Religious celebrations and festivals

[gooseegg]

Do you celebrate religious festivals with the children in your childminding homes?

Being atheist myself I have never felt comfortable doing anything other than discussing all beliefs and celebrations broadly during story times or whenever there is a natural opportunity e.g. someone has a death in the family, or talks about Christmas or any other religious event.

I don't put up Christmas decorations in the children's area of our home (actually I also question each year why I do it anywhere else in the house - but that's probably a whole different thread).

We have a quarter year home made wall display of the changing seasons, and plenty of books that reflect all cultures and beliefs in the world.

I would be interested to know what others do when childminding, and especially how those of you who may have your own strong faiths, or may have children from families with strong faiths, create an unbiased balance.

I find it a struggle tbh
I am broadly Christian but have strong feelings that all religion is good/should be encouraged as long as that religion is not forced on to anyone else (I worry about the shoeboxes & stuff like that)

I feel my views are my own

But a church comes into my setting to provide a little craft/story group which I love - I am upfront with parents about it & it isn't compulsory.......but it is my views & my religion

I would be happy for any other religion to attend to do their own thing but in my part of the counrty we are almost exclusively christian

I don't think there is a 'right way' to deal with this sort of thing and that sensitivity & being careful not to offend is paramount.

I'm doing a (very) small bit on Hannukah & Diwali but it hardly balances Christmas

We 'mark' events from lots of different faiths, but I (and ALL the children I look after) am a Christian, so we go to Church and learn about the Nativity, etc. Ofsted have questioned me about how I would deal with children of different faiths and I would just balance out the emphasis on different faiths a bit more.