Playing Smart: Cultural Diversity for Kids

“Culture” basically refers to commonalities that run through a group of people with a shared heritage. Your child probably believes that her culture – way of doing things – is the “right” one and that others are a bit “funny.” As you begin to look at other cultures with your child, aim for an appreciation of differences. Eventually, this will lead to an increased appreciation of the incredible variety of human attributes, flexible thinking, and less prejudice and stereotyping.

The following activities are highly adaptable. Take a hands-on approach with young children, and use these ideas as starting points for discussions with older children.

Learning About Arts, Food & Language
Holidays Around the World
Global Game–Playing

Music – Encourage your child to create and play homemade instruments that resemble instruments from other cultures.

• Make a xylophone styled after those found in Ghana: Set pieces of wood across a shoe box and play it with a pencil.

• Pot and pan lids can easily double as gongs like those used in Southeast Asia.

• Panpipes used by Peruvian Indians can be approximated by joining together a series of different–sized tubes.