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The Little Lantern Essay Library.
The Little Lantern Essay Library.
Twenty-five published essays for children, teenagers, parents, teachers, schools, libraries and community organisations.
Twenty-five published essays for children, teenagers, parents, teachers, schools, libraries and community organisations.
Children ask brilliant questions. Sometimes they ask about families, fairness, teasing, pride, adoption, surrogacy, donor conception, faith, law, privacy, identity or belonging.
Children ask brilliant questions. Sometimes they ask about families, fairness, teasing, pride, adoption, surrogacy, donor conception, faith, law, privacy, identity or belonging.
Our essay library gives clear, thoughtful and age-aware answers. The essays are written for children and young people aged 8–15, with versions for pupils, teachers and families.
Our essay library gives clear, thoughtful and age-aware answers. The essays are written for children and young people aged 8–15, with versions for pupils, teachers and families.
You do not need to know all the words before you begin. You only need curiosity, kindness and the courage to think carefully.
You do not need to know all the words before you begin. You only need curiosity, kindness and the courage to think carefully.
1. What Makes a Family a Family?
1. What Makes a Family a Family?
Core message:
Core message:
A family is not made real by looking the same as every other family. A family becomes a family through care, safety, love, responsibility, honesty and belonging.
A family is not made real by looking the same as every other family. A family becomes a family through care, safety, love, responsibility, honesty and belonging.
Primary audience: Children aged 8 to 12
Primary audience: Children aged 8 to 12
Secondary audience: Teenagers aged 13 to 16, parents, teachers and educators
Secondary audience: Teenagers aged 13 to 16, parents, teachers and educators
Reading level: Accessible upper-primary and lower-secondary reading level
Reading level: Accessible upper-primary and lower-secondary reading level
Estimated length: Approx. 1,200 words.
Estimated length: Approx. 1,200 words.
2. Two Mums, Two Dads, One Loving Home.
2. Two Mums, Two Dads, One Loving Home.
Core message:
Core message:
A child with two mums or two dads does not have a strange or lesser family. Their family is one of the many ways love, care, responsibility and everyday life can come together.
A child with two mums or two dads does not have a strange or lesser family. Their family is one of the many ways love, care, responsibility and everyday life can come together.
3. How Some Children Are Born Through Surrogacy.
3. How Some Children Are Born Through Surrogacy.
Core message:
Core message:
Surrogacy is one way a child may be born with the help of another person. It should be explained with truth, care and respect for the child, the surrogate and the parents.
Surrogacy is one way a child may be born with the help of another person. It should be explained with truth, care and respect for the child, the surrogate and the parents.
4. Donor Conception and the Question - Where Do I Come From?
4. Donor Conception and the Question - Where Do I Come From?
Core message:
Core message:
Donor conception is one way a family may begin. Children conceived with the help of a donor deserve truthful, age-appropriate information, emotional safety, privacy and respect for all parts of their story.
Donor conception is one way a family may begin. Children conceived with the help of a donor deserve truthful, age-appropriate information, emotional safety, privacy and respect for all parts of their story.
5. Adoption, Fostering and the Families That Grow Through Care.
5. Adoption, Fostering and the Families That Grow Through Care.
Core message:
Core message:
Adoption and fostering are ways children may be cared for when they cannot live safely or permanently with their birth parents. These stories can involve love, loss, change, protection, patience and belonging. Children who are adopted or fostered deserve dignity, privacy, honesty and respect.
Adoption and fostering are ways children may be cared for when they cannot live safely or permanently with their birth parents. These stories can involve love, loss, change, protection, patience and belonging. Children who are adopted or fostered deserve dignity, privacy, honesty and respect.
6. The Long Road to Family Recognition.
6. The Long Road to Family Recognition.
Core message:
Core message:
LGBTQ+ families existed before the law fully recognised them. Legal recognition matters because it helps protect real people, real children and real family life, but love itself was real before paperwork learned how to name it.
LGBTQ+ families existed before the law fully recognised them. Legal recognition matters because it helps protect real people, real children and real family life, but love itself was real before paperwork learned how to name it.
7. Why Some Families Had to Stay Hidden.
7. Why Some Families Had to Stay Hidden.
Core message:
Core message:
Some LGBTQ+ people and families hid their love, relationships or family life because society made visibility unsafe. Their hiddenness was not proof of shame. It was often a way of surviving in a world that did not yet know how to respect them.
Some LGBTQ+ people and families hid their love, relationships or family life because society made visibility unsafe. Their hiddenness was not proof of shame. It was often a way of surviving in a world that did not yet know how to respect them.
8. Pride, Equality and the Right to Belong.
8. Pride, Equality and the Right to Belong.
Core message:
Core message:
Pride is not only a colourful celebration. It is also a reminder that LGBTQ+ people and families deserve safety, dignity, equality and belonging.
Pride is not only a colourful celebration. It is also a reminder that LGBTQ+ people and families deserve safety, dignity, equality and belonging.
9. When Teasing Hurts - Bullying, Families and School Responsibility.
9. When Teasing Hurts - Bullying, Families and School Responsibility.
Core message:
Core message:
No child should be teased, mocked, excluded or bullied because of their family. Schools, adults and friends all have a responsibility to protect children’s dignity, respond clearly and make sure every child can feel safe and included.
No child should be teased, mocked, excluded or bullied because of their family. Schools, adults and friends all have a responsibility to protect children’s dignity, respond clearly and make sure every child can feel safe and included.
10. Questions Children Ask About Same-Sex Parents.
10. Questions Children Ask About Same-Sex Parents.
Core message:
Core message:
Children’s questions about same-sex parents can be answered honestly, kindly and safely. Curiosity is normal, but every question should protect the dignity and privacy of the child and family being discussed.
Children’s questions about same-sex parents can be answered honestly, kindly and safely. Curiosity is normal, but every question should protect the dignity and privacy of the child and family being discussed.
11. Words That Welcome - Respectful Language About Families.
11. Words That Welcome - Respectful Language About Families.
Core message:
Core message:
Words can make children and families feel included, respected and safe. Respectful language is not about being perfect. It is about making room for real people, repairing mistakes and speaking with care.
Words can make children and families feel included, respected and safe. Respectful language is not about being perfect. It is about making room for real people, repairing mistakes and speaking with care.
12. Families Around the World - Culture, Tradition and Change.
12. Families Around the World - Culture, Tradition and Change.
Core message:
Core message:
Families are shaped by culture, tradition, religion, history, migration and change. Different societies may understand family in different ways, but every child deserves dignity, safety, respect and belonging.
Families are shaped by culture, tradition, religion, history, migration and change. Different societies may understand family in different ways, but every child deserves dignity, safety, respect and belonging.
13. Faith, Family and Respectful Coexistence.
13. Faith, Family and Respectful Coexistence.
Core message:
Core message:
People may hold different religious or cultural views about family, sexuality, marriage and parenthood, but every child deserves safety, dignity, kindness and respect. Respectful coexistence does not require everyone to agree. It requires that no child is shamed, bullied or made unsafe.
People may hold different religious or cultural views about family, sexuality, marriage and parenthood, but every child deserves safety, dignity, kindness and respect. Respectful coexistence does not require everyone to agree. It requires that no child is shamed, bullied or made unsafe.
14. Seeing Families on the Page and Screen.
14. Seeing Families on the Page and Screen.
Core message:
Core message:
Books, films, television and online stories help children imagine what families can be. When different families are shown with care, children can feel seen, and others can learn to understand lives beyond their own.
Books, films, television and online stories help children imagine what families can be. When different families are shown with care, children can feel seen, and others can learn to understand lives beyond their own.
15. How Law Helps Families Be Recognised.
15. How Law Helps Families Be Recognised.
Core message:
Core message:
Law does not create love, but it can help protect children, parents and carers by recognising who has responsibility, who can make decisions, and how a family is seen in everyday life.
Law does not create love, but it can help protect children, parents and carers by recognising who has responsibility, who can make decisions, and how a family is seen in everyday life.
16. Surrogacy, Ethics and the Duty to Care.
16. Surrogacy, Ethics and the Duty to Care.
Core message:
Core message:
Surrogacy can help families begin, but it must be discussed with ethical seriousness. The child, the surrogate and the intended parents all have dignity, needs and rights that must be respected.
Surrogacy can help families begin, but it must be discussed with ethical seriousness. The child, the surrogate and the intended parents all have dignity, needs and rights that must be respected.
17. Birth Stories - How Families Tell Children They Were Wanted.
17. Birth Stories - How Families Tell Children They Were Wanted.
Core message:
Core message:
Every child deserves a birth story told with truth, tenderness and respect. Being wanted is important, but children should not be made to feel they must be grateful, perfect or silent because adults worked hard to bring them into the family.
Every child deserves a birth story told with truth, tenderness and respect. Being wanted is important, but children should not be made to feel they must be grateful, perfect or silent because adults worked hard to bring them into the family.
18. Roots, Mirrors and Belonging.
18. Roots, Mirrors and Belonging.
Core message:
Core message:
Children need roots, mirrors and belonging. Roots help them understand where they come from. Mirrors help them see themselves reflected with dignity. Belonging helps them feel safe enough to grow into who they are becoming.
Children need roots, mirrors and belonging. Roots help them understand where they come from. Mirrors help them see themselves reflected with dignity. Belonging helps them feel safe enough to grow into who they are becoming.
19. How to Explain Your Family to Friends.
19. How to Explain Your Family to Friends.
Core message:
Core message:
Children should never feel forced to explain or defend their family. If they choose to talk about their family, they deserve simple words, privacy, confidence, support and the right to stop the conversation.
Children should never feel forced to explain or defend their family. If they choose to talk about their family, they deserve simple words, privacy, confidence, support and the right to stop the conversation.
20. What Teachers Should Know About Family Diversity.
20. What Teachers Should Know About Family Diversity.
Core message:
Core message:
Teachers do not need to know every private detail of every child’s family. They need to create classrooms where different families are recognised, children are protected from shame or bullying, privacy is respected, and every child can learn without having to defend where they come from.
Teachers do not need to know every private detail of every child’s family. They need to create classrooms where different families are recognised, children are protected from shame or bullying, privacy is respected, and every child can learn without having to defend where they come from.
21. Myths About Same-Sex Parents and What Evidence Can Tell Us.
21. Myths About Same-Sex Parents and What Evidence Can Tell Us.
Core message:
Core message:
Myths about same-sex parents often come from fear, stereotypes or old assumptions rather than careful evidence. Research does not show that children need parents of different sexes in order to grow well. What matters most is safe, stable, loving, responsible care.
Myths about same-sex parents often come from fear, stereotypes or old assumptions rather than careful evidence. Research does not show that children need parents of different sexes in order to grow well. What matters most is safe, stable, loving, responsible care.
22. Queer Love as Care, Commitment and Responsibility.
22. Queer Love as Care, Commitment and Responsibility.
Core message:
Core message:
Queer love is not only about identity, attraction or visibility. At its best, it is care, commitment, honesty, responsibility, dignity and the daily work of loving another person well.
Queer love is not only about identity, attraction or visibility. At its best, it is care, commitment, honesty, responsibility, dignity and the daily work of loving another person well.
23. Privacy, Secrecy and Shame - Knowing the Difference.
23. Privacy, Secrecy and Shame - Knowing the Difference.
Core message:
Core message:
Privacy protects dignity. Secrecy can sometimes protect people, but it can also become harmful when it is built on fear or control. Shame tells children that something about them or their family is wrong. Children deserve privacy without shame, truth without exposure, and support when secrets feel too heavy.
Privacy protects dignity. Secrecy can sometimes protect people, but it can also become harmful when it is built on fear or control. Shame tells children that something about them or their family is wrong. Children deserve privacy without shame, truth without exposure, and support when secrets feel too heavy.
24. What Changes When Families Become Visible?
24. What Changes When Families Become Visible?
Core message:
Core message:
When different families become visible, children can feel less alone, schools can become safer, language can become kinder, and myths can be challenged. But visibility must never be forced. Children and families need recognition with privacy, dignity and choice.
When different families become visible, children can feel less alone, schools can become safer, language can become kinder, and myths can be challenged. But visibility must never be forced. Children and families need recognition with privacy, dignity and choice.
25. A Future Where Every Child’s Family Is Respected.
25. A Future Where Every Child’s Family Is Respected.
Core message:
Core message:
A better future is one where every child’s family is treated with dignity, safety and respect. This future is not built by slogans alone. It is built through language, law, schools, care, truth, privacy, representation, anti-bullying action and everyday kindness.
A better future is one where every child’s family is treated with dignity, safety and respect. This future is not built by slogans alone. It is built through language, law, schools, care, truth, privacy, representation, anti-bullying action and everyday kindness.
Have an idea for an essay we should write, add or explore next? Send us your suggestion - we’d love to hear what matters to you.
Have an idea for an essay we should write, add or explore next? Send us your suggestion - we’d love to hear what matters to you.
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