2003 Children's Health - Children's Playgrounds

In New Zealand, playgrounds are an essential part of childhood. Found in backyards, schools and parks throughout the country, they have a vital role in keeping our children fit, healthy, strong and confident. They also introduce them to some of the basics of a long and healthy life - regular exercise, plenty of laughter and a willingness to give and take in the spirit of both competition and co-operation.

Our Children's Health stamps for 2003 captured three playground classics: the jungle gym, playground swing and hopscotch. Celebrating life, youth and health, they remind us all of the joy and importance of play.

Images of Play

The 2003 Children's Heath - Children's Playgrounds miniature sheet featured a perennial backyard favourite - a simple tyre transformed into a swing that guarantees hours of playground delight.

Action-packed First Day Covers

The faces told the story on the two 2003 Children's Heath - Children's Playgrounds first day covers. Delightfully colourful illustrations radiated the excitement and energy of a day at play on the slides and merry-go-rounds of a typical New Zealand playground.

Keeping the Magic Going - Building Resilient Lives

Health stamps had been issued in New Zealand every year since 1929. Each of this year's stamps carried an additional 5c surcharge, which was donated to seven Children's Health Camps throughout New Zealand. These camps help build resilient lives by providing individual, innovative, strangth-based services that support the development of positive lifestyles for children and families with complex needs.

Special Set of First Day Covers

The Children's Health Camps board released an official set of seven first day covers to help raise funds for the regional Children's Health camps throughout New Zealand.

Each first day cover has its own distinct postmark, including the date of issue and the name of each of the seven Children's Heath Camps.

This set of seven was only available by invitation and had a guaranteed limited production of 750.

Product Listing for 2003 Children's Health - Children's Playgrounds

Image	Title	Description	Price
	Single Stamp	Single 40c + 5c gummed stamp. As we watch children swing from bar to bar and rung to rung, we can guess at the origins of the word 'jungle gym'. Although designs have evolved over the years, the jungle gym remains a popular and energetic playground activity.	$0.45
	Single Stamp	Single 90c + 5c gummed stamp. Hopscotch is believed to have started as a military training exercise for foot soldiers in the Roman Empire, adapted to a game by Roman children. Today, youngsters all over the world continue to play, testing their balance and jumping skills against those of their peers.	$0.95
	Single Stamp	Single 40c + 5c self-adhesive stamp. The 45c self-adhesive stamp illustrated the sheer exhilaration experienced on the playground swing. Such a simple concept has provided generations of children with a taste of the glorious freedom of flight.	$0.45
	Miniature Sheet	Mint, used or cancelled miniature sheet with two gummed stamps and one self-adhesive stamp.	$1.85
	First Day Cover	First day cover with two gummed stamps and one self-adhesive stamp affixed. Cancelled on the first day of issue.	$2.35
	Set of First Day Covers	Set of seven first day covers with two gummed and one self-adhesive stamp affixed. Each first day cover cancelled with a unique unique postmark on the first day of issue. Limited to 750 sets.	$39.50
	Miniature Sheet First Day Cover	First day cover with miniature sheet affixed. Cancelled on the first day of issue.	$2.35
	Self-adhesive Dispenser	Dispenser box containing 100 x 45c self-adhesive stamps.	$45.00