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Quote of the Week
"A lot of different flowers make a bouquet" --Islamic proverb
How To Raise Tolerant, Inclusive Kids
Being an includer is something much more than showing kindness to others. It’s pausing what you’re doing and actively looking around for someone who is alone. It’s preemptively searching for someone who is silently asking for help. And then it’s going out of your way, and sometimes out of your comfort zone, to include them in what you’re doing. Being an includer is bringing people together.
Kids aren’t born to hate. Intolerance is learned. And in the same way, kids can be taught to be sensitive, understanding, empathetic and tolerant. Although it’s certainly never too late to begin, the sooner we start, the better chance we have of preventing intolerant attitudes from taking hold of our children’s minds and hearts. After all, if our kids are to have any chance of living harmoniously in our multiethnic, global 21st century, it is critical that we raise them to be tolerant, kind and inclusive. Read more in this week's featured article.
Reading Corner
 Title: Just Ask!
By: Sonia Sotomayor and Rafael Lopez (illustrator)
Ages: 4-7
Feeling different, especially as a kid, can be tough. But in the same way that different types of plants and flowers make a garden more beautiful and enjoyable, different types of people make our world more vibrant and wonderful. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and award-winning artist Rafael Lopez create a kind and caring book about the differences that make each of us unique. "A thoughtful and empathetic story of inclusion."
--School Library Journal
Recommended by Kindful Kids Editors
Be The Change
Instead of waiting for someone else to reach out to you, think about someone you could reach out to. Is there someone you know who might need a friend? Is there a new neighbor who moved in down the street, or someone new at school? Do you know someone going through a big transition in their life who might need a helping hand or just a cup of coffee and a listening ear? Reach out to that person. Invite them to the next neighborhood barbecue. Ask them to join your knitting circle or go for a walk together. By setting an example, your kids will be tuned to do the same for others. This week, try out any of the ideas suggested in this article on 7 ways of raising inclusive kids
Which areas are most challenging? Do you have any recommended children's books that tackle this topic well? Please send us your suggestions!
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