My Family – Why One Size Doesn’t Fit All – celebrating the uniqueness of every family

Show notes:

Early Years Global Expert Laura Henry

In this episode:

My Family – Why One Size Doesn’t Fit All – celebrating the uniqueness of every family

Creator of the characters Jo Jo and Gran Gran the smash hit Cbeebies series, Laura Henry-Allain, joins Sue in Conversation With Early Years Expert and the Creator of   – ‘My Family Week’ for a fascinating interview

Laura Henry is an expert international award-winning Early Childhood specialist. She is the founder of the community interest company for Early Childhood trainers and consultants, vice-president of The British Association for Early Childhood Education; and national representative for the World Forum on Early Care and Education and the passion behind ‘My Family Week.

My Family Week is the concept of international Early Years trainer, author and consultant, Laura Henry. Laura has worked with children and their families for three decades and has recently reflected on what we mean by family in the modern sense of the word.

On a personal level, Laura’s parents divorced when she was young and she remembers the stigma attached to belonging to a single parent household. Fast forward 40 years, and although there is less of a stigma, certain types of ‘non-conventional’ families still find themselves less accepted by wider society.

Every family is unique and this uniqueness should be celebrated. With this in mind, Laura has created My Family Week 2017, using the characters from her bestselling book, Jo-Jo and Gran-Gran.

Traditionally, we celebrate Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, which may trigger for some children a sense that they don’t belong. My Family Week aims to celebrate all families, irrespective of a child’s circumstances including children with same-sex parents, those who are fostered, disabled, have step families or half brothers and sisters, are bereaved, blended, those who are adopted or who live with grandparents and other family members.

It is important that every child, wherever they are in the world, is able to tell their own story, in their own voice about their family, irrespective of whether this is their blood family or not.

Laura will share a range of open-ended activities, experiences and provocations that Early Years settings, schools and parents can use to support children to tell their personalised story. We will also share stories and connect with each other via social media.

Go to My Family Week Downloads to get involved

The Divorce Journal for Children

Separation and divorce are traumatic events for families.

This journal is designed to help children express, explore and understand some of the strong emotions that they may be feeling and to help them process the divorce for themselves.

Keeping a Journal is a very simple, but powerful way to support children.

As caring adults, we can help by simply acknowledging & listening to how a child may be feeling, without trying to “fix it”.

This Journal is designed to support open and honest communication and to help children feel heard, understood and supported during a time of great upheaval.

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