2025 Inclusive Schools Week Activity Guide: Simple Ways to Promote Inclusion

November 4, 2025

2025 Inclusive Schools Week is almost here. It is a perfect opportunity to strengthen our commitment to inclusion, celebrate differences, build connections, and ensure every child feels seen and valued.

The Inclusive Schools Week Activity Guide, a collaborative effort by KIT and Changing Perspectives is full of flexible, low-prep activities that work in schools, camps, before and after school programs, or any group setting. Download and print the full 2025 Inclusive Schools Week Activity Guide to explore all ideas and tools.

This Year’s Theme: Children First

The 2025 theme, “Children First,” comes from the Maasai greeting Casserian Engeri, which means “And how are the children?” It’s a reminder that when children are supported, communities thrive.

This theme invites schools and programs to ask: 

  • Are all children in your program feeling welcome and supported?
  • Do your routines help everyone feel included?
  • How can you help kids with disabilities feel seen and meaningfully included? 

Putting children first means creating spaces where every child can learn, grow, and feel like they belong. For a deeper look at what true inclusion means in practice, check out The Philosophy, Practice, and Community of Inclusion.

 

Illustration promoting Inclusive Schools Week, December 8–12, 2025. The theme “Children First: Building a Stronger Tomorrow” appears above diverse children playing together — one child in a wheelchair with balloons, others running, flying a kite, and walking a service dog — symbolizing inclusion, joy, and community.

Inclusive Schools Week Activity Guide Sneak Peek: 4 Simple Inclusion Activities

Try these activity previews from the guide in your program:

  • Inclusion Skit

Get kids thinking about what inclusion looks like in everyday life. Divide them into small groups and challenge each team to create a short skit showing how to include someone who’s left out during a group activity. They can act it out live or record a quick video version.

  • What Makes Me… ME? 

Help young children explore their differences. Give each child a sheet of paper with an outline of a person and ask them to fill it with drawings or words that show their strengths and challenges. They can use two different colors: one for things they’re great at and another for things they’re still learning. Encourage them to think about all parts of life, from school and sports to hobbies and friendships. Afterward, invite the kids to share what makes them… them.

  • What Makes Someone a Good Friend?

Start a conversation about kindness and friendship. Ask kids to share what makes someone a good friend. Is it things like sharing, taking turns, listening, or helping when someone’s sad? As they brainstorm, write their ideas on a board or big poster to create a “Good Friend” word cloud.

Then, invite each child to draw a picture showing what friendship looks like to them. Maybe it’s playing together, helping someone, or showing care.

  • Understanding Emotions

Help kids explore feelings and develop empathy. Start by talking about how everyone feels a wide range of emotions, and that trying to understand them helps us be kind friends. Read simple sentence starters like “I feel happy when…,” “I feel sad when…,” or “When my friend feels scared, I can…” and let children finish them out loud or on paper. Afterward, discuss their answers together.

These four activities are just the beginning. Download the full 2025 Inclusive Schools Week Activity Guide to access all the ideas, ready-made tools, and inspiration for creating an inclusive, joyful week for the children in your care.