (Stop, Look, Listen resources)

  • Sun Safety

  • Stay Safe

• 🧼 Hygiene & Self-Care Routines

  Children can:

  • reinforce hygiene routines

  • understand why they matter

  You may use our:

  • Handwashing posters and song resources

• 😊 Emotional Wellbeing & Identity

  Children can:

  • explore emotions

  • reflect on their identity

  • understand their rights and voice

  You may use our:

  • Healthy Minds Poster

  • Mood Booster Activity Cards

  • Emotion Cards & Teddy Emotion Packs

  • Let’s Connect / Let’s Show Kindness resources

  • Mindfulness Activity Cards

  • All About Me resources

• 🏠 Relationships & Belonging

  Children can:

  • explore family and community

  • understand who supports them

  • develop a sense of belonging

• 🌍 Explore More Resources | EYFS Enhanced Provision & KS1 Activities

  You may wish to explore:

  • Exercise

  • Handwashing and Hygiene

  • Teeth and Oral Health

  • Food

  • Mental Health

  • Sun Safety

  • Road Safety

  • Stay Healthy

  • Stay Safe

  • All About Me

• 🧠 Using Special Dates Thoughtfully

  A helpful question: “Does this support children’s real wellbeing, safety and everyday lives?”

  If it supports:

  • health

  • safety

  • emotional wellbeing

  → it is meaningful

• 🌟 In Summary

  National Children’s Day UK supports children to:

  • feel safe and valued

  • understand wellbeing and health

  • develop emotional awareness

  • build confidence and independence

  In the EYFS, this is most effective when it is:

  • embedded in everyday practice

  • relationship-led

  • routine-based

  In KS1, it can be:

  • explored through structured learning

  • supported through discussion and reflection

  • linked to real-life contexts

• 🔓 How to Access Resources

  We offer a range of resources to support practitioners across EYFS and KS1, including printable materials and in-depth curriculum and pedagogy guidance.

  🟢 Free Membership

  You can access a selection of free resources by creating a free account.

  This includes:

  • selected printable resources

  • sample materials

  • weekly support emails for those who opt-in

  👉 [Create a free account]

  🟡 Premium Membership (Printables)

  Our Premium Membership provides access to our full library of printable teaching and provision resources.

  This includes:

  • themed resources (e.g. Gardening, Emotions, Seasons)

  • continuous provision materials

  • activity cards, displays and printable packs

  These resources can be used flexibly to support:

  • provision enhancements

  • small group work

  • classroom organisation

  👉 [View Premium Membership]

  🟣 Professional Membership (Curriculum & Pedagogy)

  Our Professional Membership provides access to our full Curriculum & Pedagogy Suite (Birth–5).

  ~ In addition to Premium Printable Provision access.~

  This includes:

  • age-specific pathways (Babies, Toddlers, Preschool, Reception)

  • planning guidance and templates

  • observation and assessment support

  • SEND and inclusion guidance

  • inspection-ready documentation

  These documents are designed to support:

  • confident decision-making

  • consistent practice across teams

  • clear articulation of EYFS pedagogy

  (KS1 curriculum coming soon!)

  👉 Visit EYFS Curriculum & Pedagogy Suite

  👉 [View Professional Membership]

  🧠 Choosing What Works for You

  You do not need to use everything at once.

  Many practitioners:

  • start with free resources

  • build their printable provision over time

  • use pedagogy documents to support team understanding and leadership

  Choose what best fits your setting, role and stage of development.

👉 To explore more early years events, visit our Special Dates Calendar.

Printable resources to support teaching & learning surrounding: ‘National Children’s Day UK’

Free ‘Health’ and ‘Safety’ resources for EYFS & KS1:

The following is a small selection of our inspirational ‘Health’ and ‘Safety’ resources for EYFS & KS1:

(Please visit our ‘Medicine’, ‘The Human Body’, ‘Exercise’, ‘Handwashing & Hygiene’, ‘Eye Health’, ‘Teeth & Oral Health’, ‘Food’ (Fruit & Vegetables plus Balanced Diet), ‘Mental Health’, ‘Sun Safety’, ‘Road Safety’, ‘Science’ or ‘EYFS Framework’ (Safeguarding) pages to explore our extensive catalogue of Health and Safety resources.)

Additional Pages you may like to explore which cover relevant &/or connected themes

More Early Years Event Pages for May

Explore special dates (including awareness dates, festivals, celebrations & events) relevant to your EYFS & KS1 children

Browse our ‘Special Dates Calendar’ page using the link below. You’ll find calendars for every month of the year to aid your planning!

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Disclaimer:
This page is for educational purposes only and is intended to support early years and primary practitioners with ideas and resources related to 'National Children’s Day UK'. National Children’s Day UK takes place annually in May and is a key initiative of the Save Childhood Movement. We are not officially affiliated with or endorsed by the Save Childhood Movement. We do not claim any rights to specific trademarks or official materials associated with this event. For official information, themes, and how to get involved, please visit the National Children's Day UK website: www.nationalchildrensdayuk.com.