Social, Personal and Health Education (SPHE) · Senior Infants · Myself and Others: Relationships and Communication · 3.º Período

My Family

Exploring different types of families and the roles of family members. Celebrating the care and support families provide.

TL;DR:The 'My Family' topic sits within the 'Myself and others' strand, focusing on the diversity of family structures and the roles of care and support within them. For Senior Infants, this is an opportunity to recognize that while every family looks different, the common thread is the love and protection they provide. This aligns with the NCCA's emphasis on relating to others and developing a sense of belonging.

• NCCA Curriculum Specifications
• SPHE Strand: Myself and others - Myself and my family
• SPHE Strand: Myself and others - Relating to others

About This Topic

The 'My Family' topic sits within the 'Myself and others' strand, focusing on the diversity of family structures and the roles of care and support within them. For Senior Infants, this is an opportunity to recognize that while every family looks different, the common thread is the love and protection they provide. This aligns with the NCCA's emphasis on relating to others and developing a sense of belonging.

In modern Ireland, it is crucial to represent a wide variety of families, including nuclear, single-parent, multi-generational, foster, and LGBTQ+ families. This topic comes alive when students can share their own family stories and traditions through peer-to-peer discussion, helping them see the similarities in how families care for one another despite different structures.

Key Questions

1. Who is in my family?
2. How do family members help each other?
3. What fun things do we do together?

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

A family must have a mom and a dad to be a 'real' family.

What to Teach Instead

Children often rely on traditional media tropes. Using diverse storybooks and active discussions about different family members (aunts, foster parents, etc.) helps them broaden their definition of family.

Common Misconception

Children are too small to help their families.

What to Teach Instead

Students may feel they are only recipients of care. Active brainstorming of 'small jobs' they can do helps them see themselves as valuable, contributing members of their family unit.

Active Learning Ideas

Think-Pair-Share

Family Traditions

Students think of one special thing their family does together (like a Sunday walk or a special meal). They share this with a partner and then draw a picture of it to share with the class.

15 min·Pairs

Inquiry Circle

The 'Helping Hands' Tree

In small groups, students discuss how they help at home and how adults help them. They write or draw these 'helps' on paper leaves and stick them to a large classroom 'Family Tree.'

25 min·Small Groups

Role Play

Family Roles

Students act out different scenarios of family life, such as getting ready for school or having dinner. They take turns playing different roles (child, parent, grandparent) to understand different perspectives.

20 min·Small Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I handle the topic of family in a sensitive way for children in care?

Focus on the concept of 'people who care for us' rather than strictly biological links. Use inclusive language and allow children to define who their family is without pressure.

What are the NCCA objectives for family education in Senior Infants?

The curriculum aims to help children identify the members of their family, appreciate the ways family members care for each other, and recognize that families can be different.

How can active learning help students understand family diversity?

Active learning, such as sharing traditions in pairs or building a collaborative 'Helping Hands' tree, allows children to see the variety of experiences in their own classroom. It moves the lesson from an abstract 'ideal' to the lived reality of their peers, fostering genuine empathy and inclusion.

How can I involve families in this SPHE topic?

Invite families to send in a 'family recipe' or a photo of a favorite activity. This creates a bridge between home and school and makes the learning more personal and relevant.