What is National Families Week?

In 2020, the 18th National Families Week will be held between 15 and 21 May 2020. The enduring theme is 'Stronger Families, Stronger Communities ', with the aim of National Families Week 2020 being to celebrate the vital role that families play in community wellbeing.

When is  National Families Week?

From Monday 15 May to 21 May 

Activities:

• Celebrate the families in your centre by hosting a morning or afternoon tea for them. 
• Run an activity with the children about their favourite activities to do as a family
• Asking parents for their input and maybe get some photos of the children with their families i.e. do they like to ride a bike, hike, visit a library, have story time?
• Create a family tree by adding images of the children and families
• Run a centre wide project of the children’s family history/ extended family. What are there origins? What do they do as a family to celebrate their heritage?
• Intentional teaching - discussing different types of families in our society.
• Celebrate each day of the week with a theme:
  • Traditional Dress Around The World: Come dressed in their cultural traditional dress
  • Bring in a cultural meal and children can have a feast with their peers and educators
  • Bring in a cultural instrument, icon etc
  • Dancing to cultural music
  • Have parents come in and share stories with their child and friends of cultural stories
  • Learning greetings in different languages

What is Mother's Day?

Many Australians celebrate Mother’s Day by showing their appreciation for the achievements and efforts of mothers and mother figures; include stepmothers, relatives, guardians (eg. foster mothers), and close family friends. It is annually observed in Australia on the second Sunday of May.

Many families may also spend the day having a picnic in the park or the beach on Mother’s Day.

When is Mother's Day celebrated?

Sunday, 14 May

Mother’s Day activities:

• Organized walks or runs to raise money for causes such as breast cancer research.
• Plan a morning tea or afternoon tea and invite all mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers or any mother figure to the child and set up with many activities the mothers and children can engage in together.  
• Handmade gifts or cards being presented to mothers or mother figures.
• Mother’s Day poems being printed, broadcast, or presented to mothers and mother figures.
• Lesson Plan - read storied about deifferent types of families

For more details Mother's Day art and crafts, click on the following link: https://www.easypeasyandfun.com/mothers-day-crafts-for-kids/ 

What is World Red Cross Day?

World Red Cross Day is celebrated each year around the world for remember the anniversary of the birth anniversary of the movement’s founder, Jean Henri Dunant of the Red Cross which helps people who are suffering; for example as a result of war, floods, or disease.

World Red Cross Day encourage humeans to celebrate throught blood donation. People are encouraged to donate blood to save the lives of people in need of blood. 

When is World Red Cross celebrated?

Monday, 8 May

Activities: 

• Provide families, educators infomation and facts regarding the importance of donating blood and how it can help others. 
• Teaching the preschoolers about the Australian Red Cross, what they do, how donating blood is very important and how it can save lives. 
• Role play; set up a doctors and nurse role play area. 

What is International Fire Fighters Day?

It is celebrated on May 4th because that is Saint Florian's day, and Saint Florian, who was said to be one of the first commanding firefighters of an actual Roman battalion and saved many lives, is the patron saint of firefighters.

It is celebrated on May 4th because that is Saint Florian's day, and Saint Florian, who was said to be one of the first commanding firefighters of an actual Roman battalion and saved many lives, is the patron saint of firefighters.
– Lt JJ Edmondson, 1999

When is International Fire Fighters Day celebrated?

Wednesday, 4 May

Actvities:

• Have a minute of silence
• Plan a visit from your local firefighters to your service or visit your local fire station
• Lesson plan FRNSW’s Brigade Kids web site is jammed pack full of fire safety material, games, activities and more. - https://brigadekids.com/
• Triple Zero Kids' Challenge will teach kids about safety messages and hear what happens when you call Triple Zero. Along the way they will meet the "Zeros" as they are guided step by step through the game - http://kids.triplezero.gov.au/
• Lesson Plan - The importance of educating and protecting children from the dangers and trauma that can be caused by fire, especially fires in and around the home, is widely recognised. Accordingly, Fire and Rescue NSW's firefighters have been visiting local preschools and teaching fire safety to children through the Pre ED program for many years - https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/page.php?id=219
• Role play Stop, Drop, Cover and Roll!
• Practice a fire evacuation with the service

What is Star Wars Day?

May 4th is approaching and if you're a Star Wars fan you may refer to that day as Stars Wars day “May The Fourth Be With You”. In order to celebrate my love of Star Wars, I've rounded up some fun Star Wars kids crafts including the Yoda Handprint craft.

When is Star Wars Day?

Thursday, 4 May 

Star Wars Day Activities:

• Yoda Paper Bag Puppet from Glue Sticks and Gumdrops
• Paper Plate Darth Vader from The Chirping Moms
• Star Wars Bingo from Printabelle
• Lightsaber Sensory Bottle from Little Bins For Little Hands
• LEGO Star Wars Challenge Cards from Sunshine and Hurricanes
• R2D2 Perler Beads from Brain Power Boy