Open Discussion Forum

Our child development center is located in a small town where many families cherish the traditional holidays, such as Mothers Day.  At the same time, we serve a diverse population. Our families include single-parent families, multigenerational families, same-sex families and blended families. We're struggling with finding an inclusive, culturally sensitive way to acknowledge Mothers Day and Fathers Day.  I've seen some suggestions for celebrating something in the middle called "Family Day."  Somehow, that doesn't seem to be enough. Most families have someone who plays the role of mother and someone who plays the role of father, even if they are not biologically connected to the child or live in the same household. "Significant Female Role Model Day" just doesn't have much of a ring to it.  Any suggestions?

We had similar issues and now we do VIP Days.  We do a VIP Breakfast in March and a VIP Tea in early May.  Each student can bring one special adult in their lives.  It lasts about an hour total.  One we do right at drop off for folks who need to eventually get somewhere else.  One we do right before dismissal. It involves the guest getting a VIP tag, a walk down the "red carpet",some joint fellowship with easy food, a VIP questionnaire each pair fills out together, a at the end the student shows of their classroom to the VIP. It's been a big hit!

Our child development center is located in a small town where many families cherish the traditional holidays, such as Mothers Day.  At the same time, we serve a diverse population. Our families include single-parent families, multigenerational families, same-sex families and blended families. We're struggling with finding an inclusive, culturally sensitive way to acknowledge Mothers Day and Fathers Day.  I've seen some suggestions for celebrating something in the middle called "Family Day."  Somehow, that doesn't seem to be enough. Most families have someone who plays the role of mother and someone who plays the role of father, even if they are not biologically connected to the child or live in the same household. "Significant Female Role Model Day" just doesn't have much of a ring to it.  Any suggestions?

Our child development center is located in a small town where many families cherish the traditional holidays, such as Mothers Day.  At the same time, we serve a diverse population. Our families include single-parent families, multigenerational families, same-sex families and blended families. We're struggling with finding an inclusive, culturally sensitive way to acknowledge Mothers Day and Fathers Day.  I've seen some suggestions for celebrating something in the middle called "Family Day."  Somehow, that doesn't seem to be enough. Most families have someone who plays the role of mother and someone who plays the role of father, even if they are not biologically connected to the child or live in the same household. "Significant Female Role Model Day" just doesn't have much of a ring to it.  Any suggestions?

Our child development center is located in a small town where many families cherish the traditional holidays, such as Mothers Day.  At the same time, we serve a diverse population. Our families include single-parent families, multigenerational families, same-sex families and blended families. We're struggling with finding an inclusive, culturally sensitive way to acknowledge Mothers Day and Fathers Day.  I've seen some suggestions for celebrating something in the middle called "Family Day."  Somehow, that doesn't seem to be enough. Most families have someone who plays the role of mother and someone who plays the role of father, even if they are not biologically connected to the child or live in the same household. "Significant Female Role Model Day" just doesn't have much of a ring to it.  Any suggestions?

Our child development center is located in a small town where many families cherish the traditional holidays, such as Mothers Day.  At the same time, we serve a diverse population. Our families include single-parent families, multigenerational families, same-sex families and blended families. We're struggling with finding an inclusive, culturally sensitive way to acknowledge Mothers Day and Fathers Day.  I've seen some suggestions for celebrating something in the middle called "Family Day."  Somehow, that doesn't seem to be enough. Most families have someone who plays the role of mother and someone who plays the role of father, even if they are not biologically connected to the child or live in the same household. "Significant Female Role Model Day" just doesn't have much of a ring to it.  Any suggestions?

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Dianne Nielsen
Executive Director
Children's Coalition of Aransas County
TX
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We've made a change this year to Date Nights. We offered one at the end of March and we are doing a second at the end of May. Students invite a special person to go on a 'date'. Each classroom organizes a special activity and a small snack for the evening. Our families have expressed their appreciation for being more inclusive. 

Recently, I was given the idea of holding a "prom" event, where the child and guest dress up for an evening of dancing (to classroom favorite songs), a photo booth, and some light snacks and drinks. The person who shared the idea said they do this in their toddler program. I think it sounds like fun and we may try it next year!

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Kimberly Droppo
Director
Issaquah Montessori School
WA

Original Message:
Sent: 04-29-2024 03:16 PM
From: Dianne Nielsen
Subject: Mothers Day

Our child development center is located in a small town where many families cherish the traditional holidays, such as Mothers Day.  At the same time, we serve a diverse population. Our families include single-parent families, multigenerational families, same-sex families and blended families. We're struggling with finding an inclusive, culturally sensitive way to acknowledge Mothers Day and Fathers Day.  I've seen some suggestions for celebrating something in the middle called "Family Day."  Somehow, that doesn't seem to be enough. Most families have someone who plays the role of mother and someone who plays the role of father, even if they are not biologically connected to the child or live in the same household. "Significant Female Role Model Day" just doesn't have much of a ring to it.  Any suggestions?

------------------------------
Dianne Nielsen
Executive Director
Children's Coalition of Aransas County
TX
------------------------------

Kimberly:
I love that you've created an inclusive event and I'm sure the children and their special people love it. 

I had a reaction, though, to calling it "date night" and to the idea of having a prom for young children. We write in these posts so often about not hurrying children to grow up.  Date nights are for teens and adults and proms are for teens.  There is a whole culture around those terms that includes sexuality and these terms don't apply to what young children and adults do together. There are a lot of other terms for these wonderful events that don't include naming them for adult and teenage rituals. I wonder if you would consider renaming these events. 

We've made a change this year to Date Nights. We offered one at the end of March and we are doing a second at the end of May. Students invite a special person to go on a 'date'. Each classroom organizes a special activity and a small snack for the evening. Our families have expressed their appreciation for being more inclusive. 

Recently, I was given the idea of holding a "prom" event, where the child and guest dress up for an evening of dancing (to classroom favorite songs), a photo booth, and some light snacks and drinks. The person who shared the idea said they do this in their toddler program. I think it sounds like fun and we may try it next year!

------------------------------
Kimberly Droppo
Director
Issaquah Montessori School
WA

Original Message:
Sent: 04-29-2024 03:16 PM
From: Dianne Nielsen
Subject: Mothers Day

Our child development center is located in a small town where many families cherish the traditional holidays, such as Mothers Day.  At the same time, we serve a diverse population. Our families include single-parent families, multigenerational families, same-sex families and blended families. We're struggling with finding an inclusive, culturally sensitive way to acknowledge Mothers Day and Fathers Day.  I've seen some suggestions for celebrating something in the middle called "Family Day."  Somehow, that doesn't seem to be enough. Most families have someone who plays the role of mother and someone who plays the role of father, even if they are not biologically connected to the child or live in the same household. "Significant Female Role Model Day" just doesn't have much of a ring to it.  Any suggestions?

------------------------------
Dianne Nielsen
Executive Director
Children's Coalition of Aransas County
TX
------------------------------

Our child development center is located in a small town where many families cherish the traditional holidays, such as Mothers Day.  At the same time, we serve a diverse population. Our families include single-parent families, multigenerational families, same-sex families and blended families. We're struggling with finding an inclusive, culturally sensitive way to acknowledge Mothers Day and Fathers Day.  I've seen some suggestions for celebrating something in the middle called "Family Day."  Somehow, that doesn't seem to be enough. Most families have someone who plays the role of mother and someone who plays the role of father, even if they are not biologically connected to the child or live in the same household. "Significant Female Role Model Day" just doesn't have much of a ring to it.  Any suggestions?

Our child development center is located in a small town where many families cherish the traditional holidays, such as Mothers Day.  At the same time, we serve a diverse population. Our families include single-parent families, multigenerational families, same-sex families and blended families. We're struggling with finding an inclusive, culturally sensitive way to acknowledge Mothers Day and Fathers Day.  I've seen some suggestions for celebrating something in the middle called "Family Day."  Somehow, that doesn't seem to be enough. Most families have someone who plays the role of mother and someone who plays the role of father, even if they are not biologically connected to the child or live in the same household. "Significant Female Role Model Day" just doesn't have much of a ring to it.  Any suggestions?