I still vividly recall the day I was pondering over my son’s 5th grade History quiz and the following True/False question caught my attention.
True/false?
Hinduism has no founder, no holy book, and no central set of beliefs.
While the “correct” answer for this as per the textbook was ‘True’, it got me curious as to what the textbook said about Hinduism. I began to peruse through it, and indeed, this very sentence was in it. While I agree that Hinduism does not have a founder as such, and no particular single holy book that Hindus follow (such as the Bible or Quran), I began to think about what this statement may convey to a Hindu child growing up in America. Particularly, the last part regarding a central set of beliefs. The statement almost seems to convey that anything goes in Hinduism..that it is lax by nature. I didn’t want my son or other students in his class viewing Hinduism in such a manner. So I wrote to the teacher detailing the thoughts that follow.
“There are many gods we worship in Hinduism..each of whom signifies different virtues that we choose to integrate into our daily lives. Hindu gods sometimes have animal-like features and multiple body parts. Again, there is a significance for each of these anomalies. Hinduism’s holy books include the Vedas, Upanishads, Mahabharata and Ramayana. The roles played by the gods and the decisions they choose to take during critical junctures in these stories serve as a moral code for us..for when we encounter difficult situations in life..when we need to distinguish right from wrong. Stories from these books have been published in a comic format by Amar Chitra Katha publishers. My own kids have devoured several books from the series over the years and I would be happy to do an Amar Chitra Katha book reading session in your class.”
The teacher was more than happy to accommodate a session wherein we discussed gods and traditions of Hinduism, and read a couple of Amar Chitra Katha comics together. And as for the question on the test, the teacher was also kind enough to re-word it so as to eliminate any misinterpretations. As for me, I was secretly relieved that I had made the right decision by exposing my kids to Indian comics from a young age.
Mallika Thoppay is an educator, writer and social advocate. She is a volunteer English teacher to school-aged children residing in rural areas of Karnataka, India. She believes in women empowerment and standing up against social injustices. She was recognized as a volunteer champion for the year 2021-2022 by eVidyaloka, an organization that sets up digital classrooms in rural India. She is also an active volunteer with organizations such as the 100Books Initiative, Santa Clara County libraries and West Valley Community Services. She enjoys writing books that inspire social change and convey purposeful messages. Her book, Unfair & Lovely, is an effort to combat the issue of colorism in society. She is a Computer Science engineer by background and holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science from Kansas State University. She has worked at various tech companies in the Silicon Valley and has run a coding camps business. Website (for book): http://tinyurl.com/unfairlovely
It’s that time of the year, and in that very multicultural part of the world where I come from – Australia – celebrating Christmas in our education care settings can be quite a challenge.
Why? Because, our education & care settings reflect the cultural, linguistic & religious diversity of Australia, and many Educators are uncertain about whether to celebrate, for fear of not being inclusive and respectful to all the children and families in their classroom.
I would like to unpack these feelings of uncertainty, explore the “celebrations” debate and encourage practitioners to move forward and celebrate at this important time of the year.
There is so much opportunity for learning and spreading the message around diversity, inclusion, respect and acceptance. In fact, Christmas for me is the best time of the year for reflection, conversations and hands on experiences around inclusion, belonging, understanding, awareness, acceptance, celebrating our diversity, connecting with children and families as cultural beings and exploring and growing our own cultural competence & inclusive practices as practitioners.
As practitioners, we need to be developing & delivering culturally inclusive and authentic programs that reflect the diversity of our classrooms and are meaningful to our children & families. Whatever happens in the classroom is extended to the home environment and vice versa. So if these conversations and celebrations are happening at home and in the classroom, this can also lead to stronger partnerships and a wonderful exchange and learning about our rich cultural experiences.
Although celebrations are a very important aspect of culture (being either religious, festive, historical or nationally based), the most common challenges I hear about include:
“Celebrations are too hard & a very sensitive area, so we would rather not celebrate.” “We don’t want to be disrespectful or do the wrong thing, so we prefer to have a “No Celebrations Policy.”
Celebrations are not relevant, age appropriate or meaningful to all children & families.
Families may oppose the involvement of their children in various celebrations – including those that may contradict their religious or moral views.
Celebration programs focus on the commercial or ‘exotic’ which highlights difference and doesn’t provide authentic information to children on how people live their daily lives.
Celebrations may verge on promoting stereotype – the idea that all members of a particular group or culture share the same attitudes and values about a particular celebration.
Uncertainty around which celebrations to recognise, in order to be inclusive and equitable.
Despite this list of challenges, I strongly believe that “it’s great to celebrate!”. All these perceived challenges are valid, but these challenges and concerns can be unpacked and worked through. With reflection, consultation, collaboration, some guiding tips & strategies, the celebration journey can be a meaningful, authentic, inclusive, educational and fun learning experience for everyone involved.
Why celebrate?
Celebrations help foster a positive sense of self and self identity in children, and contribute to increased pride in cultural identity, self esteem, cultural being and sense of belonging.
When we recognise days that are special to families and cultural groups, it demonstrates that we value them. Consider it as an opportunity for children and families to share a special holiday or tradition.
Celebrations provide children, Educators and families with an opportunity to learn about values, experiences and celebrations that are different from their own (or even similar to theirs).
Celebrations can create an extension of the child’s home environment and help celebrate the child’s cultural being – celebrations demonstrate caring for and educating the child in a cultural context.
Celebrations provide opportunities for Services to develop inclusive policies & practices that celebrate diversity.
Celebrations provide opportunities for developing & building respectful partnerships with families through establishing cultural connections. If you have families that celebrate, ask for their input & ideas. Invite your families to help lead the celebrations and participate.
Celebrations are a good opportunity for Educators to reflect on their cultural competence journey, share aspects of their culture and reflect on how cultural and religious diversity and celebrations are reflected in their program.
Tips & ideas to consider when planning celebrations:
Reflect on your current Celebrations practices as a team & Service.
Develop a Celebration policy to help your Service choose, implement & evaluate celebration programs & activities. Evaluate you Celebration policy every year to check in on whether all staff & families still find it relevant and appropriate.
Ensure that your Celebration policy incorporates the cultural and linguistic needs of all your children, families and staff and that policies are translated so that all families are able to provide input. Ensure that your policy respects the right of families and children to not participate in celebrations.
Reflect on how you choose celebrations that are meaningful, developmentally appropriate and inclusive to the children, families & community.
Focus on events that are culturally relevant to individual children, families & Educators. Keep Celebrations inclusive, relevant, developmentally appropriate and have fun celebrating! Consider what celebrations contribute to forming each child’s identity within the Australian and global community.
Incorporate a question in your enrolment form that asks families what celebrations are important to them, what they would like to celebrate and how.
Consult with the children about their current interests around celebrations, what they would like to celebrate & how. This helps develop their sense of agency and belonging. Offer children authentic learning experiences based on their prior knowledge & experiences.
Consider the values we want to impart with in children through what we chose to celebrate. The key is to ensure that there is balance in our celebrations and in the messages we leave with children about the celebration. eg. an appreciation of diversity, inclusion, respect & belonging.
Explore the diverse (and similar) ways in which families & Educators celebrate events/festivals.
With religious celebrations, it is important that all families are informed and consulted. The key is to reflect this in your Celebration policy and ensure that all religious celebrations and cultural festivals are reflected in your overall programming and celebrations so that ALL children and families feel included.
Present celebrations equally, rather than focus on one festival in depth. Do you have children & families that celebrate at particular times of the year? (eg Ramadan, Diwali, Hannukah etc). Start with these celebrations, and over time, you can move towards celebrating more diverse festivals, especially if the values that you want to foster in children include an appreciation of cultural diversity.
Keep in mind that it’s impossible to celebrate everything. In Education and Care, we are bombarded with a plethora of celebrations, “days” “weeks” for us to genuinely cover and address. Sometimes acknowledgement of this celebration is adequate.
Children’s interests are a good starting point, and be sure to tap into your in-house Educator resources and any associated local community events (eg Moon Festival event through local council or cultural organisation).
Ensure that celebrations are not just celebrated as a program ‘add-on’, but rather the values and messages we want to instil in the children are embedded all year round. Incorporate celebrations into your every day curriculum (through books, puzzles, games, music & movement, storytelling) not just stand alone, tokenistic events.
Celebrations usually start on the surface level of culture (eg art/craft, music, food etc). In every day family life, cultural festivals have deeper meaning (such as celebrating religion, family relationships). The challenge for programming respectfully & authentically around celebrations is to also incorporate cultural information and understanding at a deeper level alongside the fun activities. Be sure to discuss the meaning of the celebration/holiday/festival with children.
Begin by incorporating celebrations that are relevant to individual children and families in your program. Invite the families to become involved and share their celebrations. Through their guidance and input, we are in a better position to provide non stereotypical and respectful celebrations (that move beyond the celebrations through art & craft activities, but also enable the conversations around the meaning & significance behind the celebration).
Parent consultation, input & participation is important. Develop a system to encourage family/Centre communication (eg. notice board, digital, Newsletter, informal conversations, surveys) giving parents the opportunity to let you know when a celebration is coming up.
Set up a library of items for loan to families and ask families if you can borrow celebratory items from them. eg books, greeting cards, traditional dress, artefacts, decorations.
Research and tap into opportunities to celebrate with your local community. eg Local Festival excursion or cultural celebratory incursion.
Extend on your cultural competence and learn about celebrations that can be explained to children and build on their existing knowledge.
What happens when families do not want their children to participate in particular celebrations?
Quite often, families do not want their children to participate in particular celebrations, for various reasons (eg contradiction of moral or religious views). Policies should respects the right of families and children to not participate in celebrations and families who do not wish to be involved in celebrations should have options for ‘opting out’. Offer appropriate alternatives for children and families who chose not to participate in celebrations.
References:
Casley, Celebrating With Children: A Cultural Perspective, Diversity in Child Care Queensland, STTAR Program, 2001.
Tsambouniaris, Festivals and Celebrations, Bankstown Early Integration and Networking Group, 2004
Extract from Putting Children First, the magazine of the National Childcare Accreditation Council (NCAC) Issue 33, March 2010 (pages 17-19), Genuine Celebrations: Including cultural experiences in the program.
Cultural Connections, Child Australia, 2017
Meni has been in the early childhood education sector for 35 years. She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology (UNSW) and has worked in various multicultural children’s services positions over the years under the Commonwealth Inclusion Support strategy including co-ordinating Sups Programs and managing the NSW Bicultural Support Program. She is an early childhood author, resource developer and trainer on cultural inclusion. In addition, she is a CALD representative, adviser and consultant on various platforms. Meni currently co-manages a multicultural consultancy program called Diversity Kids and has a strong passion for cultural inclusive practice, bilingualism, and embedding cultural perspectives in education & care settings.
Many people claim that we should never talk about religion – especially religions that are not our own. I totally disagree!” In fact, future generations will need to be more globally-competent, culturally-aware, and religiously-literate than any cohort in history. That means, we need to start with our kids.
Humans are coming together in ways we never dreamed possible. Nowadays, we are significantly more likely to encounter people different from ourselves – ethnically, culturally, and religiously – and that’s a good thing! Research has shown that such interactions reduce cross-group fear and prejudice and increase trust and empathy.
Some of these interactions even lead to marriage. About 10% of U.S. adults were raised in multifaith families where parents were affiliated with two different religions. Another 12% were raised in families where one parent was religiously affiliated (usually Christian) while the other parent was religiously unaffiliated (“none”). As you might expect, both numbers are on the rise. In fact, almost 40% of Americans who married since 2010 have a spouse with a different religious affiliation.
Unfortunately, not all interactions are positive. Religiously motivated harassment is reported in over 90% of the world’s countries, and the majority of religiously motivated hate crimes in the U.S. are targeted against Jews. Hindu, Sikh, and Muslim students across the U.S. are also bullied in school.
Among Hindu-American teens, one in three reports being bullied. One survey of Muslim students showed over half had been made fun of, verbally insulted, or abused because of their religion. And similar numbers are also reported by Sikh children, especially if a turban is worn. This absolutely has to stop. Immediately.
CLICK ON IMAGE TO BUY BOOKS
Talking about the world’s religions may force us outside of our traditional comfort zones, but that’s no excuse. Our kids need some baseline knowledge about the major world religions, and it’s perfectly acceptable to learn along with them. We also need to recognize that our strength, as a species, stems from our diversity. Actually, our survival may very well depend on the extent to which we can acknowledge, appreciate, and embrace that fact.
Vicki Garlock is the founder of World Religions for Kids, a company dedicated to improving religious literacy in children and their adults. Her kids’ books, geared to kids aged 4-10, include the award-winning We All Have Sacred Spaces. Vicki received her Sc.B. in Psychology from Brown University before attending the Univ. of AL – Birmingham for her Ph.D. with dual specialties in neuroscience and cognitive development. After that, she served as a Nurture Coordinator and Curriculum Specialist where she developed a multifaith curriculum for kids aged 4 through 8th grade and was ordained as their Minister of Education. You can follow her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok (@learnreligions).
The naturally curious nature of children will eventually lead them to want to know more about their bodies. However, body-related conversations can be awkward and challenging for parents.
Educating your child on their body is essential for them to have a healthy, long-term relationship with themselves, understand how to best care for their body, and lead a healthy lifestyle. As a parent, it’s crucial to do so in an age-appropriate way. That will help your child learn what they need to know and set them up to successfully learn even more about their body in the future.
Determine What Your Child Should Know
The first step to teaching your kid about their body is determining what they should know at their age. If you don’t know what your child should know, you may teach them things too early or too late, either of which can impact their care and relationship with their body.
Do thorough research on what your children should know about their bodies at their ages. For example, if you have a boy aged 11-16 or a girl aged 8-13, start discussing puberty with them so they understand the physical and hormonal changes they’ll likely endure and how to navigate them. When you know what’s appropriate to teach your children at their ages, you can feed them the information they need about their bodies at the right times in their lives.
Nurture Trust-Filled Relationships
The last thing you want is for your child to feel like they can’t come to you with questions about their body or anything for that matter. Trying to navigate their bodily changes on their own will likely overwhelm or even frighten your child.
You can ensure this doesn’t happen by nurturing trust-filled relationships with your kid. Start with regular open and honest conversations with them about life. Be sure to listen more than you talk so that your children feel heard and understood. They’ll become more comfortable opening up to you. This will make them more likely to bring up any questions or concerns about their body to you in the future.
Start the Conversations
Even with a trust-filled relationship with your child, they may not initiate conversations about their body often, if they do at all. To ensure you’re able to have these conversations with your kid, you’ll have to get comfortable starting them yourself.
Plan out what you will discuss with your child and at what time. Keep in mind that there will still be impromptu lessons that arise from time to time, so try to be ready for everything. Even if you planned to talk about a certain topic, your child may ask questions related to something else instead. Be receptive to these shifts if they occur and don’t shut your child down. Otherwise, they may be less willing to have similar conversations later on.
Be Diligent About Conversations Surrounding Genitals
Out of discomfort, some parents postpone teaching their children about genitals and sexuality as long as possible. But it’s much better to be upfront about these conversations and lessons so that your children understand concepts like:
Consent;
How babies are made;
Proper genital hygiene;
The basics of healthy genitals;
Appropriate and inappropriate touching.
A great example is teaching girls about their vaginas. There are many myths about vaginas — including how they should look, smell, and function — that are important to debunk for your child. These myths can influence how your child understands and feels about their own body and ultimately impact their physical and mental health negatively.
Additionally, don’t feel like you need to use code names like “private part” to reference a vagina or penis. It’s better to use the proper name so that your kids understand there’s no shame in having or talking about genitals openly and honestly.
Instill Healthy Habits in Your Children
A vital lesson in your child’s education is how to properly fuel and care for their body. It’s crucial to have these conversations early on so your child doesn’t develop an unhealthy relationship with food or exercise as they get older — and can put these lessons into practice in the meantime.
Focus on teaching your children about good nutrition and how eating a balanced diet will help them grow big and strong. Share with them how eating too much sugar can lead to health issues like cavities, obesity, and diabetes. Make meals full of fruits and veggies to show them how tasty healthy food can be. Try not to frame foods as either good or bad; instead, help them understand how different foods can impact their bodies.
It’s also essential to implement exercise in their daily routine. Whether toddlers, elementary-age, or teens, kids need physical activity to build strong bones and muscles, help them maintain an appropriate weight, and improve their cognitive performance. Nature walks, sports, and kid-friendly workouts are great to start with.
Build Body Image and Confidence
How your children feel about themselves and their bodies is critical for healthy development. Kids form opinions about their bodies early on, with body image issues arising as early as 3 years old.
Make it a point to help your children build their body image and boost their confidence. Don’t talk negatively about the way they look, dress, and so forth. Never compare them to others and help them do the same. Encourage your children to express their individualism.
And finally, remind them of how wonderful they are as a human, regardless of how they look. This is especially important when they’re feeling doubtful about their bodies, insecure about how they look, or hear a hurtful comment from a friend, family member, or stranger.
Conclusion
Your children have a right to know the truth about their bodies and how to care for them appropriately. Don’t strip them of this right by putting off conversations, refusing to answer questions, or creating awkwardness around body-related discussions.
Instead, nurture trust-filled relationships with your children so that it’s easier to educate them about their bodies in an age-appropriate manner. Here is a link to books about the same.
Education is one of the most complex and important social issues that society faces. There are millions of children around the world today with totally different backgrounds, unique gifts and diverse aptitudes. Fortunately, the rise of specialized and online programs has opened up a world of possibility when it comes to a tailored education. There are plenty of reasons to consider enrolling a child in an online special education program that fits their needs.
Flexible Scheduling
One of the chief benefits of online programs is flexibility. Many parents and their children simply can’t accommodate standard school times due to conflicts with other responsibilities. Accessing learning material online puts more control over pacing and scheduling into the hands of the student and their family. It can also allow for travel to show your children the world.
Community Participation
Another reason to consider an online special education program is to get your child involved in a community. Depending on the special education needs and considerations, it can be difficult to find suitable peers or companions for young people. The internet opens up the opportunity to connect with other people with similar life experiences.
Tailored Programs
Every child benefits from a tailored education, but those with special educational needs are even more dependent on personal care in their academic pursuits. In many cases, personalized programs can pave the way for students to stay on track and even outperform expectations. Attention to students and adjustment to keep pace with their maturing process is the key to good education.
Break Out of the Bubble
Another reason parents enroll their kids in online educational programs is to expose them to new things. Many people grow up with limited access to different kinds of people, places, and ideas. Joining a new group with fresh ideas forces people to get out of their comfort zone and grow.
Find New Solutions
Sometimes all it takes to make a breakthrough is a little fresh air. Joining an online special education program can create openings for both the kids and their parents to find new solutions and bond. This can be social development, branching into new interests, or simply becoming more self-sufficient in certain tasks. Exchanging experiences, ideas, and information with other people within a community is a valuable benefit.
When it comes to raising and educating children, it’s hard to ever be satisfied with the status quo. Parents always want the best for their kids, which is only natural. The rise of online education means that there are a lot more options out there now and they are much more accessible than ever before.
This holiday season, give yourself the gift of a dream come true. Go from idea to finally writing that first draft of your very first picture book.
1.Always wanted to write a children’s book but don’t have the commitment?
2.Not sure about which of your ideas is marketable?
3.Wondering what do you do after you write your book?
Half the struggle in life is finding the right person, who will not make you THINK about the right question to ask…
I can’t help solve all your problems, but can help you write the story you always imagined.
If you have been following my journey or know me personally, you know I do have time for BS. That is why this is not a WHOLE spiel. In short, this is what this one of a kind workshop has to offer.
What is covered in workshop
Please read below carefully…
Always wanted to write a book but do NOT have the commitment or the energy to go through the pools of information available on the internet?? Then this is YOUR opportunity to go from dreaming of being a writer to taking that first big step to invest your time, energy and resources towards your dream.
We will use this workshop to understand how to write a children’s book, how many kinds there are, writing to age, how to pick a marketable idea and a quick overview of what happens after you finish your first draft.
Day One – Ideation, Types of children’s books, Character development, Researching and picking an idea to work on for the workshop Day Two – Discussing the idea, characters, defining age group and the story arc
Day Three – Reading and getting feedback on the first draft
Day Four – What happens after you write your first children’s book
I recommend keeping aside one and half hour per day to work on your book for these four days.
The advantages of this one of a kind workshop is, you will get feedback live from peers and I will include one round of critique on the story you have drafted.
Note – Everyone who signs up will get recordings of the video. Every session includes worksheets and group discussion AND if you happen to miss it, you can send me a list of questions and I will answer them all.
Oct 10th – 13th 10 am EST – $145 Nov 14th – 17th 8 pm EST – $145
Please fill out the form for which slot you are looking to book and I will send you the invoice to pay. Since this is going to have personalized feedback on each story, seats per workshop are limited.
I always wanted to be a writer. Difference between most and me is that I followed through by investing in my dream. I have studied writing, publishing and marketing and have seen the market grow, change and evolve over the past 10 years. You name the topic and I have done a course or read a book and if I have not, I will know where to find the right resource for the same.
I went from blogger on Orkut to blogger to freelance writer to founding this collaborative platform to publishing seventeen books (including others) and editing sixty four. My work so far, has won 7 awards and been featured on various network platforms like NBC, CBS, Thrive Global, Huffington Post and more. Few of the books I have worked on that are live now below.
It is hard to believe in your own beauty. Daily, many of us, even as adults struggle with accepting who we are, talents, uniqueness, flaws and all! This beautiful story, with vivid illustrations and unicorns helps children see that fitting in, is not always about being the same. You belong because of who you are!
You talent and the way you treat others is what makes you unique.
Written for ages five through eight, this delightful picture book is a wonderful addition to libraries that are looking for ways in which to build children’s confidence. It would also make a great read aloud for children younger.
After all, which child does not love unicorns!
The beauty of this book is not just the journey of Melody but the way in which the author takes a complex concept and makes it so palatable for children. A must read for children who may be wondering why they are different or wondering what makes them special.
FIVE STARS from ADITI WARDHAN SINGH (RaisignWorldChildren.com)
Melody wants to fit in with her rainbow-colored friends. When her attempts to add color to her plain mane fail, Melody’s friends reveal a secret: They love something about her that has nothing to do with how she looks.
Melody the Unicorn and the Beauty Within is a heartwarming story of friendship, self-love, accepting diversity and embracing our uniqueness. Filled with beautiful illustrations, this light-hearted picture book will inspire young readers to be proud of who they are, gain confidence and find their inner beauty.
A book about inclusion and acceptance that encourages everyone to welcome our unique differences, it’s the perfect back-to-school, birthday, or Christmas gift for girls and boys ages 5 to 9, or for anyone who loves magic, rainbows and unicorns. As an early reader, Melody the Unicorn is perfect for reading aloud with little sisters and brothers!
Give your kindergartener, first grader or second grader a gift that boosts confidence and shows diversity and uniqueness as positive qualities.
As a parent or caregiver of a child, you never want to see your little ones hurting. It’s hard to see kids experience struggles. You might want to protect them from every hardship life has to offer. However, not only is it impossible, but it could also hinder them more than help them.
There are common childhood medical issues, like losing teeth or getting chicken pox, and then there are more complex emotional traumas, like dealing with the grief that comes with the loss of a family pet or having a first fight with a close friend. All of these adverse experiences can be turned into learning opportunities.
These events are undoubtedly difficult in the moment. However, teaching your kids to turn these negative moments into learning opportunities will make them more resilient as they get older. They’ll be able to “bounce back” faster from the hardships in their lives, and they have the opportunity to become more capable individuals.
There are several ways you can help your child navigate through these moments. Teach yourself now how to teach them to overcome adversity with love, grace, strength, self-empathy, and awareness.
Overcoming Negative Medical Experiences
Kids can end up seeing a doctor or even visiting an emergency room for a variety of reasons. From dental issues to broken bones, it’s not uncommon for kids to have medical issues that require professional care.
However, it’s easy for kids to be afraid when it comes to medical care. If that isn’t dealt with early on, it could eventually lead to medical anxiety. Some of the symptoms of medical anxiety include:
Racing heart;
Sweating;
Dizziness;
Thinking something bad will happen;
Wanting to skip doctor’s appointments.
Maybe your child has had a negative experience with medical care in the past. They might even fear the unknown or conditions they don’t fully understand, like head lice. After all, no child or parent wants to think about little bugs crawling around in their hair. As a parent, learning about lice can be equally as grotesque and anxiety-inducing. However, you should model positive behaviors to get your child through a tough time like this.
In general, you can harness the stress of procedures and check-ups into ways to help them calm down, understand themselves, and better their health. Teach your children about valuing their bodies and their well-being. Give them coping methods to deal with feeling scared before a doctor visit. You’ll also teach them a lot about self-advocacy and how to vouch for their feelings with doctors and other medical professionals as they grow up.
Fighting With Friends
Almost every child comes home from school at some point, upset that they got into an argument with a close friend. As an adult, you can understand the fickleness of young relationships. As a child, however, a fight with a friend can feel like the “end of the world.” It can make your child feel alone, isolated, and misunderstood.
Although it might be painful for them, you can turn this negative situation into a learning experience by offering support and acknowledging the validity of their feelings. Set a positive example by staying calm and using productive words when you choose to work through a disagreement. Your child will be likely to do the same when approaching others in the future, which can keep arguments from escalating.
Let them tell you about the fight, and make sure they know you’re listening and understanding. While it might be tempting to step in and try to fix things, resist that urge unless it’s absolutely necessary. By setting a positive example, validating their feelings, and offering supportive advice, you’ll teach your child how to work through arguments with friends in healthy, effective ways.
Dealing With Loss
Dealing with loss is difficult for everyone. Grief impacts people differently, so it’s important to make sure your kids understand loss and how to work through the grieving process.
Whether the child is dealing with the loss of a pet, the death of a loved one, or even watching their parents go through a divorce, kids need to know how to fully understand their grieving.
Far too many adults use unhealthy coping mechanisms to get through a loss. Teaching your kids healthy ways to cope will help them build resilience through adulthood. There are several strategies you can use to help your child cope with grief, including:
Keeping consistent routines to make them comfortable;
Offering them love and attention;
Letting go of your own expectations;
Modeling healthy emotions;
Finding positive grief outlets, including play;
Relieving them of guilt.
You can even turn to outside resources if your child is struggling to accept a certain loss. Child counselors, therapists, or support group leaders can help you and your child work on different coping strategies and stress-reduction techniques, including how to teach kids mindfulness and meditation.
As much as you might want to at times, you can’t keep your children in a bubble. It’s important to protect them and do what you can to keep them safe while still allowing them to experience what the world has to offer – including adverse moments.
Keep these ideas in mind to teach your kids how to turn those adverse moments into something better. The more you focus on these learning opportunities now, the easier it will be for your children to be stronger, empathetic, and self-aware as adults.
There are countless benefits to learning another language, from enhanced critical thinking to a better understanding of the world. For many, however, learning a language is difficult, if not near impossible—or so one might think.
Often, a major hurdle to mastering a language is the learning process. With many people, struggles with learning a second language occur not from a lack of intelligence, but rather from improper study habits.
Learning a language is more than just hours of study and grammar lessons. Some of the best ways to learn involve fun and everyday actions that are perfect for integrating your new language into your daily life.
One of the most straightforward methods of learning a language is to talk to native speakers. If you’re not in an area with many native speakers, consider finding a new friend from your target region.
Pen pals have long been a great way to connect with others, and learn new languages. In fact, with the hyperconnectivity of today’s world, finding someone to talk to has never been easier.
Whether you use the traditional method of pen, paper, and envelope, or correspond via the internet, pen pals create a system of mutual betterment. From language learning to cultural enrichment, sharing stories with someone across the world makes us all better.
When you first start out, you may lack many language skills. Don’t let that stop you, though. There are plenty of guides, templates, and translators to help you and your new friend connect. This printable provides common introductory questions in English, French, and Spanish.
Get started today, and find your newest friend.
Watch Foreign Shows and Movies With Subtitles
Hearing the spoken word of your target language is one of the best ways to immerse oneself in language learning. However, if traveling is out of the question, keep the learning fun and watch some movies.
Specifically, watch films and shows in your target language. Try to watch them without subtitles the first time, and see how many words and phrases you understand. Take notes and try to translate what you can. On the next watch, pop on the subtitles and compare your notes. Pay attention to any areas that you especially struggled to understand.
Foreign films are a great way to experience a foreign culture. With subtitles, you have a handy translation guide to help with those tricky words and phrases.
Read in the Target Language
Like hearing the spoken word, seeing the written word helps reaffirm your target language within your mind. Reading books in your new language is a perfect way to understand the ins and outs of the written language.
If needed, start small. Check out short children’s stories if you’re new to the language. They often feature simpler sentences and easy-to-understand words.
As you progress, strive for more challenging works. Look at top literature lists in the target language, or ask your pen pal what books they would recommend.
Keep a Daily Journal in the Target Language
Like reading, writing in a foreign language is essential to complete linguistic understanding. However, that doesn’t mean copying lines and repeating writing exercises. Grab a journal, find a comfortable spot, and start writing.
Write whatever comes to mind. Don’t worry about mistakes in the beginning. Just strive to write a certain number of words or lines a day. Start with short updates about the weather or your day. As your skills progress, increase the verbosity of your entries.
With this method, you have clear proof of your progression through your foreign language studies.
Play Language-Learning Games
Games are vital parts of any culture. From family card games to famous board games, they provide a fun and involved way to learn a language.
For beginners, language-learning games like Kloo provide targeted skills in a fun package. No one needs any skill in the available languages in order to play, though, by the end, the skills of all players will grow.
Additionally, consider the classic game of Scrabble. Simply search for the tile scores in your target language, and start spelling. The rules remain the same, but you can hone your spelling and language skills at the same time.
Final Thoughts
With the right activities, language learning is fun and engaging, not to mention immensely beneficial for brain health, social exploration, and simply leading a rich and full life. With these five approaches, the learning process is easier and more approachable.
Incorporate these activities into your daily routine. You don’t have to do each activity every day, but be sure to engage with language learning whenever you can. Keep a journal nearby to jot down some ideas in your second language. Catch a foreign film every week with your friends. Try a new novel from your favorite foreign author every month.
However you learn, make it fit your lifestyle. Ultimately, absorbing a new language is easier when done through entertaining and comforting means.
It sometimes feels as though the world is running low on empathy. Global conflict, refugee crises, and a rise in race-related hate crimes can make it seem as though everyone has given up on coming together.
However, just because adults today find it hard to get along, that doesn’t mean future generations won’t benefit from empathetic decision-making skills. Young leaders like Greta Thunberg and Malala Yousafzai show that empathy is alive and well within young folks today and can be used to lead us towards a better future.
If you’re inspired by young leaders like Greta Thunberg, you can start to work on empathetic decision-making skills with your own children. Even small steps like teaching them the value of sharing can help your child become a leader of the future that you are proud of.
What is Empathy?
You have probably heard leaders and activists talk about empathy in the past few years. But what, exactly, is empathy?
Empathy is the ability to feel another person’s emotions, thoughts, or feelings. Being empathetic is an important life skill, as it can help avoid conflict and improve collaboration.
Researchers today split empathy up into “affective empathy” and “cognitive empathy”. Cognitive empathy occurs when you imagine yourself in someone else’s shoes. As the name suggests, it requires you to think and consider what another person is going through. Affective empathy is more immediate and usually occurs as soon as we see someone experiencing an emotion like pain or distress.
Empathy is an important part of all egalitarian societies and is necessary to ensure that everyone can live their lives with dignity and respect. Empathy can be used to push social change and galvanize support for issues revolving around human rights and well-being.
Being empathetic also makes everyone’s day-to-day life better. Small acts of kindness and love can go a long way when people are down or face a major challenge in their life. If your child learns to make empathetic decisions, they’re more likely to support their peer groups and community in later life.
Decision-Making as a Skill
We all make thousands of decisions every day. But when was the last time you stopped and asked yourself “why am I choosing ‘x’ over ‘y’”?
Most decisions that we make are straightforward and don’t require any additional training or attention. However, teaching your child how to make intentional decisions based on thoughts, emotions, and assessment of the situation will set them up for success in life.
There are plenty of different decision-making models to choose from. Start simple in a low-stakes environment. For example, if you donate some portion of your paycheck to charities, consider involving your child in the decision-making process.
Make sure you slow down and work through the seven steps of the decision-making process together. Introduce them to the decision you want to make and work together to gather the information you need. Once you’ve gathered all the background information you can find, research alternatives and weigh them up by considering the impact your decision will make. Once you’ve taken action, review the consequences together and try to assess what went well.
Of course, this will look different depending on the age of your child. Choose an age-appropriate decision together and take your time researching and debating the choice.
You should pay particular attention to the role of empathy within your research and when considering alternatives. If you’re ever stuck during the process, try to prompt your child to think more empathetically and imagine themselves from the position of another person who may be affected by the decision.
Gaining Experience
You should start to develop empathetic decision-making skills in a low-stakes environment. However, when your child starts to mature, it’s worth going out into the real world and trying to make a difference in your local community.
There are plenty of community-based activities that you and your child can partake in together. Some of the best volunteering opportunities like creating green spaces in abandoned spaces will improve the safety of your neighborhood. Your child can also gain experience by volunteering together at shelters and soup kitchens that promote empathy and help uplift your community.
Taking action is an important part of empathetic decision-making. However, taking the right action also takes experience. You can help your child gain experience as an empathetic thinker by encouraging them to read more often. Reading forces us to think from the perspective of someone else and can significantly improve decision-making in young leaders.
Conclusion
Empathetic decision-making is integral to the success of future generations. You can help your child learn to empathize with others by getting involved in local community projects and practicing decision-making together. Try to start in a low-stakes setting so they have a chance to gain experience without any major consequences. As they mature, work towards issues you both care about.
When you have children, whether it’s one or many, you are responsible for quite a few things. You are obligated to protect them, shelter them, clothe them, feed them, and keep them healthy. Over time, you’ll also be responsible for how they grow as a person. Knowing ways to boost your child’s self-confidence in their early years will pay dividends when they’re teens and adults later.
Help Them Learn Before You Let Them Learn
When your child is trying something new, show them how to do it once. Then, help them with it. After that, you can let them try and do it on their own. That can be hard, because you know they’re going to struggle. In many cases, they might even fail quite a bit. As badly as you want to step in, remember that when you were a kid, you wanted to prove yourself, too. Even if they don’t learn how to do what they’re trying, they’ll always learn from dealing with adversity.
Summer Camp
Summer camp is a great way for kids to learn how to operate independently of their parents and families. Depending on the activities they do, they might also develop confidence in trying new things they’ve never done before. If you’re not sure what summer camps might specifically help them grow in this area, then go to websites describing options in your area that you can choose from.
Praise Them, But Do It Right
Parental praise can go a long way in building confidence in children, but you need to build the confidence right. Praising attributes, such as talent, or concrete results, such as A+ grades, can artificially inflate them or put their confidence in the wrong direction. To establish the right foundation for their confidence, focus on praising the work and effort they put into things.
Be a Great Role Model
Your children will learn more from your example than everything you decide to deliberately teach them. Carry yourself with confidence in your own life, and they’ll mimic that until they figure out how to do it on their own. You’ll both benefit.
You’ll always remember the first time your child stood up on their own and started walking. The first few times they use their self-confidence to stand up for themselves are more subtle, and you might not recognize those moments. Prepare them for it anyway by boosting their self-confidence in any manner possible.
Little Mynah had a lot to explore about the world but she feels that the world doesn’t notice her coz she is not special like the other “fancier” birds. Will she be able to find her confidence?
With a daughter who is on the smaller size, this book was read and re-read multiple times in our home. The illustrations are gorgeous and the story is empowering. As if that is not enough, this story also is multilingual and a wonderful addition to multicultural libraries looking to show kids the beauty of world languages.
My kids are 8 and 11, who enjoy reading. They give this book a huge thumbs up!
I specially liked the fact that I could also bring home the importance of different species of birds, and the impact the current environmental changes have had on birds recently. I think it is wonderful to have stories that highlight crucial issues in a light and vibrant way.
BOOK DESCRIPTON
Little Mynah wishes she was not so ordinary. But when her friend, the magnificent Heron, gets into trouble she flies into action and discovers that even ordinary little birds can do extraordinary things. This is the first multilingual picture book in a series to be published by Epigram Books that introduces preschoolers and early primary kids to the diverse languages and cultures of Singapore. Underlying this first adventure with Little Mynah is the importance of environmental conservation.
The book includes a link (via QR code) to an audio recording of everyday words and phrases used in the story in English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil. A useful glossary is provided at the back of the book for easy reference. The QR code also links readers to free games and activities so the fun and learning keeps going.
When you think of meditation, perhaps the first image that comes to mind is of aging yogis in saffron robes seated peacefully in the lotus position. Or perhaps you imagine some fresh-faced young woman with her high ponytail and leotard, palms together, legs crossed, and a gentle smile on her face.
Chances are, though, that when you conjure a mental picture of someone practicing meditation, you’re not going to envision a chubby-legged preschooler sitting sedately, criss-cross applesauce, on a cartoon-themed exercise mat.
The truth, however, is that meditation provides immense mental, emotional, and spiritual benefits for every human, regardless of age. This article examines the benefits of meditation for children and how you can effectively incorporate it into your child’s life.
An Ancient Practice Given New Life
Historians speculate that the practice of meditation may be nearly as old as human civilization itself, potentially dating back as far as 5,000 BCE. Originally, it was the exclusive provenance of ancient Eastern Asian religions, particularly Buddhism and Hinduism.
Though meditation remains a cornerstone of spiritual practice for millions, by the 20th century, meditation had become largely severed from its faith-based origins. In Western societies, in particular, meditation came to be incorporated into secular practice as an important tool for supporting physical and mental health.
The Benefits of Meditation for Children
In the modern West, meditation is often conceptualized as a principally secular practice designed to help overscheduled, over-stressed adults manage the chaos of their daily lives.
However, it is not only adults who are under pressure in our fast-paced, high-anxiety world. Children, too, are facing greater social and emotional challenges than perhaps ever before. Not only this, but children today are also at significant risk of endearing adverse events that may negatively impact their brain development, leaving them vulnerable to cognitive impairments and emotional and mental health disorders throughout their lifespans.
These events may range from the severely traumatic, such as abuse and neglect, to the chronically stressful, such as prolonged financial hardship in the household.
Whatever the cause, kids need a way to calm and comfort themselves now more than ever. Meditation can fit the bill brilliantly, equipping kids with techniques to refocus, reassure, and relax themselves in an increasingly tumultuous world.
In most cases, your child’s meditation practice is going to look a lot different from yours. It’s neither feasible nor kind to expect a child under five, for example, to sit quiet and still for minutes at a stretch.
That doesn’t mean, though, that you can’t teach them to meditate until they’re older. You just need to get a bit creative. For instance, tying your meditation practice to your read-aloud time with your little one is the perfect way to reap the rewards of both reading and meditation.
Books like the Yogi Superhero series can help your child learn about basic yoga poses and breathing techniques, which you can then use for guided meditation practice with your child.
Remember, as well, that you don’t have to keep still to meditate. If your child is more comfortable when they’re always on the go, then try intertwining your meditative practice with some simple, repetitive physical action.
Something as simple as stomping your feet while chanting a positive affirmation can become a form of meditation. It can also help your child refocus and release their physical energy and prepare them for less kinetic sessions.
As your child grows older and more practiced in various meditation techniques, you can gradually increase the difficulty level, such as incrementally extending each meditation session or adding an early morning and pre-bedtime session.
This can teach your child to implement meditation-based relaxation techniques at various times of the day and based on their specific needs at any given time, whether they’re preparing to take a test, compete in a ball game, perform at a recital, or simply settle down to sleep at night.
The Takeaway
Meditation isn’t just for yogis and yuppies. Meditation has gifts to give humans from cradle to grave. That means that you don’t have to wait for your child to grow up to introduce them to the enormous power of meditation. Indeed, in our stress-saturated world, children need the calm and comfort that meditation provides every bit as much as adults do.
However, children’s meditation practices may differ greatly from those of adults, especially when the child is very young. It may be integrated with reading aloud activities to better enable the child to understand the practice and use it effectively in guided meditation. It may even involve a significant amount of simple, rhythmic movement and chanting. There’s no one way to meditate, and you simply can’t do it wrong. The key is to try it out and discover the techniques that work best for your child!
I simply loved this book. What a great connect to nature it provides.
With the beauty of this earth in the forefront of our minds, the story of this beautiful tree that spans the life of one reader and helps them create a legacy is transcendent! I so love what the author has said without saying, that our legacy is our children and our stories. It is so important for us to reach out with our kindness to those we love and all that provides for us. A timeless and much needed lesson of our times.
Another thing which will strike you is the trip down memory lane, if you are an avid reader. Of how your love for reading grew and got passed on to your children and your community.
My kids and I often take books to the park and sit and read. This brought up so many fun memories.
A very well written book with illustrations reminiscent of my childhood story books. This would make a great read for kids aged 5-9. My kids and I had wonderful conversations that spanned our love for reading to our responsibility to the environment and much more.
BOOK INFO
Reading age : 5-9 yrs
ASIN : B09DVYHK2T
Description : In this illustrated ode to books and reading, literacy and libraries are promoted and celebrated. A little tree and a little boy form a friendship over their love of books. In time, the tree is adorned with every book the little boy reads to the tree. Soon, a whole community of people can enjoy the magnificent tree of spectacular books. But with time, both the tree and the boy grow older. Now the boy is an old man and must say goodbye. What is to become of the grand old tree?
Is it even possible to give multicultural children a sense of belonging? To help them see that the worlds within them provide them a unique identity which belongs as much as a native citizen of a country?
The Girl From No Where. For the longest time I used to feel those were the words that defined me. Being Indian, raised in Kuwait, never Indian enough for India, never Kuwaiti enough for Kuwait, not even belonging to one cultural state within India, I never fit into any neat little box. My sense of belonging was beyond labels. The confidence within my sense of identity developed came from knowing that I would never fit in and that was okay!
It was only after I started writing about the challenged of raising multicultural kids and empathizing with their sentiments as a woman raised as a third culture child, did I understand where we belonged. The beauty of diversity within my family unit owing to being exposes to various cultures growing up was a boon to my children. I realized then that we in fact belonged every where.
What is Belonging though?
Belonging is the feeling of security and support when there is a sense of acceptance, inclusion, and identity for a member of a certain group. It is when an individual can bring their authentic self forward to voice their opinions.
Difference Between Identity and Belonging
Difference Between Identity and Belonging?
An identity is who or what a person or thing is. Your identity defines who you are. It is a self-representation of your interests, relationships, social activity and much more. Our sense of identity and belonging is impacted by various factors, including our experiences, relationships, and our environment. The journey to find identity and belonging can often be a struggle, since we ask ourselves, ‘who am I?’ vs. ‘who do others want me to be?’ and ‘where do I belong? Where do I fit in?’ This point in our lives is completely subjective, meaning that it is our personal view that influences our decisions. The issue of identity and belonging has encompassed humans for many generations, and will remain a key turning point for many to come.
Often I hear people mock their situation saying, “Oh! My kids are confused desis. Half Indian, Half American. In my book Strong Roots Have No Fear, I have explained how and why I do not believe my children to be half Indian or half American. They are whole. 100% Indian and 100% American. The many tools we can provide them to feel the same of which belonging is foundational.
And yet, I am not naive enough to believe that my children will never question their own identity. It is natural to question if we belong where are from or where we are?
But giving them a sense of belonging is a long road to building a strong self identity.Because when children feel a sense of belonging, they develop confidence and self-identity.
Taking Pride in Your Abilities or Culture
My children often tell me about conversations they have with their friends from different cultures. They all take pride in their heritage and often that can lead to questioning one’s own identity or if someone wonders why your community follows certain traditions.This is why it is important to help children understand via our own stories of upbringing, history, books and know the reasons why we nurture the traditions we do.
Children belong to many boxes, their family, a cultural group and their country. It is important for children to develop an understanding of themselves to take the first step in developing a sense of identity. Helping children understand their strengths in any given situation is crucial for confidence building.
Speaking a native language, walking down memory lane of places you have lived, cooking cultural foods, celebrating festivals are other ways to encourage pride within.
Seeing the Beauty in Diversity through Relationship Building
Belonging acknowledges children’s interdependence with others and the basis of relationships in defining identities. A child learns and develops a sense of identity through their relationships and experiences at home, family interactions and their environment. As they play, learn and try new things, they will develop an understanding of their own identity.
Creating an atmosphere of learning helps children feel safe to share ideas. This can be done by building relationships with the world via play dates, community building etc. All children should feel that their world is a safe place where people care about them and their needs, they can develop positive relationships and where they will be able to seek help when needed. When these needs are met, children can develop a sense of belonging.
Respect is the Foundation of Belonging
We all spend a life time wanting to belong. And yet, sometimes we forget that others want the same too. Our unconscious biases sometimes transfers onto children translating to disrespect in their eyes. Often the different paths we all walk for need to be accepted as their truths, with respect. We may question it to understand it but if we question it to try to change their path, that is disrespect that have a ripple effect. For children too, fear being respected for their beliefs.
Encourage Curiosity
I remember once my son asked me, “Which country should we be cheering for?” I responded, “We are blessed to live in two worlds. We have a rich Indian culture that we can learn from and wonderful American history to now call our own. If it is a match between any two countries you can cheer for either one, but if it is a match between the two countries, you simply have to let the best team win.”
“What if they go to war?”
“In that case, I would say what I would say if even your two friends are fighting, stand by who is right. ”
A child’s sense of identity evolves with times. If we do not create a safe space for questions, we lose the chance to help shape our child’s identity.
One’s Sense of Belonging Can Exist Beyond Labels
The world will see us in a certain way, based on existing stereotypes, personal biases and experiences. It is critical that we let our children understand that it is up to us to prove that one’s identity can be different from that which is portrayed in movies or books. Living our lives beyond the confines of traditional cultural norms and educating those around us about our home culture.
We can help our children see how our home culture is different that other home cultures from the same community, for eg. how Diwali is celebrated in different ways in South Asian homes around the world or how some Hindus practice different traditions in their homes.
Below are the Ways in Which One Can Help Multicultural Children Feel that they Belong
There are lots of things we do to create a sense of belonging by being inclusive.
Names – calling children by their names is so important. To be greeted by and understanding the correct pronunciation of their name helps them see themselves respected.
Interests –Activities can be structured around specific preferences and children will be keen to engage more effectively.
Adult interaction – Adults can help to model social skills, which children will observe and grow to understand. Be open about your lack of knowledge or personal experiences.
Sensitivity – Needs and emotions vary hugely between children so it’s useful to be as culturally sensitive as possible with each individual.
Encourage a sense of community – whether it’s within the classroom or around the center as a whole, community is so important. Parents, staff and children are all integral parts of any childcare setting and a sense of community creates an identity that a child can really belong to.
Education – Learning about the world through diverse books, own voice shows or events like International nights help children see the world and know that they too would be accepted.
The beauty of belonging is that where we are from is as much a part of us as the where we are or the places that shape us.
Belonging relies on us forfeiting our individuality. Our identity is influenced by how others view us. Sometimes one’s sense of identity can cause more harm than good. Our belonging is not dependent on whether others accept us, but whether we accept ourselves.
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Mallika Thoppay is an educator, writer and social advocate. She is a volunteer English teacher to school-aged children residing in rural areas of Karnataka, India. She believes in women empowerment and standing up against social injustices. She was recognized as a volunteer champion for the year 2021-2022 by eVidyaloka, an organization that sets up digital classrooms in rural India. She is also an active volunteer with organizations such as the 100Books Initiative, Santa Clara County libraries and West Valley Community Services. She enjoys writing books that inspire social change and convey purposeful messages. Her book, Unfair & Lovely, is an effort to combat the issue of colorism in society. She is a Computer Science engineer by background and holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science from Kansas State University. She has worked at various tech companies in the Silicon Valley and has run a coding camps business. Website (for book): http://tinyurl.com/unfairlovely
Meni has been in the early childhood education sector for 35 years. She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology (UNSW) and has worked in various multicultural children’s services positions over the years under the Commonwealth Inclusion Support strategy including co-ordinating Sups Programs and managing the NSW Bicultural Support Program. She is an early childhood author, resource developer and trainer on cultural inclusion. In addition, she is a CALD representative, adviser and consultant on various platforms. Meni currently co-manages a multicultural consultancy program called Diversity Kids and has a strong passion for cultural inclusive practice, bilingualism, and embedding cultural perspectives in education & care settings.
