National Families Week (October 7-13, 2024)

National Families Week, observed from October 7-13, 2024, is a time dedicated to celebrating the invaluable role that families play in shaping communities and society at large. The week encourages families to spend quality time together, strengthening bonds and creating lasting memories. 

National Families Week also serves as a reminder of the varied forms that families take, from traditional nuclear families to extended and chosen families, each contributing uniquely to the fabric of society. 

Ways to celebrate National Family Week: 

• Look through family pictures, old and new! It can be really interesting for young children to see pictures of grandpa as a young boy, or mom as a teenager. Tell stories about your family, and reflect on cultural, religious, or special occasions that you have pictures of. 
• Make some art! Have your child paint your portrait (and you can paint your child’s). Or create a collage of cut-out pictures, with things that represent your family’s values, favourite things, and hopes and dreams! 
• Take a walk in your neighbourhood, and talk with your little one about all the special places that you love to go to. Maybe it’s the library, where you take your toddler for storytime. Maybe it’s the local park where you have picnics with friends. Reflect on the community resources that you enjoy. 
• Do something kind for a friend, family member, or someone in the community. Help your child think of a way to do a little act of kindness.