Marsden Primary students are getting creative to spread the Buddy Day message with the event taking place on November 13.

Besides getting the chance to design and dress a 'big doll', giving it a name and a story, the students spent the start of this term learning both how to be a good friend and what it takes to raise a child.

The national Buddy Day event involves 1800 adults in Hamilton, Auckland, Tauranga, Ruapehu and Wellington adopting life-sized cardboard "Buddies' and taking them into communities and workplaces to raise awareness, start conversations and drive change about the role every adult plays in the lives of kids - from preventing child abuse to providing great environments for kids to flourish.

Marsden Primary teacher, Richard Larsen, said the school opted to be involved because they felt that Buddy Day provided a good opportunity for their students to learn that it takes a community to look after a child. "Our students have absolutely loved taking part in Buddy Day and were very receptive to it".

"We talked a lot about what makes a good buddy and what it takes to raise a child. One thing we noticed that was quite profound was how the students projected their strengths and challenges onto the Buddies which resulted in a non-confrontational way to get them talking about their personal challenges."

It's free to join and according to the Buddy Day Project, "doing better for kids is everyone's business." We agree!

Quotes from Independent Herald article 4 November 2015