National Families Week (15 - 21 May), is a time to celebrate the contributions families make in early childhood services and for children to acknowledge the importance of families.
Experiences to incorporate into the program include:
- Start a family tree with family photos
- Get to know more about each family with an "all about my family" question form.
- Create a room family book, including photos of families and who they are
- Discuss the differences and similarities in families (who lives at home, do you have pets, do you have siblings, do grandparents live at home) etc.
- Discover the diversity of families and find out where they're from.
- Discuss what makes a family during group time
- Make cupcakes/biscuits for children to take home to say thank you.
- Have children draw their families
- Have discussions with children about what they love doing with their family, favourite holidays they've been on together etc.
- Educators can write a thank you note to families showing appreciation for supporting you during their child's learning.
- Start a Sleepover Bear - send home a stuffed bear/animal over the weekend to each family and a journal where they can add what they did over the weekend.
- Setup a parent library
- Setup a "take what you need shelf" add items such as pasta, toilet paper, wet wipes, tissues, long life milk, canned foods - parents can take items they may require and then replace them.
- Create a parent corner - add a kettle with tea, coffee, sugar, long life milk, disposable cups - they can enjoy if they are waiting for their child.
- Say thank you to all families
- Plan social events for Parents
For more information: National Families Week