Raising kids with a global perspective part 2 {how to do it}

Earlier we looked why choosing to raise your kids with a deeper awareness of the world at large is a good thing.Today we’ll look at how our family has taken this goal to heart, and put that goal into action. In the next installment, you’ll hear from one of our older kids as she shares how having a global perspective has impacted her life.

 

Mary Hannah was 4 when I got the first inkling that, without meaning to, we had expanded her horizons. She was enrolled in a sweet preschool program at a local church, and it was late fall. As you probably know, autumn is the season when preschools trot out turkeys, cornucopias, pumpkins, and stories of the first Thanksgiving. My little girl was excitedly relaying the details of the upcoming class pageant, where she was slated to be an Indian. Costumes were being made in class, as a group project. The directions were clear: I was to send a white pillow case and contribute two of the other craft items. Letting Mary Hannah take the lead, I picked up the package of bright blue vegetable dye she spotted at the supermarket and some colorful silk squares from the Dollar Store. Always one to pull off the big “ta-da!” moment, she refused to tell me what she had in mind for her costume– all I knew was that her eyes lit up every time she told me how she had gotten the best part of the play. “I love Indians!” she swooned, and I shrugged. The week before, she had been smitten with pigs. Before that it was beauticians. This too shall pass, I figured.

But even I was surprised when my pig-tailed moppet came home in tears after the costume making party and declared that she wasn’t going to be an Indian after all. “I have to wear brown!” she sobbed. Before I could pry the explanation for her heartbreak from her, it occurred to me.

She thought she was going to be an Indian. As in “I come from the country of India.” Because, ummmm …. we had talked a lot about India, but maybe not so much about the Mayflower. Ooops.

I quickly cleared up the misunderstanding, and we managed to salvage the experience. Mary Hannah went on to be a charming Native American, the traditional tale of the pilgrims was told, and I never again took for granted my kids knew that the folks who kept the firest batches of European settlers alive weren’t wearing saris.

Mix-ups aside, how do you create a family culture that brings value to a deeper understanding of the rich tapestry if world cultures? For us, it’s looked like this:

1. Map it. One of our family’s most treasured bits of decor is a massive, wall-sized world map. It’s referred to constantly. Early in their understanding, it’s a great way to point out why kangaroos aren’t eaten by polar bears. Later, a map is a gateway to understanding history, locating landmarks, and tracking current events.

2. Let your library card be your passport. Starting at a young age,  stories can widen your child’s horizon. Compare cultural variations on fairy tales. Seek out legends and tales from other places. Find picture books set in exotic-to-you locales. As your child grows, both fiction and nonfiction can help your child see the world through non-Western eyes. Some personal family faves include offerings by Peter Menzel (Material World, What the World Eats) and the classic Window on the World.

3. Borrow a holiday or two. Learning about world cultures with little ones is sometimes easiest when the focus can be on celebrations. Integrating elements of other traditions into an established holiday (like celebrating St. Lucia Day during Advent) can be easiest, while picking up a totally new, random day (Chinese New Year!) can sometimes be the most fun. Either way, your children begin to appreciate the differences, and understand the different priorities, of those around the world.

4. Dig into your roots. Our family tree springs from Irish, Hungarian, German, Nepali, Mexican, and Norwegian soil. (Isn’t adoption cool?!?) As such, our interest is sparked whenever any of those countries are mentioned. We have delved into the history, listen to the news, eat some of the foods, and generally get into anything springing from those countries. Your own family tree might take you on an equally colorful journey!

5. Be a fan. Outside of the United States, a whole world of international sports exists. Sure, you know about the Olympics, and yes, it’s a fabulous chance to look up those little-known corners of the globe and root for people from far-away lands. Take that opportunity and turn your whole family on to truly global sports, like soccer/futbol/fussball. This summer, Brasil will host the World Cup, an intense, month-long celebration of a sport that’s played in every corner of the world. Pick a team and cheer them on! Or try out Formula One Racing– a new passion in our family. The track locations alone (Australia, Malaysia, Bahrain, to name a few) will expand your horizons.

6. Connect with your community. No matter the size of your town, there’s a subculture of ethnic flair brewing. Trust me. Be it Mexican in flavor or growing out of an Asian refugee community, seeking out the shops, churches, and homes of these folks will enrich your children’s understanding of the beauty of life. Many such communities host large gatherings around holidays from their home country, or street fairs featuring cuisine or activities that are open to all.

7. Get out there. We’ve made a commitment to give our children international service opportunities in their pre-teen years, and have found it to be an invaluable part of shaping a still-malleable world view. While we realize it’s the rare short-term mission trip make a large impact on the community being served, getting a passport stamp to a locale not ripe with beaches and tourist haunts leaves a lasting impression on the child whose eyes are, for the first time, on people who are literally starving. Or homeless. Or without medical care. Or living in dumps. Realizing that we are among the richest people on the planet simply by virtue of having clean water is a major paradigm shift. For trip ideas, contact missionaries that you or your church support, or check out Amor Now. We can personally vouch for their excellent programs.

8. Pray through current events. Instead of just being a consumer of the news being pumped in your direction 24/7, use the opportunity afforded to us by living in this age of technology: pray for the people involved. Ponder those real, eternal souls impacted by the financial woes, the adverse weather, the coups. Pray specifically and with meaning for the people behind the headlines. It will change your heart, further your understanding, and  bear fruit in the world.

9. Taste and see. Becoming a family whose tastes cross cultures. Restaurant outings are fun, but definitely the pricier way to sample new fare. Learning to cook traditional dishes fromaround the world at home is fun, a learning experience all its own, and a great family acitivity. Discussing why certain ingredients dominate regional menus and how the foods are used in their respecitve cultures (part of festivals, etc.) adds a whole new level to the culinary experience.

Combining all of these elements naturally into your family’s culture of living and learning will make for some well-rounded, sensitive, and curious young people. Don’t believe me? The next post in this series will be written by 16 year-old Mary Hannah, whose worldview education has not only given her a taste for the exotic (her favorite city is Hong Kong) but has also informed her career choice.