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Working in early years education means constantly coming up with fun and engaging activities to help children learn, play, and grow. Alongside spontaneous play, in-the-moment planning and planning activities to support each child’s development, incorporating special events and awareness days can bring variety, excitement, and inclusivity to your setting. These moments create opportunities to celebrate different cultures, causes, and interests, helping children feel connected to the world around them.

Last week, the sector celebrated World Book Day, a wonderful event where children dressed up as their favourite book characters. While it may seem like just a fun dress-up day, it plays a much bigger role in promoting a love for reading. In 2024, 25% of pupils receiving Free School Meals said the £1 book they chose with their token was the first book they had ever owned, showing the real impact of this initiative.

In this blog, we’ll explore other key dates in March and share creative ways to celebrate them in your early years setting. 

St Patrick’s Day – 17th March 2025

St. Patrick’s Day is a wonderful opportunity to introduce children to Irish culture and traditions in a fun and engaging way. Celebrated in Ireland and across the world, this special day marks the arrival of Christianity in Ireland and honours Saint Patrick, the country’s patron saint.

Why not bring a little Irish magic into your setting with these simple and exciting activities?

• Wear Green Day: encourage everyone to dress in green to embrace the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day.
• Treasure Hunt: set up a fun hunt for gold coins, shamrocks, or hidden treasures around the nursery.
• Shamrock Playdough: create green playdough for little hands to mould and explore.
• Sensory Play: fill a tuff tray with green sensory materials like slime, coloured rice, or water for children to pour, scoop, and explore.

Oral Health Day – 20th March 2025

Good oral health habits start early, which is why oral health is included in the EYFS framework. Tooth decay is a serious yet preventable issue in the UK, and teaching children how to care for their teeth can make a real difference. Poor oral health can affect a child’s ability to eat, sleep, socialise, and learn, so making it a focus in your setting is essential.

By incorporating oral health activities into your daily routine, you’re not only helping children develop healthy habits but also supporting key EYFS areas such as personal, social, and emotional development, speech and language, and physical development.

To make this topic fun and engaging, we’ve created a FREE Oral Health Activity Guide featuring 10 interactive activities to help children learn about looking after their teeth. 

Red Nose Day/Comic Relief – 21st March 2025

This year marks 40 years of Red Nose Day—four decades of going big, giving big, and feeling good together! It’s a fantastic opportunity to bring fun and laughter into your setting while teaching children about kindness, empathy, and the importance of helping others.

Red Nose Day is one of the biggest fundraising events of the year, encouraging people across the UK to come together for a great cause. For young children, it’s also a valuable time to learn about different cultures and the challenges faced by people around the world.

To help you celebrate and make a difference, we’ve created a FREE Red Nose Day Early Years Activity Guide packed with 10 fun and engaging activity ideas. From bake sales to dress-up days and creative crafts, there are plenty of ways to get involved while supporting this incredible cause.

World Down Syndrome Day  – 21st March 2025 

The theme for World Down Syndrome Day 2025 is all about support, because everyone needs a helping hand sometimes. For people with Down’s syndrome, the right support at the right time opens up opportunities, giving them choice, control, and dignity in their lives. Families also need support to care for and advocate for their loved ones.

A fun and simple way to raise awareness is by joining the #LotsOfSocks campaign! Encourage children, staff, and families to wear bright, colourful, and mismatched socks to start conversations and spread awareness. If someone asks why, you can proudly say:

 “I’m wearing them to raise awareness of Down’s syndrome!”

This year, World Down Syndrome Day falls on the same day as Red Nose Day, so you can wear your socks alongside your red noses! But if the 21st isn’t convenient for your setting, remember you can celebrate throughout the whole awareness week.

Mother’s Day – 30th March 2025 

Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate love, care, and appreciation for the special people in our lives who take on a parental role. Traditionally marked with cards and gifts, it’s a lovely opportunity for children to show gratitude to those who support and nurture them.

In early years settings, Mother’s Day activities often include crafting cards and small gifts, but it’s important to be inclusive, not all children have a mother in the traditional sense. Consider broadening celebrations to include all parents, carers, and loved ones who play a special role in a child’s life.

Here are some thoughtful ways to celebrate:

• Handmade Cards & Gifts: encourage children to create something special for someone they love. 
• Stay & Play Session: invite loved ones into the setting for a morning or afternoon of fun activities.
• Breakfast Together: host a simple breakfast where children and their special person can share a meal.

By making the day inclusive and flexible, you can ensure every child feels valued and involved in the celebration.

Eid al-Fitr – 31st March 2025

Eid al-Fitr, also known as the Festival of Breaking the Fast, is a special celebration that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting, reflection, and community. The date of Eid changes each year as it follows the lunar calendar, and in 2025, it is expected to fall on or around the 31st of March.

Eid is a time of joy, gratitude, and togetherness, where families and communities come together to share meals, give gifts, and help those in need. It’s a great opportunity to introduce young children to different cultures and traditions through fun, inclusive activities.

Looking for ways to celebrate? In this Tiny Happy People blog, mum of two, Safeeya Habaik, shares some of her favourite Eid activities to do with young children. Read the blog for inspiration and ideas! 

Making national days fun and stress-free

Celebrating national days with children can sometimes feel overwhelming. We’ve mentioned six national days in March alone — and there are hundreds more throughout the year! But remember, you don’t have to celebrate them all. Just pick the ones that matter most to you and the families of your setting.

To stay on top of important events, holidays, and awareness days, download our FREE Early Years Calendar. It’ll help keep your planning simple and inclusive for everyone.

It’s also a good idea to keep parents informed about upcoming events. Why not send a monthly newsletter? Free tools like Canva make it easy to create professional, branded PDFs — and with nursery management platforms like Connect Childcare, you can send them to all your parent contacts in just a few clicks.

When the big day arrives, share the joy! Send parents photos of their children celebrating through the ParentZone app. It’s a great way to keep families connected and engaged. We hope you have a fantastic time celebrating! Each special day is a chance for children to learn, explore, and connect with the world around them in a fun and meaningful way.