Regardless of the age, colour, gender, or number of people who you share your home with, they all come together to make the same thing: a family. This song is equally meaningful for all children, whether they are in a foster placement, have two parents of the same sex, a single parent, a blended family, or any other kind of family unit. Whatever the components, the bond is the same.
Music
Design and technology
The song includes the following lovely lyrics:
‘What makes a family? What ingredients do you need? Stir it up and see.’
Together with your family members, think about what words you associate with family, for example, ‘love’, ‘support’, ‘care’ and ‘acceptance’. Write your words (ingredients) down and make them into your own special recipe, which will be unique to your family. These might include: a cup of kindness, three teaspoons of affection, a pinch of humour, a tablespoon of sharing, a zest of patience, half a pound of respect, a dash of silliness, two ounces of love etc.
You could make a poster to go up in the kitchen or even weigh out cake ingredients and re-label them and bake your family a cake.
PSHE
Discuss what is meant by the word ‘family’ and the fact that all types of family are special, unique and normal. How does the word ‘family’ make you feel? The line in the song,
‘Nobody’s family’s perfect all the time
It takes a little bit of rain and a little bit of sunshine’
helps us come to terms with the fact that things aren’t always perfect – and this is normal. What does the songwriter mean by ‘rain’ and ‘sunshine’ in this context?
Talk about why it’s important to understand and celebrate the differences in each other’s families.
Art
The song includes the lyrics:
‘Everybody’s family is different
And different is how they should be.
We are red we are orange and yellow,
We are green, blue and indigo.
We’re unique, we are all different colours
But together we’re a rainbow.’
Paint your family portrait or create rainbows with paint, play dough, collage or crayons.
Literacy
History