In every early years and school-aged care environment, children come from a wide variety of family backgrounds, and the stories we share must reflect that diversity.
Families today include foster carers, same-sex parents, step-parents, grandparents, adoptive families, single-parent homes, and everything in between. When children see their own family structure reflected in the books they read, it fosters a deep sense of belonging, safety, and identity.
Why Representation Matters
Young children learn about the world and their place in it through story. When story time includes books that showcase different types of families, we’re doing more than reading, we’re validating, affirming, and teaching respect.
It also opens the door for conversations around empathy, inclusion, and acceptance ,values that are foundational in both early education and afterschool care settings.
Free Resource: Family Diversity Booklist
To help support this, we’ve created a downloadable reading list of books that celebrate a wide range of families. These books are carefully selected for their age-appropriateness and their ability to engage young children in meaningful ways.
From gentle stories of adoption and fostering, to celebrations of same-sex parents and blended families, this list is a practical resource you can use for:
- Story time
- Library displays
- Family engagement activities
- Diversity and inclusion planning
Let’s make sure every child hears a story where they see themselves, and learns to see others with kindness.
If you would like more information about our services
or if we can help you with any questions or queries,
please call us at:
(+353) 1-623-5908 or email us at reception@canavanbyrne.ie.
