Holiday Hullabaloo ๐ ๐
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While the phrase, "Happy Holidays" can often be controversial, it's designed to be inclusive and welcoming.
As your child enters the classroom (and world) they'll be confronted with different traditions, ethnicities, races, beliefs, and physical appearances.
Teaching your child how to handle these differences begins in the home and what to do when they don't agree.
Holidays are an excellent time to open the conversation in a friendly and inviting way to compare and contrast without judgment.
Learn about traditions and celebrations around the world:
๐Start with this video of Elmo explaining Holidays
๐Read Books about other Holidays
- Hanukkah
- Kwanzaa
- Ramadan
- Las Posadas
- Diwali
- Saint Lucia
- Chinese New Year
- ... and many more!
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๐Print a World Map and color each country you "visit"
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๐Follow up with videos of other countries & traditions
- โGermanyโ
- โIsraelโ
- โSwedenโ
- โAustralia, U.K., Italyโ
- โKwanzaaโ
- โHolidays All Around the World Songโ
- โHoliday Greetings Around the Worldโ
As you and your child are learning, here are some helpful tips:
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De-emphasize the idea of "normal" or "weird" - we are all unique individuals who are all human
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Use respectful language to celebrate differences
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Build empathy by asking, "How do you think these celebrations make people feel? What makes you think that?"
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Encourage new perspectives
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Talk about differences openly
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If your child asks a question that you don't have the answer to, just say so! You might say, "I'm not sure, I'll need to think about that and learn some more. When I've gotten new knowledge, I'll tell you the answer later."
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Find Similarities
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Talking about differences can be uncomfortable, especially for us adults. We don't always have the answers and want to make sure we do it "right". This doesn't mean we shouldn't have the conversation.
Modeling kindness and respect shows your child what it means to be inclusive but having the conversation allows them to ask questions of their own.
Don't be afraid if you don't have the answer, tell your child you need to learn more and will let them know later. You got this!
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EduCaitEdD Consulting LLC
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