3.3y–5y10 minFamily timeFree playStory time

Suitcase Stories: Photos and Objects From Home

A show-and-tell style activity where your child explores photos and everyday objects linked to family members and places, supporting talk about people’s lives and building respectful curiosity about experiences in the UK and abroad.

What you'll need

Essentials

a small bag or tote (the 'suitcase')
3-5 photos (printed or on a phone) of family, places, or journeys
2-4 small everyday objects (e.g., spoon, scarf, keyring, postcard, small container)

Nice to have

paper and crayons
tape or glue stick

Movement level: low

What you'll do

The 4-step guide, with what to look for at each step, is for signed-in parents.

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What this develops

What it practices

Early Learning Goal Children talk about past and present events in their own lives and in the lives of family members. They know that other children don’t always enjoy the same things, and are sensitive to this. They know about similarities and differences between themselves and others, and among families, communities and traditions.
Observable behaviour from Development Matters

Where it comes from

Framework: Early Years Foundation Stage (England)
Source: Development Matters in the EYFS (DfE, 2012)
Original guidance: “Invite children and families with experiences of living in other countries to bring in photographs and objects from their home cultures including those from family members living in different areas of the UK and abroad.”
License: Open Government Licence v3.0