Welcome to this unique, local book featuring young children’s pictures and thoughts about their families. We were quite overwhelmed by the response to our invitation for pictures - with about 120 entries received. Unfortunately, we couldn’t fit them all into this book, but every contribution we received was exhibited throughout National Families Week (14-18 May, 2007). We sincerely thank all the children, families and early childhood service providers (Beanies Playgroup, Care Ring, Family Day Care, Friends, Gingerbread House, Goonellabah Preschool, Lismore Preschool, Me & My House and Parish Centre Preschool) who took the time to submit pictures.
As you’ll see, the children’s pictures reflect a heart-warming diversity of family types, events and activities - through their own eyes and voices. The pictures are grouped into seven main themes (immediate family members, extended families, growing families, families with pets, families facing challenges, families at home and families out and about).
We hope you enjoy the pictures as much as we did and that this book provides an opportunity for new conversations between young children and their families. Such an outcome is in keeping with one of our key objectives at the Centre for Children & Young People at Southern Cross University, which is to enhance children’s active participation in their families, schools and communities.
We thank the YWCA for the opportunity to collaborate with them on this project.
Warm regards,
Associate Professor Anne Graham Director, Centre for Children & Young People Southern Cross University