Celebrating Cultural Diversity


February 17, 2018


Quote of the Week

"It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength." --Maya Angelou

Raising Kids With Awareness Of Global Diversity

We live in an increasingly connected and globalized world and as parents we would like our children to celebrate and honor each other's differences with respect and understanding. Embracing other cultures starts in our homes and spreads to our larger communities. 

One of the best events I've ever participated in was organizing an annual International Fair at my son's elementary school. It started as a small gathering of families sharing international foods and teaching kids about different countries through art, story and song.  Over the years it evolved into a full week of events coordinated with class teachers and parent volunteers, booths from over 20 countries, performances by kids, and quite an elaborate feast for both body and soul. The sense of pride that children felt in being able to share their cultural heritage with their classmates was palpable and profound.

Witnessing this tradition continue to grow over a decade later, it still makes me teary-eyed with joy to see the beauty of children learning about so many diverse cultures through shared experiences with their school community.  As the daughter of immigrants who was the lone "outsider" in a homogenous community when I was growing up, I could never have imagined such a scene during my own childhood.

I am grateful that as parents we have the opportunity to bring awareness and understanding of global cultures to our children and their peers, through our everyday interactions with them, and not just on special event days.  Read about some great ideas on how to raise a global child by bringing the world into your home.

Reading Corner

Title: Whoever You Are
By: Mem Fox
Ages: 3-8

"With a gentle and knowing calm, Fox provides a compelling exploration of the differences between children that make them unique as well as the common humanity that unites them. In Fox's picture book, divisions of culture, race and geography fall away in light of a global community where smiles, laughter and tears are universally understood. The simple, rhythmic text, written in the second person, is designed to involve the reader directly: 'Their lives may be different from yours,/ and their words may be very different from yours./ But inside, their hearts are just like yours.' " 
--Publisher's Weekly

Be the Change

Volunteer to host an event celebrating global diversity--it could be in your neighborhood or at your child's school.
You can use this blog post to get some ideas from teachers to help plan your own international fair! (I'm happy to provide assistance as well--contact the Kindful Kids Editors team)

With younger children, hang up a map of the world, close your eyes and put your finger on a spot--learn all you can about that country and its culture and celebrate with stories, music, and foods from that country.