Holiday Envy
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| Preschoolers share a pre-Thanksgiving feast |
The months of the fall and early winter present special challenges for young children in a setting such as ours. For most, there are special times full of traditions, family gatherings, and PRESENTS! Even though some of the holidays of the major religions within our community are really not parallel or directly comparable, most, at least in the context of the American experience, involve the giving of gifts to children. As their friends share their excitement, students discover that different holidays are celebrated differently. This invites comparisons, followed often by assumptions that the traditions of their family, religion or culture are better than others. Christian students can be envious of their Jewish friends because Hanukkah is celebrated over eight potential gift-giving days rather than only one. Jewish students are sometimes envious of their Christian friends, because Christmas seems so pervasive. And so the comparisons begin. There is also Diwali, Kwanzaa, and Ramadan.
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| Kindergartners celebrating together |
As these challenges arise, it is important for teachers and parents to take advantage of teachable moments. It is natural for young children to see what is most familiar as best and the only way that things can or should be done. Our environment provides the setting to teach them otherwise. It is up to the adults in their lives to help children learn to understand, appreciate and embrace the unfamiliar. Instilling the notion there are many valid world views, traditions and ways of expressing spiritual faith is essential in preparing children for their futures.
As it came time for my four children to make their college choices, having grown up in this area and having the benefit of a Dwight-Englewood education, each one made it clear that they were not interested in institutions where everyone looked too much alike. As parents, my wife and I feel that their Dwight-Englewood experience has helped prepare them to be citizens of an increasingly diverse world.
How can parents help children see the benefits of our rich diversity?
- Always look for opportunities to discuss with your child the value of having differing points of views.
- As their most important role models, be careful what you say. Young children reflect the opinions of their parents. They are both sponges and parrots, soaking up anything that they hear you say and then, like a parrot, repeating it. Things said in anger or in jest are often taken seriously.
- Take time to challenge and discuss statements that are made by children and others around them that reflect intolerance for the views, opinions, religions, traditions or backgrounds of others.
- Choose books, stories, movies and TV shows that expose children to different cultures and points of view.
In Their Own Words
Below is a three minute video prepared as part of the student presentation for environmental educators at the New England Environmental Educators Conference that took place at the Prindle Hill Conference Center in Massachusetts last month.
Social Media 101 - A PEP Digital Media Workshop
Friday, December 2nd 8:30-10:00 am in Hajjar Auditoriaum
During this workshop parents of 4th through 12th graders (Parents of all age-levels are welcome to attend.) will:• Explore how children are using social networking tools
• Finally figure out what others can see about your child on Facebook
• Help your child take control of his/her personal information by configuring privacy settings online
• Develop strategies for making your child’s online social experience safe, fun, and (perhaps even) academically productive
(You can download the Digital Culture Flyer above.)
