Global Day of Parents | EYFS & KS1 Activity Ideas

**Note: This page is for educational inspiration and is not officially affiliated with Global Day of Parents. Global Day of Parents is observed annually on June 1st. It was proclaimed by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to honour parents throughout the world for their selfless commitment to children and their lifelong sacrifices towards nurturing this relationship. For official information and details, please visit the United Nations website: www.un.org/en/observances/parents-day.

Understanding Global Day of Parents in EYFS & KS1

Let's give a big cheer for our amazing parents and carers! 💖👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

For early years settings, nurseries, preschools, childminders, and Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms, this day provides a wonderful and heartwarming theme for exploring families, relationships, kindness, emotions, belonging, community, and understanding the world (people and communities). It's about fostering an appreciation for different family structures, promoting empathy, and encouraging children to express love and gratitude. This day offers fantastic planning ideas and inspiration for engaging activities that truly resonate with young minds, making learning about family bonds, respect, and emotional well-being both essential and wonderfully heartwarming!

Why Is Learning About Parents and Families Important for Young Children?

Integrating Global Day of Parents and themes of family, kindness, and appreciation into your practice with young children (aged 0-7) builds a sense of belonging, and an understanding of diverse family structures.

• Builds a Sense of Belonging: Helps children feel secure and valued within their own family unit and the wider community.

• Promotes Gratitude & Appreciation: Encourages children to recognise and value the care and love they receive from parents/carers.

• Develops Empathy & Kindness: Fosters an understanding of others' feelings and the importance of being kind and supportive within relationships.

• Explores Family Diversity: Acknowledges and celebrates different family structures and the various roles parents/carers play.

• Supports Social-Emotional Learning: Provides opportunities to discuss emotions, relationships, and how to express feelings constructively.

• Strengthens Home-School Connection: Reinforces the partnership between educators and families in supporting children's development.

Engaging Family & Kindness Activities for Global Day of Parents (EYFS & KS1)

Let's celebrate the amazing parents and carers in our lives for Global Day of Parents with these planning ideas and activities perfect for EYFS and KS1 children. The focus is on expressing love, gratitude, and understanding the warmth of family bonds! Many of these early years and year 1 activities can be supported by our dedicated ‘Families’, ‘Kindness and Friendship’, ‘Emotions and Feelings’, and ‘All About Me’ resources.

Here's some inspiration for celebrating Global Day of Parents in your setting: (Please use your own discretion and knowledge of your children to ensure appropriateness of each activity and safety concerning any materials given and activity undertaken.)

• Celebrating Families & Parents:

  • Create a display all about families using 'Families - Topic Display Banners'.

  • Have children draw and write about their families with 'Families - 'My Family' Vertical Writing/Drawing Sheets (Free Sample)', 'Families - 'My Family' Horizontal Writing/Drawing Sheets', or 'Families - Draw A Family Member'.

  • Make personalised booklets with 'Families - 'My Family' Picture Frame Booklet' or ''My Family' Booklet'.

  • Encourage creative expression with 'Families - 'Family' Themed Colouring Sheets'.

  • Use 'Families - Make A Family Member - Playdough Mat' for hands-on family representation.

  • Discuss different types of families using 'Families - Posters'.

  • Reflect on personal identity with 'This Is Me' Sheets'.

• Expressing Gratitude & Kindness:

  • Help children create special cards for their parents or carers using 'Friendship' Card Templates' or a blank card template.

  • Engage in 'Acts Of Kindness' Activity And Display' or the full version, focusing on kind acts children can do for their parents.

  • Use 'Acts Of Kindness' Mark Making/Drawing/Writing A4 Sheet' to plan or record acts of kindness.

  • Create 'Thank-You For Being Kind!' Cards - Horizontal' to express gratitude.

  • Display positive messages about kindness with 'Be The Reason Someone Smiles Poster'.

  • Discuss sharing and fairness using 'Beach - Who Will Share This Shell?'.

  • Connect to stories of community and working together like 'The Little Red Hen'.

• Understanding Emotions & Support:

  • Explore different feelings with 'Emotions - 'Why Is Teddy Sad?' Activity Pack' and 'Emotions - 'Why Is Teddy Happy?' Activity Pack', discussing how parents help with feelings.

  • Discuss strategies for when children feel worried using 'When I Feel Worried - Prompt Templates'.

  • Promote positive mental well-being with 'Mental Health - 'Healthy Minds' Poster' and 'Kind To Me' Display Certificates/Notes'.

• Connecting & Caring Activities:

  • Use 'Let's Connect - With Each Other - Activity Prompt Poster' and 'Let's Connect - With Each Other - Activity Prompt Cards' to inspire ways to connect with family members.

  • Discuss and practise being kind with 'Let's Show Kindness - Activity Prompt Poster' and 'Let's Show Kindness - Activity Prompt Cards'.

• Creative & Practical Exploration:

  • Use 'Houses And Homes - Home Corner Mark Making Pack' for role-play based on family life.

• Explore More: You may like to explore additional pages covering relevant and/or connected themes such as ‘All About Me’, ‘Birthdays’, ‘Emotions and Feelings’, ‘Families’, ‘Houses and Homes’, ‘Kindness and Friendship’ and ‘Mental Health’.

These activities offer great inspiration for making Global Day of Parents a memorable and impactful experience in your early years and Key Stage One setting, fostering love and gratitude for families, empathy, kindness, and a strong sense of belonging in young children.

To explore ideas surrounding additional early years events, please visit our 'Special Dates Calendar' page.

Printable resources to support teaching & learning surrounding: ‘Global Day of Parents’

Free ‘Family’ & ‘Kindness’ related EYFS & KS1 resources:

‘Family’, ‘Parents’ & ‘Kindness’ related EYFS & KS1 resources:

Additional Pages you may like to explore which cover relevant &/or Connected themes

More Early Years Event Pages for June

Explore special dates (including awareness dates, festivals, celebrations & events) relevant to your EYFS & KS1 children

Browse our ‘Special Dates Calendar’ page using the link below. You’ll find calendars for every month of the year to aid your planning!

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Disclaimer:
This page is for educational purposes only and is intended to support early years and primary practitioners with ideas and resources related to 'Global Day of Parents'. We are not officially affiliated with or endorsed by the United Nations (UN), which proclaimed this international observance. We do not claim any rights to specific trademarks or official materials associated with this event. For official information and details, please visit the United Nations website: www.un.org/en/observances/parents-day.