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Question
In
light of what has happened since September 11, my wife and I have vowed to
focus on building tolerance of other cultures in our children, ages 8 and
12. It is our hope that by exposing them to other cultures now, our
children will be accepting of differences and will grow up free of
bigotry. Any ideas on how to get started?
California Father Who Wants A Peaceful World
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Answer
Applause to both you and your wife for
having such a noble goal! You have already made a great start. Children
first and primarily copy the attitudes of their parents in developing
their views of the world. Your children have excellent models.
Exploring and sharing cultural
diversity should be fun and should stress the positive aspects of other
cultures. Both children are as yet too young to sort through issues of
social injustice, historical persecution, or religious extremism. Focus on
letting your children discover similarities between their familiar foods,
arts, traditions, and those of other ethnic origins.
Here are five ideas to get you going:
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Most cities, either in the summer or over
the winter holidays, sponsor a series of ethnic neighborhood festivals
(like Taste of Mexico Fest). Each Fest usually features one group’s
food, costumes, dance, games, and music and are open to the public.
Many festivals include arts, crafts, and demonstrations. These are
family-oriented events.
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Purchase a children’s atlas. Establish
a “World Discovery Night” one night a week when the family comes
together to focus and explore a different country each week. Watch a
video or movie set in or based on that country (National Geographic
has several wonderful series). Eat an ethnic snack, even if it is just
fruits from the area. Pretend to be travelers visiting the country and
discuss what you might like to visit or see. Learn to say “hello”
or “thank you” in that country’s native tongue.
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Choose
and share bedtime stories or family reading based on folktales from
around the world.
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Go online to any of the international pen
pal associations and hook up with a family from another country with
whom to correspond. Start by sending your new pen pals letters written
by each member of your family describing yourselves and your way of
life.
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Start
an international collection of objects from everyday life. I have a
friend who began collecting foreign candy wrappers many years ago.
Today his collection is several albums big and includes sweets
wrappers from over 50 countries. Any object will do…stamps,
newspapers, dolls, hair ornaments, compact discs. The point is to
notice and celebrate that people all over the world have the same
needs and desires, and that in real life they are met in different
ways. Add to your collection as you travel, visit ethnic neighborhoods
in your town, by trading.
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