A Guide for Families: Celebrating Pride with the Constellation of Belonging

Hello, fellow story-lovers,

Here at Storytime Scarves, we believe stories are bridges to understanding. They help us celebrate who we are and cherish the beautiful diversity of the world around us. Our Constellation of Belonging storytelling toy was created with this very spirit in mind, as a joyful celebration of love in all its forms, and a gentle way to share the values of Pride with your children, both today and throughout the year.

We wanted to share a guide on how you can use this special toy to spark wonder, play, and heartfelt conversations about identity, acceptance, and the beauty of every family.

The Story in the Stars: A Celebration of Pride

The magic of a starry sky is universal. When we look up, we see that no two stars are the same; each one shines with its unique light. This is the perfect story starter for discussing people as well!

But woven into the cosmic swirls of this scarf is a very special story. The Progress Pride flag inspires the luminous colours you see in the nebula. Each colour is a whisper of what Pride is all about: celebrating love, cherishing diversity, honouring identity, and recognising the journey every person takes to shine as their true self. It's a gentle, beautiful way to introduce the idea that all love is precious and every identity is worthy of celebration.

Sparking Play & Pride-Filled Wonder

The real journey begins when the scarf is in your child's hands. Its open-ended nature is a canvas for their imagination. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Build a Safe Star-Cave: Drape the scarf over two chairs to create a cosy, glowing den. This can be a beautiful space to talk about what it means to feel safe, loved, and accepted for who we are.

Have a Cosmic Dance: Put on some joyful, upbeat music! Swirl the scarf like a flowing banner. Talk about how the colours dance together to make something even more beautiful—just like when lots of different people come together in a community.

A Parade of Stars: Imagine all the different stars are having a parade to celebrate what makes them unique! Use the scarf as a parade route or a celebratory flag. Ask, "What would your star's celebration dance look like? What makes it shine so brightly?"

Starting Conversations about Love & Identity

This scarf is a fantastic starting point to talk openly and lovingly about LGBTQ+ families and identities. The key is to be simple, warm, and confident. You are your child's most trusted guide.

When looking at the colours together, you could say:

On Love & Families: "These beautiful rainbow colours remind us that love is love. Some men love other men and are daddies together, and some women love other women and are mummies together. And just like in our family, the most important thing is the love that holds them together.”

On Identity & Pronouns: "Every star in the sky is unique, isn't it? People are unique, too. Just like every star has its own name, everyone likes to be called by the name and words, like he, she, or they, that feel right for them. It's a wonderful way to show respect and love.”

The goal isn't to give a lecture, but to open a door. It's to let your child know that questions are welcome and that your family celebrates love in every colour of the rainbow.

Why This Story Matters

For children with LGBTQ+ parents, family members, or friends, this scarf serves as a mirror, reflecting that their family is beautiful and celebrated. For all other children, it is a window, helping them see and understand the diverse world around them with empathy and kindness. These early conversations lay the foundation for a lasting respect.

Our promise of care and safety is woven into every scarf. This UKCA Certified toy, crafted from our signature 70x70cm Prima Cotton, is a safe and tangible tool for these critical, heartfelt stories.

A Little Glossary for Our Storytellers

Here are a few terms to help guide your family's conversations, explained in a heartfelt and straightforward way.

Pride: Pride is the joyful feeling of being happy and proud of exactly who you are. As a celebration, it's a time for the LGBTQ+ community and their friends to come together to share stories, celebrate love in all its forms, and show the world that every single person is special and deserves to be celebrated.

LGBTQ+ This is an acronym that stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (or Questioning), and more. It's a welcoming way to refer to the community of people with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities. At its heart, it's a term that represents a vibrant and diverse community of people celebrating who they are and who they love.

Progress Pride Flag. This is a special flag that is a powerful symbol of inclusivity. The traditional rainbow stripes represent the beautiful diversity of the LGBTQ+ community. The newer triangle (or chevron) of colours was added to specifically and visibly honour the transgender community (light blue, pink, and white) and LGBTQ+ people of colour (black and brown), reminding us that Pride is for everyone.

Identity This is simply who we know ourselves to be on the inside. It's our unique sense of self. For children, this can be as simple as knowing they are a kind friend, a creative artist, a boy, a girl, or neither. It's their unique inner sparkle.

Pronouns Pronouns are the helpful words we use when we refer to someone instead of using their name, like "he," "she," or "they." Using the pronouns that a person asks you to use is a kind and straightforward way to show that you see, respect, and celebrate them for who they are.

Belonging: This is that wonderful, cosy feeling of being safe, accepted, and welcome just as you are. It's knowing you have a special place in your family, with your friends, and in your community, where you can be your whole self without any fear.

Ally An ally is a friend. It's someone who supports, respects, and stands up for others, especially for people in a group that might face unfairness. For families, being an ally means creating a home where all people are respected and celebrated, and learning how to be a good friend to LGBTQ+ people in your community.

We hope this scarf helps you and your family celebrate the brilliant, diverse constellation of humanity.

Warmly, The Storytime Scarves Team ✨ #StorytimeScarvesStories