Growing Up Global... Opening the World from Home

Do you dream of educating your children about the world around them?  It believe it's imperative for our children to gain an understanding and appreciation for various cultures, countries, and religions.  I know from experiences abroad and at home that exploring different cultures and interacting with those from different backgrounds has been such an enriching experience!  Of course you want to be cautious of what you share with children since some information can be too disheartening or not age appropriate.  I don't have time  right now to read this cool book called "Growing Up Global" by Homa Tavangar, but I did listen to a Powerofmoms Podcast interviewing the author - an amazing woman!  So here are some of the notes I took from the author's interview and also some of my own dreams:

Oh someday, I deeply want to have a large WORLD MAP in our dining room so we can often refer to it. A globe would be awesome too.

When my kids are older, I want to get a book like this that goes through each of the 365 days and explains interesting events in history.  What a tremendous tool to teach!  Maybe you could talk about this during breakfast.  For example, this book explains how on January 1st Paul Revere was born and the U.S. Congress officially prohibited African slave trade.  On December 31st, Thomas Edison first demonstrated his electric incandescent light bulb to the public and President Truman officially proclaimed an end to WWII.  Wouldn't these be ENLIGHTENING TOPICS to DISCUSS ON EACH DAY OF THE YEAR?!

With older kids you could subscribe to a NEWSPAPER or an interesting MAGAZINE!

Share STORIES from your ANCESTORS as a way to instill identity and teach about the world.  This is Brayden's Great-Grandpa Wayne who served as an immigration officer on the California/Mexico border.  He started a humanitarian clinic to give free medical care to desperate Mexican children.  His three sons spent most Saturdays sorting through donated clothes and assisting patients.  He told of stories of seeing a 14-year old boy with his new prosthetic leg walking for the first time in his entire life.   Wayne's wife would drive the mothers and children to and from Mexico and has amazing stories of their hardships and also their blessings.  What a wonderful way to open up history and the world as you teach your kids about who they are and who their ancestors are!      

Homa, the author, suggests to watch an INTERNATIONAL FILM every now and then.  You could even make some traditional food from that country!  For example, "Ponyo" is a Japanese movie inspired from the story "Little Mermaid," and it has been subbed in with English voices. She says you could make teriyaki stir fry and maybe talk about some interesting Japan facts.  Homa says, "Try similar pairings with other excellent, family-friendly films like The Cave of the Yellow Dog (Mongolia), The Legend of Roan Inish(Ireland), Alamar (Mexico/Italy), Children of Heaven (Iran)."  You can make it super simple yet really fun!

Saren Eyre Loosli, co-founder of Power of Moms, has her children head up a "CHILDREN FOR CHILDREN" CONCERT each Christmas time.  They had a gathering of a couple hundred people in a beautiful, old church for a talent night program.  Her family gets lots of other children/teens to volunteer their talents in hopes to raise awareness and money for orphanages in Bulgaria.  

In our little family, I want to start a "Tzadakah" box - Hebrew for "CHARITY" BOX.  Many Jewish homes have this place where the family can put their spare change to raise money for a worthy cause (you decide on together).  How neat to teach your children about Jewish culture and also to teach them to think of others.  When I was working in Guatemalan orphanages or schools, there were American donors sometimes supporting certain children.  It doesn't take much money at all to make a huge difference in the lives of children.

On "Palm Sunday," learn about how hundreds of thousands of Christians from around the world have a march (See LEFT) while waving palm leaves and singing Christian songs.  They walk into the old city through the "golden gate" arch near where Christ entered on a donkey.  Maybe have your own parade and talk about the story of Christ!  Or, learn about "Purim," (See RIGHT) when Jews dress up and celebrate the story of Esther.  Learn about how the Jews honor the Sabbath and do similar things one Sunday.  Discover the history behind the First Thanksgiving when November rolls around!  Learn about Black History Month in February, watch Remember the Titans, and have each child research an African American hero and teach the familyt!  THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS AND SO FUN!

Here is my dear friend Ody from Guatemala.  You could invite friends from other backgrounds into your home to do a fun little culture night!  What a great way for your children to understand better the customs, foods, music, or traditions of other countries.  

CLICK HERE to check out Homa's website.  Under the tab "World of Ideas" she has a great list "10 Things to Do Now!"    She has some fabulous ideas. 

Meet Homa Tavangar - the author

of "Growing Up Global"

On an PBS Parents article, Homa wrote this: "DEDICATE A WEEKEND TO A CONTINENT (OR COUNTRY).  Travel to South Africa, Egypt, France or China might be out of your family's budget, but you can dedicate a weekend to "exploring" these cultures - within driving distance."  Maybe there's a local restaurant, or a movie to rent, or you could have a dance party to that country's traditional music, or sit on the floor and use chopsticks for an Asian country, or play soccer as a family in honor of a Latino country, or check out some books from the library, or learn a few facts and language phrases!  She says, "When you've made this sort of effort for one or more countries, chances go way up that your children will actually make it there" someday.

Homa, you rock!  Thanks for inspiring me!