Teaching children about diversity from a young age is possible. Telling them about people from other cultures, different countries, or other backgrounds opens the door for respectful conversations and questions about important topics like race, religion, and personal identity. You don’t have to have a formal sit-down conversation, either. Sometimes simply playtimes are the best ways to introduce concepts and get kids thinking. Here are some ways to do that.
Introduce Different Books:
There are thousands upon thousands of beautiful children’s books in the world that open windows to new worlds. Books are some of the best and easiest ways to teach children about people and cultures that are different than them. Seek out authors of different races, nationalities, and backgrounds. Sit and read stories to them about important events, inventors, or other activists that have helped shape the world. Doing this will open their minds to others and keep them curious.
Play the ‘Globe’ Game:
Get a globe and let your child spin it. As it’s spinning, let the child place their finger on the globe to stop it. Whatever country they land on is the next adventure you can dive into. You could watch a movie about that country, read a book about it, create a craft or picture about a famous person or landmark from that country, or try a recipe from that region to try together. Consider playing the globe game every week or every month so the children are introduced to multiple countries.
Explore the Community:
Whether it’s a museum that exposes children to art and culture, a community event hosted by a different group, or trying a new restaurant that features a specific ethnic food, getting out to explore the city or local community you’re a part of is a great way to keep kids engaged and excited about learning.
Don’t Forget About the Toys:
Dolls nowadays reflect the diversity of the world. Instead of only buying or playing with dolls that have the same skin tone, introduce those with different colors and shades to introduce them to other races and nationalities. In addition to this, there are a lot of different toys from other cultures that your kids may enjoy playing with. For example, there are different board games available from other countries and plenty of craft ideas that have roots in different cultural traditions.
As your children learn about different people and cultures, encourage them to be friendly and inclusive to others they meet on the playground or at school. Remind them that encouraging diversity begins with recognizing that each person is unique gift to the world and should be celebrated – no matter what.