theChat.scot

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Talking about my family. All our families are different.

Whether your family is you and your child, or a much larger or extended family, children do love to chat about their family and hear stories. Sometimes a child’s family story can be complex, and in those circumstances, you can think about the ideas we offer here but also talk to any professional person that offers you and your family support.

When children talk with us about their family, they learn that every family is unique, and so they can learn to respect the makeup of other families.

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Talking about our family

In play and chat children can learn about who constitutes their family. You might want to establish who are the most important people you want your child to know are part of their care. Extended family members can be acknowledged. They can talk about which family members they like to do certain things with – nan who takes them swimming, uncle who reads them stories.

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Family portraits

You can draw and paint together, including all the important people (and pets) that are part of your child’s family. If your child lives with different parents/carers in different homes everyone can be included so that the child thinks of family as everyone.

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Playing houses and families

Children often like to play house. In the creative play they might invite you to be part of their family.

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Family events

When gatherings happen, or when looking back at photos of past events, stories can be remembered, and the idea of family established.

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Sad times

Children can experience change and loss, families change, family members get ill, there can be a family bereavement. It is important to talk with your child about change and feelings and recognise when they might be upset or have questions. If your child is experiencing loss or change, consider telling a person you trust at their nursery or school so that they can look out for them being upset or quiet, and offer some support.

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Books

You might like to read these books together. Your library or nursery might have them, or you can ask a library if they will order a book for you.

A celebration of the diversity found within contemporary families.

The Family Book celebrates the love we feel for our families and all the different varieties they come in. Whether you have two mums or two dads, a big family or a small family, a clean family or a messy one.

A guide to families all over the world. Whatever size or shape, whatever background you come from, whatever language you speak, homes you live in, and occasions you celebrate.

If you love each other then you are a family. Discover a whole host of animal families in this celebration of the love found in families big and small.

Family is important, but who’s in a family? It’s the people who love you the most! This picture book has no preconceptions about what makes a family a family. 

Written in the voice of a loving stepmum or stepdad.

Told from a young boy’s point of view, this book addresses many feelings and questions that children may have while adjusting to remarriage and a blended family after their parents’ divorce.

Rhythmic text and illustrations show a toddler spending the day with its mums. From hide-and-seek to dress-up, then bath time and a kiss goodnight.

Once there lived a lovelorn prince whose mother decreed that he must marry by the end of the summer. A tale about finding true love and living happily ever after.

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Many books for children tell stories of adoption and fostering. They are for every child, not just those with personal experience. These are just examples.

There are lots of different ways to make a family.

Two gentle and loving animals find each other and find family.

Open the flaps to help Tommy find his family.

Will Josh and Jaz’s class laugh because they live with two mums and what will they say about their birth parents? They want to be like everyone else and have just one mum and dad. Mummy Sue and Mummy Fran help Josh and Jaz to understand that every family tree will tell a different story.