Many young children often presume that all families are the same as their own. In fact, every family is diverse and the idea of what a ‘family’ is has changed a lot over the years. Today there are many types of families including traditional families, single parent families, same-sex parent families, adoptive and foster care families. As a childminder, it is our role to take a non-biased approach to the different types of families we encounter.

In order to understand other people’s families and how these may be different from their own, children first need to think about their place in their own family. Children live with, interact with, and spend most of their time with a family and many enjoy sharing information about their family life at their childcare setting.

Only after exploring their place in their own family can young children be introduced to the idea that other families are different from their own. Talking about the similarities and differences between families helps children understand how each family is unique and special.

What are the key points I should tell the children?

• We each have a place within our family.
• Families are different from each other.

 

Products that can help you to explore different family types

Childminding Best Practice Club – themed packs

Join the Childminding Best Practice Club and get monthly packs of themed activities emailed to you. As well as art projects with templates, each pack includes a planning guide to help you plan around a theme.

 Diversity Awareness Pack

Printable diversity craft projects and printable diversity colouring pages to help childminders to teach 20 diversity topics including disability, religion, race, families and multicultural holidays. There is a section dedicated to learning about families and different family types.

 

 

See also: All about me