Fabulous families
Preparation
Fabulous Families is a modern take on the traditional card game of 'Happy Families'.
Instead of each family containing 2 parents and 2 children, this version has different
families including single parents, mixed race families, same sex parents and disabilities.
As well as playing the game in a traditional way, the different family members offer an
opportunity for discussion not only on how all our families are unique, but to also help
children explore how this can affect their wellbeing.
It is aimed at pupils in key stages 1 and 2, but also has potential to be used in special
education settings.
Playing the game
2-4 players or teams
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Print off each character card, and stick it back to back with the green ‘Fabulous
Families’ one.
You can also print off an index card with all characters so children know who
they are looking for
Distribute cards face down equally between teams. Each team can look at all
of their cards
The aim of the game is to collect all 4 members of as many families as you can
Teams take it in turns to ask the team to their left if they have a specific
character. If a team is asked for a card which they have, they must pass it to the
asking team
Once a team completes a family, they should declare this and place them in a
separate pile
The whole group can then use the prompts for discussion about that family
The game ends when all families have been completed
Additional points
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Teams should be encouraged to ask further questions about the
families, using the prompt cards provided. This should be viewed as a key
outcome of playing the game
Children should be supported to explore how children in the families could be
feeling, and how they could be good friends to them
Children can be encouraged to make up their own families to add to the
game for future play
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Discussion prompts for each family:
The Field family
The Fields are made up of Mr Field who is a sports coach, his son Joey Field, their pet fish
Freddie, and Grandpa Field who lives with them. Children should be encouraged to
explore why Joey's mum is not living with the family and why Grandpa is living there.
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Who are the members of the Field family?
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Are there any special characteristics of the Fields?
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How might Joey be feeling about his family life?
The Blackboard family
The Blackboard family are made up of two lesbian mums, their son Bobby and newborn baby. Children should be encouraged to discuss what makes a 'normal' family, and
how some families and marriages are made up of two men or two women.
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What might be considered 'different' about the Blackboards? Should they be
called 'different'?
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How might Bobby's home life be different to yours?
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If Bobby came into school unhappy one day, what might be causing that
and how might you help him?
The Wood family
The Wood family are made up of a single mother who is a carpenter, and three children.
One of them, Wes, is in a wheelchair.
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What do you like about the Woods?
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What might make their family life more difficult than some other families?
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What might make their home an exciting place to visit?
The Huggins family
The Huggins are made up of a mother who is a GP, a father who is a nurse with a physical
disability, and their two children. The eldest is Harri (short for Harriet) who is transgender
and identifies as a boy. This gives the opportunity for children to explore what it means to
be a boy or a girl and that it is ok for girls to like boy things and vice versa. To help this you
may not want to share this information at the start of the discussion!
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Is there anything unique about the Huggins family?
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How might some people treat Harri?
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How can we help Harri and Hannah feel good about themselves?
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The Starr family
The Starr family are all entertainers! Mr and Mrs Starr are both singers, Stevie is a ballerina
and Sophie is training to be a children's entertainer. Children should be encouraged to
discuss gender norms with Stevie liking ballet and Sophie being a clown.
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What do you like about the Starr family?
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What characteristics might Stevie need to be good at ballet?
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Would you like to be friends with Sophie, and why?
The Potts family
The Potts are made up of an artist father, a mother who is blind, and two foster children of
different races. Children should be encouraged to explore what it means to be in a
multicultural family, as well as a parent with a disability.
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Are there any special characteristics of the Potts? What different
backgrounds might they have?
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How might Pavel and Parminder be treated at school?
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What might help them feel good about themselves?
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