Celebrating Family Day with Children's Cottage Society – Crafts, Stories, Songs, and Smiles All Around

Family Day is always a special time at the Further Education Society of Alberta (FESA), and this year was no exception! Since parents and children make up a large part of our program participants, we love creating opportunities for families to connect, have fun, and leave with new books and activities to continue learning at home.

This year, we teamed up with Children’s Cottage Society, an exciting new partner for our Calgary programs. Over the past year, we’ve expanded our work together to offer Parent Child Mother Goose and ESL Reading & Writing Circles. With our strong connection to the families in these programs, we wanted to host a special event just for them—and for the wider community.

Crafting and Creativity

The event kicked off at 1 PM, welcoming families into a warm and inviting space with two engaging craft stations.

Smiley Face Creations 

Kids got creative making smiley faces and decorating them with gems, combining art and sensory play.

Suncatcher Station

Using tissue paper, safety scissors, and glue, children designed colourful suncatchers to brighten up their homes.

Snack Time

After crafting, it was time for a well-earned snack break! Families enjoyed a selection of healthy treats, including fresh veggies, yogurts, and drinks—giving the kids plenty of energy for the next big activity.

Singalongs & Storytime

The highlight of the afternoon was our interactive storytime session. Children cozied up on cushions in a semicircle around our storyteller, FESA Facilitator Victoria. Before settling in, Victoria led the group in lively nursery rhymes, getting everyone singing, laughing, and moving together. With smiles all around, the children eagerly listened as she brought stories to life, making the moment both fun and memorable.

A Heartfelt Wrap-Up

After the final story and goodbye song, families returned to the craft tables to put the finishing touches on their masterpieces. As the event came to a close, each family received a FESA Literacy Kit, packed with books, activities, and tools to keep the fun and learning going at home.

A huge thank you to the Children’s Cottage Society for opening their space on the weekend and helping us bring this event to life. And, of course, to all the families who joined us—we loved celebrating Family Day with you and hope you left with wonderful memories!

Until next time, happy reading, learning, and growing together!