As early childhood educators, it is our job to respect and honor every child and family in our care. Families come from all kinds of backgrounds and celebrate traditions in different ways. Even in programs where families seem similar, they often have unique ways of marking special occasions.
Quality early learning programs work with families in ways that respect their values and choices. During the holiday season, strong feelings and differing opinions about the holidays can sometimes cause friction. Keep the peace and joy all year long with these tips.
To Celebrate or Not?
Every early childhood program needs to decide how to approach the holidays. The choice is yours, but if you work with a team, it’s important to involve your staff early on to create a shared understanding.
If celebrating holidays is meaningful to your team, consider activities like staff parties, luncheons, or gift exchanges. Whatever you decide, respect personal preferences and include everyone in the decision-making process.
When planning for lessons and activities with children and families, it is important to consider the practices of the families you serve. A few questions to consider:
- What holidays or traditions are important to the families in my program?
- How do they celebrate these occasions?
- What values matter most to them?
- Are there families who do not recognize specific holidays or who do not celebrate holidays at all?
Learning about these traditions and values can help you decide what’s best for your program. Keep in mind that learning about a holiday or cultural practice is not the same as participating in it.
Your program type may also impact how you handle the holiday season. Religious holidays take on a special significance for faith-based programs. Families who choose faith-based early education settings may appreciate this, but it’s still important to talk with them to understand their specific traditions and preferences.
Focus on Values
Only your program, including your staff and the families of the children in your care, can answer the holiday question and determine your approach to holiday celebrations year-round. One option is to approach the holidays is by focusing on the values they represent, rather than the holidays themselves. Rather than focusing on Christmas and the trappings generally associated with the holiday, your program may choose to focus on the values of Christmas, such as joy, peace, goodwill and generosity.
Units exploring the values of Hanukkah, such as charity, faith and dedication, will be meaningful to Jewish children as well as children of other faiths. Values-based units could be meaningful to children of all backgrounds while encouraging deeper learning.
Avoid the Tourist Approach
Many well-intentioned programs dedicate a unit to learning about different cultural traditions, often during winter. While this can introduce diversity, it’s only a starting point. To encourage understanding of different cultures and traditions, these opportunities should happen year-round and be woven into your curriculum.
Remember, not all cultural celebrations occur in winter. Be on the lookout for meaningful ways to explore traditions as they arise throughout the year.
Take a close look at the books, pictures, and materials in your classroom. Do they reflect the cultural, linguistic, racial and national diversity of the children and families in your program and community, as well as the broader diversity of our state, nation and world? How are Native populations depicted? Do you include real photographs of the children and their families?
Communicate with Families
Developing genuine relationships with families helps you move beyond surface-level learning. When new families join your program, ask about their traditions, and be clear about how your program approaches holidays. Share this information in program calendars, newsletters, and handbooks so families know what to expect.
Navigating the holidays in an early childhood program can be challenging, but it’s also a chance to connect with families and foster a deeper sense of community. By respecting each family’s traditions, you honor their individuality and enrich every child’s learning experience.
For more on the topic of diversity and holidays, please visit:
For further reading, review the Promoting Acceptance of Diversity chapters of the following companion books to the Environment Rating Scales- 3rd Edition tools:
Cryer, D., Riley, C., & Link, T. (2019). All About the ECERS-3, A detailed guide in words and pictures to be used with ECERS-3. Lewisville, NC: Gryphon House.
Cryer, D., Riley, C., Link, T. & McCullough, V. (2022). All about the ITERS-3: A detailed guide in words and pictures to be used with the ITERS-3.Lewisville, NC: Gryphon House.