People celebrate to feel good, rejoice after hard work, remember a historical event, promote awareness about an issue, and spend memorable time with family, friends and the community.
Popular events celebrated at Australian childcare centres include Christmas, Easter, New Year's Eve, Chinese New Year, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Harmony Day, Birthdays, Halloween and Melbourne Cup Day.
If your children are interested in a celebration, a great place to start is asking questions. Why do people celebrate? Why is this event so important?
Next, decide how to celebrate the event in a way that is meaningful and authentic to your children's service. Use each child's knowledge as a starting point for celebrating events. What do you know about this special day? How have you celebrated this day before?
EYLF learning outcomes
Celebrations, special events and festivals align with the Early Years Learning Framework. They inspire curiosity, imagination and creativity (4.1). They help children develop a strong sense of identity (1) and sense of belonging (2.1). Parties connect children to people and place (4.4), and cultural events teach respect for diversity (2.2).
How to plan a calendar of events
Children's services commonly use a calendar of events to preplan celebrations throughout the year. Unfortunately, many educators and childcare directors use premade calendars from the internet. This will most likely lead to cultural tokenism.
Create your own calendar that reflects the culture and context of your community. Many of the interest topics on The Interest Forest include relevant events you can celebrate.
Remember that events don't need to include every child. Many celebrations are not developmentally appropriate for babies and toddlers. Ask these questions:
- What will the children learn from this event?
- Will all children understand and gain meaning from this celebration?
- Is this event relevant to the community context?
- Will some children be unable to participate because of religious or cultural reasons?
- Will this experience be play-based and child-directed?
How to celebrate respectfully and ethically
Cultural celebrations
Ask families which celebrations are important in their culture. Ask for guidance on appropriate ways to celebrate these events at your childcare centre. Avoid once-off cultural celebrations without exploring other aspects of that culture throughout the year.
Sustainable celebrations
The EYLF asks children to become socially responsible and learn respect for the environment (2.4). Celebrations and holidays are well-known for negatively impacting the environment. Is your childcare contributing to the problem? What are these traditions teaching your children?
Read How to be sustainable this Christmas by Sustainability Victoria and Does Christmas go better with glitter - not if you value the rainbow fish! on The Spoke.
Create your own celebration
The ultimate learning experience for celebrations is creating your own! Firstly, talk with your children about the purpose of celebrations and how people celebrate. Then ask your children to brainstorm themes. What do they want to celebrate? What are they proud of? What event is significant in their lives?
Your celebration could be spontaneous and arranged within a few minutes. Alternatively, you could take a few weeks to plan the fine details, make decorations, and invite all the guests.
Discussions
- Why do we celebrate and hold special events?
- Why is this celebration important?
- What is your favourite holiday or celebration?
- What would you like to celebrate?
Reflections
- Are you celebrating an event just because you feel obligated?
- Do families, children and staff all enjoy the celebrations?
- Which celebrations aren't essential to the program and the EYLF?
- Is there a hidden curriculum? What messages are your special events sending to the children?
- Do you have enough time, knowledge and resources for this celebration?
Resources
Picture books
What Do You Do to Celebrate? by Ashleigh Barton and Martina Heiduczek