International Day of Families | EYFS & KS1 Activity Ideas

**Note: This page is for educational inspiration and is not officially affiliated with International Day of Families. For official information, themes, and resources, please visit the United Nations website: www.un.org/en/observances/international-day-of-families.

Friday 15th May 2026

15th May each year

• 🤔 What is International Day of Families?

  International Day of Families is observed each year on 15th May. It was established by the United Nations in 1993 to recognise the importance of families in children’s lives and across society.

  It highlights:

  • the role of families in supporting children’s development

  • the diversity of family structures

  • the importance of relationships, care and belonging

• 💖 Understanding International Day of Families in EYFS & KS1

  This theme provides a meaningful opportunity to explore:

  • relationships and belonging

  • family diversity

  • kindness and empathy

  • emotions and connection

  This supports:

  EYFS:

  • PSED (relationships, belonging, empathy)

  • Communication & Language (talking about experiences)

  • Understanding the World (people and communities)

  KS1 (National Curriculum):

  • PSHE (relationships, family, belonging)

  • English (speaking and listening, storytelling)

  • Citizenship (community and respect for diversity)

• 🌱 A Developmentally Appropriate Approach in Early Years

  In high-quality EYFS practice, themes such as families are explored through:

  • relationships

  • conversations

  • play

  • real-life experiences

  The ideas below are:

  • flexible

  • optional

  • intended to support adult thinking

  👉 Find out more about developmentally appropriate practice in EYFS by exploring our ‘Curriculum & Pedagogy Suite’.

  Pathways available for:

  ↪ Babies | birth-18 months

  ↪ Toddlers | 18-36 months

  ↪ Preschool | 3-4 years

  ↪ Reception | 4-5 years

  ↪ Childminder | Mixed-Age Care

• 💛 Why Learning About Families Matters

  Exploring families supports children to:

  👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Develop a Sense of Belonging

  Children feel secure when they understand who cares for them.

  🌍 Recognise Family Diversity

  Children learn that families are all different—and all valid.

  🤝 Build Relationships

  Children develop empathy, kindness and social understanding.

  😊 Develop Emotional Literacy

  Children begin to talk about love, comfort and connection.

  🗣️ Strengthen Communication

  Children share experiences and talk about their lives.

🌿 EYFS: Provision & Child-Led Ideas (0–5 Years)

These ideas are not activities to be planned or completed. They support understanding through relationships, play and real-life connection.

• 👶 Babies (0–18 months)

  Understanding is rooted in secure relationships and care.

  Babies may:

  • respond to familiar adults

  • seek comfort and reassurance

  • build trust through repeated interactions

  Adults can:

  • provide consistent, responsive care

  • use warm tone, eye contact and touch

  • narrate simple interactions (“I’m here with you”)

  • build strong attachment relationships

  👉 Additional curriculum & planning support for this age group may be found on our ‘EYFS Planning for Babies (0–18 Months)’ hub page.

• 🚶 Toddlers (18–36 months)

  Toddlers begin to recognise familiar people and relationships.

  Children may:

  • talk about familiar people (“Mummy”, “Daddy”)

  • imitate family roles in play

  • show strong attachment behaviours

  Adults can:

  • support simple conversations about familiar people

  • provide role-play opportunities (home corner, dolls)

  • model language linked to relationships

  • respect and reflect children’s home experiences

  👉 Additional curriculum & planning support for this age group may be found on our ‘EYFS Planning for Toddlers (18–36 Months)’ hub page.

• 🧒 Preschool (3–4 years)

  Children begin to explore family roles and differences.

  Children may:

  • talk about who is in their family

  • notice similarities and differences

  • explore family life through imaginative play

  Adults can:

  • support inclusive conversations about families

  • introduce language around relationships and roles

  • extend play through storytelling and discussion

  • ensure all family types are represented positively

  👉 Additional curriculum & planning support for this age group may be found on our ‘EYFS Planning for Preschool (3–4 Years)’ hub page.

• 🎓 Reception (4–5 years)

  Children develop a broader understanding of relationships and community.

  Children may:

  • describe their family and experiences

  • recognise that families are different

  • understand belonging and connection

  Adults can:

  • support respectful discussion about diversity

  • extend vocabulary and understanding

  • guide children to consider others’ experiences

  • reinforce inclusion and acceptance

  👉 Additional curriculum & planning support for this age group may be found on our ‘EYFS Planning for Reception (4–5 Years)’ hub page.

• 💖 Key Principle Across EYFS

  Understanding families develops through:

  • relationships and attachment

  • conversation and shared experiences

  • inclusive environments

  • meaningful play

🌱 Environment Enhancements & Invitations (EYFS)

These are optional enhancements that may be added to provision if they reflect children’s lives, relationships and experiences.

• 🏠 Reflecting Families Within the Environment

  You might enhance provision by:

  • including images, books or materials that reflect a wide range of family structures

  • ensuring representation is inclusive, realistic and respectful

  • creating spaces where children can see their own lives and experiences reflected

  Resources:

  • Families

  • All About Me

  • Houses and Homes

• 🎭 Role-Play & Real-Life Imitation

  You might enhance provision by:

  • supporting home corner or role-play areas with familiar, everyday objects

  • allowing children to act out routines and relationships from their own lives

  • observing and following children’s narratives rather than directing them

  Resources that may support this include:

  • Home corner materials

  • Role-play resources linked to everyday family life

• 🗣️ Language, Communication & Storytelling

  You might enhance provision by:

  • encouraging children to talk about the people who are important to them

  • responding sensitively to children’s contributions and experiences

  • using stories and conversation to explore relationships and belonging

  Resources that may support this include:

  • “My Family” Booklets / Drawing Sheets

  • Story-based resources linked to family life

• 💛 Belonging, Identity & Emotional Connection

  You might enhance provision by:

  • supporting children to feel seen, valued and included

  • acknowledging each child’s unique family experience

  • creating opportunities for children to share and celebrate what matters to them

  Resources:

  • Emotions and Feelings

  • Kindness and Friendship

  • Mental Health

• 🤝 Relationships, Kindness & Social Interaction

  You might enhance provision by:

  • modelling respectful, caring interactions

  • supporting children to notice and respond to others’ feelings

  • encouraging cooperation and shared play

  Resources that may support this include:

  • Kindness and Friendship resources

  • “Acts of Kindness” materials

  • “Let’s Connect” prompts

• 🎨 Creative & Expressive Opportunities

  You might enhance provision by:

  • offering open-ended materials for drawing, mark-making or making

  • allowing children to represent their family and important people in their own way

  • valuing children’s individual interpretations and experiences

  Resources that may support this include:

  • “My Family” drawing and writing sheets

  • Creative and mark-making materials

• ✨ Key Reminder

  Understanding families develops through:

  • relationships

  • conversation

  • representation

  • everyday lived experience

📘 KS1 Learning Activities for International Day of Families

In Key Stage 1, this theme can support more structured learning around relationships, diversity and community.

• 🏠 Celebrating All Types of Families

  Children can:

  • discuss different family structures

  • reflect on their own family

  • recognise that all families are unique

  You may use our:

  • ‘Families – Topic Display Banners’

  • ‘My Family Picture Frame Booklet’ / ‘My Family Booklet’

  • ‘Families Colouring Sheets’ and Posters

  • ‘Make A Family Member – Playdough Mat’

• 🤝 Kindness & Relationships

  Children can:

  • explore what makes a good friend or family member

  • reflect on acts of kindness

  • create messages for others

  You may use our:

  • ‘What Makes A Good Friend – Mark Making’

  • ‘Acts of Kindness Activity & Display’

  • ‘Acts of Kindness Writing Sheets’

  • ‘Friendship Card Templates’

  • ‘Thank You For Being Kind / My Friend Cards’

  • ‘Kindness Certificates’

• 😊 Emotional Understanding

  Children can:

  • explore feelings within relationships

  • discuss different emotions

  • reflect on personal experiences

  You may use our:

  • ‘Why Is Teddy Sad?’ / ‘Why Is Teddy Happy?’ Packs

  • ‘Let’s Connect – Activity Prompts’

  • ‘When I Feel Worried – Templates’

  • ‘Healthy Minds Poster’

• 🧍 All About Me & Identity

  Children can:

  • reflect on themselves and their place within a family

  • share experiences

  • build self-awareness

  You may use our:

  • ‘This Is Me’ Sheets

  • All About Me resources

• 🎭 Play-Based & Creative Exploration

  Children can:

  • role-play family scenarios

  • express ideas creatively

  • explore relationships through play

  You may use our:

  • ‘Home Corner Mark Making Pack’

  • ‘Hearts Counting Activities’

  • ‘Colour Mixing Experiment Sheets’

• 🌍 Explore More Resources | EYFS Enhanced Provision & KS1 Activities

  You may wish to explore:

  • All About Me

  • Families

  • Emotions and Feelings

  • Kindness and Friendship

  • Houses and Homes

  • Birthdays

  • Food

  • Holidays, Vacations and Travel

• 🧠 Using Special Dates Thoughtfully

  A helpful question: “Does this reflect children’s real lives and relationships?”

  If it supports:

  • belonging

  • identity

  • connection

  → it is meaningful

• 💖 In Summary

  International Day of Families supports children to:

  • understand relationships

  • develop empathy and kindness

  • feel a sense of belonging

  • recognise diversity

  In the EYFS, this is most effective when it is:

  • relationship-led

  • inclusive

  • rooted in real experiences

  In KS1, it can be:

  • explored through discussion

  • supported through structured reflection

  • linked to children’s own lives

• 🔓 How to Access Resources

  We offer a range of resources to support practitioners across EYFS and KS1, including printable materials and in-depth curriculum and pedagogy guidance.

  🟢 Free Membership

  You can access a selection of free resources by creating a free account.

  This includes:

  • selected printable resources

  • sample materials

  • weekly support emails for those who opt-in

  👉 [Create a free account]

  🟡 Premium Membership (Printables)

  Our Premium Membership provides access to our full library of printable teaching and provision resources.

  This includes:

  • themed resources (e.g. Gardening, Emotions, Seasons)

  • continuous provision materials

  • activity cards, displays and printable packs

  These resources can be used flexibly to support:

  • provision enhancements

  • small group work

  • classroom organisation

  👉 [View Premium Membership]

  🟣 Professional Membership (Curriculum & Pedagogy)

  Our Professional Membership provides access to our full Curriculum & Pedagogy Suite (Birth–5).

  ~ In addition to Premium Printable Provision access.~

  This includes:

  • age-specific pathways (Babies, Toddlers, Preschool, Reception)

  • planning guidance and templates

  • observation and assessment support

  • SEND and inclusion guidance

  • inspection-ready documentation

  These documents are designed to support:

  • confident decision-making

  • consistent practice across teams

  • clear articulation of EYFS pedagogy

  (KS1 curriculum coming soon!)

  👉 Visit EYFS Curriculum & Pedagogy Suite

  👉 [View Professional Membership]

  🧠 Choosing What Works for You

  You do not need to use everything at once.

  Many practitioners:

  • start with free resources

  • build their printable provision over time

  • use pedagogy documents to support team understanding and leadership

  Choose what best fits your setting, role and stage of development.

👉 To explore more early years events, visit our Special Dates Calendar.

Printable resources to support teaching & learning surrounding: ‘International Day of Families’

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

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

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

More Early Years Event Pages for May

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 'International Day of Families'. We are not officially affiliated with or endorsed by the United Nations, which proclaimed this observance. We do not claim any rights to specific trademarks or official materials associated with this event. For official information, themes, and resources, please visit the United Nations website: www.un.org/en/observances/international-day-of-families.