The family is the microcosm of a child's world, making it an ideal early years theme. It enables children to discover that, although they have a unique place in the world, they still share much in common with others.The practical activities include helping children to learn their addresses and telephone numbers, making individual and group books, looking for details in photographs, making models, considering behaviour, matching and ordering numbers, sizes and quantities and miming actions associated with family life. Every effort has been made to respect different family lifestyles and to avoid stereotyping.All of the play activities are designed to develop important preschool skills and positive relationships and are linked to the Early Learning Goals of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage, revised by the Department of Education for September 2012.