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Article SAD FACE! Is this the end of those special Mother’s Day crafts?

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Students at an elementary school in Canada were recently told no more craft for Mother’s and Father’s Day.

According to the letter, which has been posted on Facebook, classroom crafts for Mother’s and Father’s Day will be scrapped this year at the school in Mission, British Colombia.

“In an effort to celebrate diversity, inclusivity, and also to nurture our students who are part of non-traditional families, we have decided to encourage those celebrations to take place at home,” the letter reads. “Due to this, children will not be making gifts at school to give on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.”

The decision was made after a group of grade 1 and 2 teachers at Albert McMahon Elementary got together to discuss the upcoming holidays.

“We feel each family knows the best way to celebrate with their own family,” the letter concludes.

In an interview with Vancouver radio station CKNW, Mission School Superintendent Angus Wilson said it’s ultimately up to the teachers about what is covered in the classroom.

“Mother’s Day and other civic holidays are not actually directly part of the curriculum so they haven’t broken the rules or anything like that,” he said, adding he hasn’t talked to the teachers directly about the issue.

I must admit this special little craft that the boys made at school was (still is) my favourite gift at Mother’s Day and even Christmas when they do their little crafts.

It is sad to see some schools stopping that trend.  But as an adult that lost her mum I can truly imagine how hard it must be for children struggling to accept a loss or that simply have a diverse family at home how confusing it might be.

I do believe that it can still be something all kids can share in together, it just needs to be a broader activity rather than just focusing on mum or dad. Make the focus on someone special instead.

What do you think?

Last year we shared that Kindergartens are leading away from food products for craft – such as pasta to make necklaces – instead choosing more sustainable, nature-based options. Read more on that here.

Share your comments below.

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Comments

  • it is nice to get something from the kids that becomes a keepsake. it is special because it is a true surprise

    Reply

  • My kids love to make special and secret cards for Mother or Fathers Day. They do it both at school and at home. It’s nice they do it at school, but it’s not a must as they will do it anyway if they want.

    Reply

  • While I disappove of the school’s decision I can imagine the distress it may cause some small children whose when one parent is not in their lives at all. It would be even more tragic and harder to cope with if they are orphans and haven’t settled into a new lifestyle. Yes, I know of some. They may not have a grandparent to give it to either.

    Reply

  • I do so disagree with this school’s decision. No matter if the child is in a two mother, two father or single parent home, mother’s day and father’s day should still be celebrated. Didn’t see too many disadvantaged children because of these days after the war when a parent was killed overseas and never returned or even a car accident took a parent away.

    Reply

  • My dad died when I was one and a half and I hated fathers day more than anything else when growing up. Fathers day crafts at school. Bring your dad to morning tea for fathers day at school. All of it. Every single bit of it was shining the worlds biggest spotlight on the fact that I was the odd one out. It showed me everything I was missing out on and exactly how much every single person I knew took that exact thing for granted. So it was horrible. Its pretty safe to say it actually traumatised me. I wish I could have gone to this school.

    Reply

  • this had better not happen in our australian’ schools – I am all for diversity etc but my girls (10 and 6) still love spending time at school creating a “secret” mothers or father’s day card (or special person’s day card) – I have known dad’s that have stepped in to be in mum’s place for mothers day things at school because she was too sick to take part an I know mum’s who are single mum’s who go to both celebrations – taking it away all together is really silly. It’s an easy out for teachers to have some creative time with the kids rather than having to come up with something else to fill that time

    Reply

  • the school my kids went to had mother’s/special person’s day or father’s/special person’s day. It isn’t hard

    Reply

  • I disagree with their decision!

    Reply
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