When people approach me about sharing articles in my blog space, I don't say yes to every opportunity that comes along. . I am not big into writing about or accepting writing about things like tampons for any amount of dollars. I do accept articles that cover topics that I don't because I think that's an interesting supplement. Like this one:
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Exposing your children
to the many different cultures that are found throughout the world will make
them well-rounded individuals who have a true appreciation for people all over
the planet, not just in their home country. To make the experience of learning
about other cultures more fun for your kids, though, you should follow the
helpful tips and strategies below.
Every religion has
something unique to offer; yet all religions have the common theme of loving
yourself and loving those around you equally. By exposing your children to the
many different religious teachings from around the world, you can prove to them
that everyone basically holds to the same hopes and values, but they express
them differently and follow different scriptures or deities. You can study
everything from Buddhism to Christianity on sites like Deily, and you can allow your kids to determine
which religion they connect with most, rather than forcing them to believe in
what you believe.
One of the best and
most fun ways to dive into a different culture is by indulging in its food. You can actually learn a lot about a culture
by sampling its most beloved dishes, so make it a point to research some
recipes that you can make at home, and find local restaurants that are family
owned and operated and are serving up authentic cuisine. You may be surprised
by how different yet delicious the flavors are, and your kids may find that
their favorite dishes aren’t their own culture’s recipes after all.
The simple act of
printing out a world map is a great way to show your kids where different
countries are located and where different cultures come from. You can
incorporate these lessons into your other strategies. For example, on a night
during which you will be having Indian cuisine for dinner, you can take the map out and show your kids where India is located.
Yet another fun way to
teach your kids about different cultures from around the world is by taking
them to a museum. You can go to a natural history museum that will focus on the
evolution of various cultures from across the globe, or you can visit museums
that are dedicated specifically to a single culture, such as the Native
American culture. Museums are highly educational, and they provide parents with
a host of resources that they can use to teach their kids more about diversity
and global cultures. So go ahead and plan a day at the museum and visit all of
the exhibits that will expose your kids to the artwork and history of people
from other countries.
These are just a few
of the many fun ways that you can teach your kids about other cultures from
other parts of the world. Of course, you want to also teach them about your own
heritage and its culture, but this is a fantastic way to raise kids who will
embrace diversity.
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Parents, how do you teach your kids about other cultures?
We've exposed our children to different cuisines and cultures since they were old enough to eat solid foods and they love it! Both my kiddos also know simple Spanish and Japanese phrases as well. :)
ReplyDeleteI think this is awesome. It irritates the hell out of me that I have cousins and relatives that know NOTHING about other cultures or religions, and turn up their noses when it comes to that stuff. When we have kids I plan to very consciously teach them that there's WAY more to life than the one we've got.
ReplyDeleteLOVE this!!! I'm all about exposing children to as much travel and culture as possible. Hoping to raise my kids with a love for travel and an interest in how others live, eat, pray, etc... :-D
ReplyDeleteThis is definitely awesome! I think kids should be exposed to tons of things, people, cultures, etc. It helps create well rounded kids who are educated and less likely to become close-minded!
ReplyDeleteI think that's the problem - people want to keep their kids in a bubble, almost feeling like they are "Protecting" them from the world - only making the world a worse place for their kid.
ReplyDeleteThis is so inspiring! I love the post:)
ReplyDeleteirenethayer.com
oh i LOVE this. KC and I grew up quite differently, and it doesn't bother me exactly, but it makes me want to raise my kids (if and when they turn up) with more awareness and appreciation for the rest of the world.
ReplyDeletelove this! ideally I would send my kids to an international school, but let's be real, I am not forking over that kind of money. so I will take them to all the restaurants ;) but seriously. and a foreign language is a must too!
ReplyDeleteI also believe children need to be exposed to the culture (?) of disability. Learning about and accepting everyone without regard to differences includes those who struggle with any challenges.
ReplyDeleteEmbracing cultures is something that I value and would definitely pass on to my kids. I'm so grateful I grew up in a very diverse place and went to school with kids of all different religions and cultures. I celebrated their holidays as I did mine, plus the food and all the different traditions has always intrigued me. I took a "World Religions" class in college just to learn more...and that's when I fell in love with Buddhism.
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