What are Kiwi Kids doing this summer?

“There’s a hundred-and-four days (give or take) of summer vacation and school comes along just to end them…! So the annual problem of our generation is finding a good way to spend them…!” We’ve all heard the song and we’ve all probably thought it was relatable. But when you think about it, it’s not really that relatable for Kiwi Kids. We have the world’s best summers and we don’t need to look further than our own backyards to fill each and every day of summer with epic and awesome memories. So what are Kiwi Kids doing this summer? EVERYTHING of course!

Being a kiwi kid is amazing. No doubt about it. To me, it is better than being a kid in any other country, particularly when it comes to summer time! Growing up in Aotearoa New Zealand I can truly say we have the world’s best summer holidays and the absolute best ways to fill each day. (I can vouch for this because I have spent a few summers living in England as a kid, and they don’t even compare! Nothing beats the NZ summer).

Kids can grow up so quickly nowadays, with early access to iPhones, make-up, PlayStation and other luxuries associated with being a teenager, at least! Videos from all over the world on Facebook and YouTube document this, showing kids playing on their phones more than playing outside. I’m not saying that New Zealand isn’t a little bit like this too. But it seems to me that the magic of being a kid is still alive in kiwi backyards. Playing outside with your friends, going swimming in rivers, doing cartwheels and riding bikes with the neighbourhood kids, eating fish and chips on the beach, backyard BBQ’s. These are the summer memories that we hang onto forever, that you won’t find anywhere else, or at least find nearly as good.

So what makes our summer different to other kids across the globe? We have other awesome differences to other countries around the world, the amazing Maori culture in particular. It’s also important to mention how amazing it is to spend your summer in a country where you generally feel safe and secure, wherever you are. Not all countries can say the same thing! Your parents can let you head down to the water-hole, the beach, the park, the festival, the concert, the whatever, without having to worry all summer long.  Another magic thing about being a Kiwi Kid is knowing the secrets that this country holds. Every Kiwi Kid knows a top-secret location that they visit every summer and will always continue to.

So what are you doing this summer? Whatever it is, MAKE IT EPIC! Don’t spend that excruciating day in February on the night before school starts again wondering where all that time went. Don’t be that kid who has nothing to say when the teacher asks you what you did this summer. You don’t have to go on a fancy overseas holiday to have an answer, you can have the best summer in every Kiwi Backyard.

Critical Thinking Challenges:

1. What is the best thing about being a kiwi kid in the New Zealand Summer is?
2. Do you think that there are countries where children have a better or worse summer than NZ? Elaborate.
3. Do you think New Zealand has the best summer in the world? Why? Why not?

 

Practical Tasks:

1. Ask you peers what their favourite thing about being a kiwi kid in the NZ summer are?
2. How has New Zealand’s summer changed and developed throughout the years? Ask your parents what they got up to. Compare with your classmate’s parents.
3. What is your opinion on this article? Do you believe that New Zealand really does have the best summer available in the world? Let us know in the COMMENTS BELOW.