Culture and diversity education

[BeeB]

What is the best way to get children interested about different countires, cultures and traditions. Wondering if this is of interest to other moms of 3 to 12 year old kids. Also what kind of engaging activities would be most useful.

[Anonymous]

Library
Library
Library
That's my philosophy
I have an avid reader and go to the library a lot. When my now tweens were younger, I ALWAYS required that at least one book had to be a "fact" book. Plenty of times I picked the book and it was about varying countries and cultures. You do have to be diligent about making sure what you pick is not full of generalizations and stereotypes. I don't want books about Africa that just talks about jungles and safaris. Or books about India, that just talks about food, etc. At one point one of our kids was especially interest in Judaism. I made a point to find books that did not just concentrate on the Holocaust. Judiasm is more than that, just like Black history is more than the story of enslaved people and civil rights. Find meaty material. Plus, we have a diverse group of friends, listen to a lot NPR in which they hear news and interviews, etc. that addresses the whole WIDE world in which we live. Our kids pick up things from how we live our lives, talk about people, and have knowledge and interest in things outside of our own little bubble.
Hope that helps.

[Anonymous]

What is the best way to get children interested about different countires, cultures and traditions. Wondering if this is of interest to other moms of 3 to 12 year old kids. Also what kind of engaging activities would be most useful.

Travel, travel, travel. Take your children to other countries, areas, festivals in your community that honor other traditions and cultures.

[Anonymous]

International travel, local international festivals, trying different foods, concerts, taking them to museums even.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Library
Library
Library
That's my philosophy
I have an avid reader and go to the library a lot. When my now tweens were younger, I ALWAYS required that at least one book had to be a "fact" book. Plenty of times I picked the book and it was about varying countries and cultures. You do have to be diligent about making sure what you pick is not full of generalizations and stereotypes. I don't want books about Africa that just talks about jungles and safaris. Or books about India, that just talks about food, etc. At one point one of our kids was especially interest in Judaism. I made a point to find books that did not just concentrate on the Holocaust. Judiasm is more than that, just like Black history is more than the story of enslaved people and civil rights. Find meaty material. Plus, we have a diverse group of friends, listen to a lot NPR in which they hear news and interviews, etc. that addresses the whole WIDE world in which we live. Our kids pick up things from how we live our lives, talk about people, and have knowledge and interest in things outside of our own little bubble.
Hope that helps.

Or, you could live outside a bubble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Library
Library
Library
That's my philosophy
I have an avid reader and go to the library a lot. When my now tweens were younger, I ALWAYS required that at least one book had to be a "fact" book. Plenty of times I picked the book and it was about varying countries and cultures. You do have to be diligent about making sure what you pick is not full of generalizations and stereotypes. I don't want books about Africa that just talks about jungles and safaris. Or books about India, that just talks about food, etc. At one point one of our kids was especially interest in Judaism. I made a point to find books that did not just concentrate on the Holocaust. Judiasm is more than that, just like Black history is more than the story of enslaved people and civil rights. Find meaty material. Plus, we have a diverse group of friends, listen to a lot NPR in which they hear news and interviews, etc. that addresses the whole WIDE world in which we live. Our kids pick up things from how we live our lives, talk about people, and have knowledge and interest in things outside of our own little bubble.
Hope that helps.

Or, you could live outside a bubble.

You know what I meant. SMH!

[Anonymous]

My fave: going to different ethnic restaurants and trying different foods.

I think some of the embassies put on fairs and such to share their culture. You can look into that, too. Our ES school also has international night and also have class projects about different cultures.

The "living outside your bubble" comment, while a bit snarky, is kind of true. Books can only teach you so much about other cultures. Living amongst them and interacting with them is much more beneficial.

[BeeB]

I was wondering if a subsription box would be able to meet this need... what do you think?? something thats more than fun stickers and online games or the same old history/ country information (jungles/ safari..you know). It has to engage and interest kids...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My fave: going to different ethnic restaurants and trying different foods.

I think some of the embassies put on fairs and such to share their culture. You can look into that, too. Our ES school also has international night and also have class projects about different cultures.

The "living outside your bubble" comment, while a bit snarky, is kind of true. Books can only teach you so much about other cultures. Living amongst them and interacting with them is much more beneficial.

I am the original poster who mentioned 'living outside of your bubble'. I am not sure who you are saying was 'snarky'' me or the person who said ' why not live outside a bubble'. I guess folks did not read everything I wrote: Plus, we have a diverse group of friends, listen to a lot NPR in which they hear news and interviews, etc. that addresses the whole WIDE world in which we live. Our kids pick up things from how we live our lives, talk about people, and have knowledge and interest in things outside of our own little bubble.

[Anonymous]

We have been watching The Amazing Race on TV since are kids were toddlers. We all love it and I think they learn lots about geography and culture. We often follow it up with documentaries on Netflix or the library.

[Anonymous]

I forgot to add my kids really like the documentary on Netflix about going to school that focuses on how hard it is for many kids to walk to school around the world.

[Anonymous]

You can encourage your school to have guest speakers. I'm Indian (Hindu) and I go into each of my kids' classrooms to talk about Diwali and Holi. I spend about an hour in each one - do a craft, a story, and bring/make a snack. One year we made roti (flatbread).

[Anonymous]

There is a great series at the library in the video section called "Families of_______", there is one about India, Egypt, Japan, etc.
My kids love them!

[Anonymous]

International travel. Also when I was a kid there was a computer game called "Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego". I learned all my world capitals from that game! Along that line, anything where he can see maps and learn world geography/ through a game or subscription box etc. Something that I also loved was foreign currency. My dad traveled overseas a lot and always brought me foreign currency. I've had a long career in foreign policy and these are my tips!

[Anonymous]

Travel is great, bit of course not everyone can afford international travel. Fortunately, in this area there are many festivals, museums, and cultural events (eg, Turkish Festival, Lunar New Year events, Kids Euro Festival, Vietnamese Festival, etc) focusing on a variety of people and places. There are also many people from other countries and cultures in the DC area. And reading and looking at maps together helps, too.