Father’s Day is about the people who care for us. Love Makes a Family.
We know Father’s Day is an important day to celebrate, but it can also be tricky for children from diverse families. Not every child has a dad, and for families with two mums, two dads, single parents, or non-binary parents or a carer, these days can feel complicated.
Schools and early learning centres have a big role to play in making Father’s Day a positive experience for every child. The most important thing educators can do is ask families how they would like their child to celebrate the day, and then follow their lead.
Here are five simple ways schools can include all families on Father’s Day:
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Ask families for guidance and use their words when talking about their family.
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Give children the option to make a gift for a “special adult”..... not only a dad.
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Avoid gender stereotypes in crafts, like ties for dads or flowers for mums.
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Make sure no child is left alone if a parent or carer can’t attend a Father’s Day event.
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Use the day to talk about different kinds of families and celebrate all supportive relationships a child has.
For some children, Father’s Day is about celebrating a grandparent, a carer, an aunt or uncle, or a family friend.
Others may use the day to honour both of their mums or dads. What matters most is that every child feels included and valued.
If your school doesn’t start this conversation with you, it’s worth approaching them to share how you’d like your child to celebrate the day.
For more ideas and resources:
Download our Mothers Day and Fathers Day Resources and this downloadable booklet, Supporting and Celebrating Family Diversity in Early Learning Environments - which is specifically for Early Childhood Educators but also contains lots of great ideas for inclusion for other age brackets.