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Celebrating
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August 20, 2008
October 11, 2007
Et tu, Columbus? What we can learn about judging people from Christopher Columbus.
We all learned the story of Columbus discovering American in grade school. But in addition to that famous voyage there is another, lesser known –story about Columbus. We can use the story of Columbus's successes and monumental failures to help our kid learn to evaluate people and events based on facts. Learn more about Columbus's story here.
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September 05, 2007
Forget "Back to School" -- September is the Month for Families!
Worldwide, September seems to have three themes: going back to school, the beginning harvest/autumn festivals and families. From Grandparents Day in the United States to Sukkot in Judaism celebrating families is universal. Find out how you can incorporate some global traditions as you celebrate your family this month.
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July 10, 2007
The Power of Words to Fuel Racism and Bias
June was a great month for controversy: immigration, recalled products from China and the Supreme Court's ruling that race can't be considered when assigning kids to a school. It's the racism trifecta!
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June 05, 2007
A Tie Is Not Just A Tie–its cultural history!
Who knew that giving Dad a tie on Father's Day was giving him a piece of history! Find out what your dad has in common with Chinese Emperor Shih Huan Ti and Roman Emperor Trajan.
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May 01, 2007
Imus and Irony
April couldn't end quickly enough this year.
Between the horrific events at Virginia Tech, and the controversy over Don Imus's remarks, racism and violence hit us square in the face.
Distance brings perspective and insights that are difficult to see in the heat of the moment. Clearly, Don Imus's comments about the women on the Rutgers University basketball team were reprehensible. Equally disturbing is the fact that this is not the first time that Imus has danced on the dark side of respect-but this time he stepped way over the line.
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April 23, 2007
Ready, Set, Turn it off!
Join millions of Americans who will be turning off their TVs for a week starting April 23, 2007!
There are hundreds, if not thousands of reasons that we should limit how much television our kids watch. For example:
- The CDC estimates the 27% of all Americans are obese and the incidence of obesity in children has skyrocketed from 4% in 1965 to 15% in 2003-and climbing
- On average, children in the US will spend more time in front of the television (1,023 hours) than in school this year (900 hours).
- 40% of American families eat dinner with the television on.
- By the age of 18, American children will see more than 200,000 acts of violence and 16,000 murders.
- Television cements stereotypes by presenting distorted and inaccurate views of people, cultures and traditions.
Still not convinced that you should be turning off your TV in April? Check out www.tvturnoff.org for some more scary statistics!
If you decide to turn off your television for the week and want to prevent your kids' inevitable "I'm bored" whine you should have some alternative activities up your sleeve.
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April 09, 2007
Ring in Spring—from Favardin to El Día de Los Niños
Five fun and easy ways to incorporate multicultural activities into your family.
April is International Multicultural Communications Month.
If multicultural communication seem difficult to you-you are not alone! And as human beings we tend to steer clear of things that we find difficult or uncomfortable. Differences in languages, backgrounds, customs et al may make us feel challenged-as in "how do I do it" and hesitant-as in "how do I do it right." But, you might find that once you start learning about other peoples and traditions you enjoy it. So, give yourself a chance-spring is a great time to begin.
To help you, we have put together some simple ideas that you and your children can enjoy-and will provide all of you with a new understanding and respect for all kinds of people.
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March 19, 2007
R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Not just an Aretha Franklin Song!
Recently, as I was about to begin yet another diatribe with my daughter about respect, I had the presence of mind to ask her if she knew what respect meant. Interestingly enough, she didn't.
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February 10, 2007
Create New Valentine's Day Traditions—with a multicultural twist—without breaking a sweat!
On February 14, people all over the world celebrate Valentine's Day. While the historical descriptions of Valentine's Day differ, many historians believe the first Valentine's Day began on 249, CE-the day on which St. Valentine died. Others trace the beginning of Valentine's Day to the ancient Roman festival of Lupercalia, while others link it to an old English belief that birds choose their mates on February 14th. Still others believe that when St. Valentine was jailed his friends tossed loving and supportive notes into the window of his cell. (Does this tale explain why people exchange messages on Valentine's Day?)
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January 22, 2007
New Year's Resolution # 479 — Facts rule in 2007!
Today is January 22nd and my usual New Year's Resolutions-lose weight, get to the gym, and to start my tomato plants from seed have already fallen by the wayside. But for 2007, I resolve to answer my daughter's questions about race, culture, adoption and other thorny issues with as many facts as I can.
Thankfully, I have a wonderful role model in my daughter's pediatrician, Dr. Jane Aronson, who has been doing just that ever since my daughter was too young to comprehend what Dr. Jane was saying.
Dr. Jane and my daughter have a materially different relationship than I ever had with my pediatrician-or any other physician for that matter. Every year, prior to her annual visit with Dr. Jane, my daughter prepares a list of questions. They range from the medical to the metaphysical. The same list of questions might include a question like "why do men have nipples if they don't need them to feed babies," to" is my Grandpa Charlie in heaven." Dr. Jane answers all of Noelle's questions calmly and succinctly-sticking to what she knows to be fact and offering her opinion-and identifying at such-elsewhere. Since it seemed so easy for her, I decided to follow her lead.
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December 13, 2006
The Present of Presence
The Present of Presence: and three other 'must have' gifts for your children this holiday season!
Each year we have highlighted great products, services and people who have helped make the world a more accepting and respectful place. This year, I wanted to share with you some things that I have learned from my seven-year old daughter.Read More
May 09, 2006
Diversity of Family Formation: Words of Wisdom from the Parents
Since our overarching theme the past few months has focused on family formation, we decided to interview some parents about what has made their family successful, despite society’s critical eye against anything non-traditional. Again, we learned that children, in any family, are happy as long as they are raised in a happy home. While this may be obvious knowledge, the ongoing struggle is to achieve a home/family that nurtures your child’s needs regardless of structure, ethnicity, or circumstances. To read more about what we learned from parents in different family formations, click below.
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February 08, 2006
Family Formation
For February, March, and April our overarching topic will be on dispelling the stereotypes attached with non-traditional family structures and taking a closer look at ways we can help our children understand that being different is something to revel in.
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December 09, 2005
Praise
Offering just any kind of praise to children is not enough. There are effective ways to reward our children with appreciative words that will affect the way they grow up perceiving their self-worth. Your job is to learn how to give compliments that nurture their self-esteem.
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November 08, 2005
Train a Puppy
The most opportune time to encourage respect for diversity through welcoming delicious multicultural foods and a variety of aromas into your home.
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October 17, 2005
Manners
Showing respect and appreciation for others is a learned concept, but with time, becomes an instinct that will help your child acquire lifelong survival skills if you are willing to be the role model.
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September 23, 2005
Save Your Good Apple From Going Bad
Three things you can do to prepare your child to fight against peer pressure, and build a positive parent-child relationship at the same time.
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August 09, 2005
Pick the Fruit: The Essential Ingredient to Growing Self-esteem and Nurturing Respect
Although discipline and lecturing set the rules for family values, it is your affection that communicates the depths of your love and concern for your child. With your actions, your words hold value that may be taken more seriously or wholeheartedly. We want to be raising children with self-respect and respect for others. Affection from parents is a basic first step towards social growth in young minds, so find out how and why here.
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July 11, 2005
Curing the Itch from the Inside.
While any situation that involves our kids coming home with physical or emotional scrapes and bruises brings forth a turbulence of concern, anger, and worry from within, addressing the matter with a clear and level head will do you much more good than harm. As the adult in such situations, it is your job to be proactive about fighting to prevent bullying, instead of fighting your child‘s bully. What can you do to help your child, as well as the thousands of children who are bullied everyday? Read on to get a few ideas about how you can cure that infectious itch from the inside.
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June 06, 2005
Overcoming Bias, Step Three: Watch Out for Ants!
An ant may well destroy an entire dam. — Chinese Proverb
This ancient Chinese proverb reminds us that if a small problem is overlooked, it could develop into a big disaster. Remember, ants can multiply, then make tunnels in the dam allowing the water to soak in and eventually cause the dam to collapse.
We have to be careful of the "ants" around us and be mindful that they can multiply and cause damage even to the strongest structures.
But, who are the "ants"?
Where are the "ants" in our children's schools and classrooms?
What role do "ants" play in the drama that we face when as turn the vicious circle of bias into the virtuous circle of respect for everyone?
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May 09, 2005
Overcoming Bias, Step Two: Cut Out Sugar
The numbers are staggering: nearly one-third of American children have experienced bullying, either as the victim, perpetrator, or both. This astonishing information was reported in a 1998 article in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
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April 04, 2005
Overcoming Bias, Step One: Feed the Right Wolf
We have spent the last several months discussing the roots of bias. In fact, in the face of a long history of prejudice, and living in an environment that unavoidably re-enforces our fears and intolerances, the task of raising our children to respect and celebrate people who are ethnically, culturally or racially different than we are is understandably daunting.
But do we have a choice?
Given the reality of the demographics in the US do we have that luxury?
Are we willing to risk our children’s future because the challenge facing us seemed too great?
We don’t think so and we hope you don’t either.
Read on to find out how to feed the ‘right wolf’.
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March 01, 2005
Ignorance and Fear: The Seeds of Cultural Bias
We all work really hard to pass on our culture to our children. As we do this, we also pass on our biases toward other cultures as well. We are unwittingly creating another generation of bias. Of course, we have a long history of doing this. It is a part of who we are as a country, it seems. But just because our propensity to be biased is well-grounded in our history doesn't give us free reign to continue the pattern.
It is the pattern of fear and ignorance, of cultures and people, that perpetuate bias. These are things we can fight. . .if we want to. Our children need us to shed the light on our biases, to acknowledge they exist and then move beyond them. They need the tools to cope with a world that is increasingly more complex and diverse.
The question remains: what are we going to do to help them?
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February 07, 2005
From Melting Pot to Salad Bowl: An Exploration of Cultural Bias in America
We live in a very complex world, perhaps more important, our children live in a complex world. Our job as parents and educators is to give the tools to succeed in a world where being biased is not an option.
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January 06, 2005
Dear Friends,
We wish you and your family a very happy and healthy new year.
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December 01, 2004
The Annual "BEST OF THE BEST" in 2004
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November 02, 2004
Using Our Power to Break the Cycle of Bias: Focus on Media!
How we can use our power to be proactive rather than reactive in eliminating negative stereotypes in the media!
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October 02, 2004
Lessons Learned: Not just for kids!
We are squarely into autumn and the anxieties of a new school year have faded a bit as our families fall into the routine and discipline that a new school year brings. However, our quest to empower children to respect and celebrate all culture, choices and 'abilities' does not and can not fade. Read on to hear about some of the lessons we learned in the recent Families Are Forever Net Seminar.
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September 03, 2004
School Daze: Surviving Elementary School
The dog days of summer are winding down and our children are going back to school. All too soon, it seems, our children's teachers and their peers have 'equal time' with our children. We realize that we can't be with them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Yikes!
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March 29, 2004
What's The Best Learning Environment for Our Children?
Tips for Creating and Selecting Environments that Respect Diversity
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February 13, 2004
"Dad, This is Your New Grandchild"
Preparing those closest to us to accept our children-no matter what they look like or how they joined our families.
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January 05, 2004
Children Learn What They Live
Here is a timeless poem by Dorothy Law Nolte, PhD.
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December 15, 2003
Holiday Musings
How did an innocent discussion between two curious children explode into an emotional and politically charged episode in which the children were deeply and forever affected?
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November 05, 2003
Build a Multi-cultural Environment
We have put together the five steps every parent needs to go through in order to create a multi-cultural home.
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September 18, 2003
Breaking the Cycle
How to talk about adoption, race and culture with your child's teacher, friends and other adults.
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May 28, 2003
When Love is Not Enough
Helping your child cope with racism in others.
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April 22, 2003
Molten Gold or Salad?
We are not born with a biological pre-disposition for intolerance. Why, then do so many children become less tolerant over time?
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