{"id":668,"date":"2018-04-06T11:48:35","date_gmt":"2018-04-06T17:48:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/preschool.utahdanceartists.com\/blog\/?p=668"},"modified":"2018-04-11T14:21:00","modified_gmt":"2018-04-11T20:21:00","slug":"teaching-preschoolers-culture-diversity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/preschool.utahdanceartists.com\/blog\/teaching-preschoolers-culture-diversity\/","title":{"rendered":"World Wide Wonder- Teaching Preschoolers Culture & Diversity"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wonder is inherent for all children, so it’s no wonder we wondered at our wide world wonder week.\u00a0 (Say that five times fast!)\u00a0 UDA Creative Arts Preschool<\/a> believes in making connections and loves teaching preschoolers culture and diversity, and that certainly can’t stop at the edge of the classroom!<\/p>\n

Children begin noticing differences in people around them as early as six months of age<\/a>.\u00a0 Parents can begin the dialogue of why and how people are different long before their child is enrolled in preschool.\u00a0 We’d like to share some of the ways we are teaching preschoolers culture and diversity and encourage parents and caregivers to continue the conversation with your child.<\/p>\n

Where Do I Fit?<\/h2>\n

\"Teach<\/a><\/p>\n

As children make connections, it’s important for them to figure out their place in this big wide world.\u00a0 We do a patriotic theme week where children identify where they fit into their family and house, then on their street.\u00a0 Next, we have them move to their city and community, followed by their state, and then country.\u00a0 From our country, we move to the world, followed by the universe.\u00a0 Wow.\u00a0 That’s big!<\/p>\n

Parents Can:<\/h3>\n

Help your child continue to see the connections.\u00a0 As you drive down the street,\u00a0 you can say, “Here is our street in our neighborhood.\u00a0 Our neighborhood is in our city.” (For safety reasons, it’s important for your child to know their city, state, address and phone number as soon as they can memorize it! Make sure they also know their last name and parent’s names.)\u00a0 “Look at that number on our house or apartment building, our address is…”.\u00a0 Having a visual reference to their world will help them find their place in it.<\/p>\n

Try Cultural Foods<\/h2>\n
\nhttp:\/\/preschool.utahdanceartists.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/UDA-Around-the-World-5-1920.mp4<\/a><\/video><\/div>\n

Pretty obvious answer for cultural exposure, but is there really a yummier way?\u00a0 We try a variety of foods, including…<\/p>\n

\"teach<\/a><\/p>\n

noodles with chopsticks,<\/p>\n

\"teach<\/a><\/p>\n

beans and rice, chips and salsa, and even seaweed and sushi.<\/p>\n

Parents Can:<\/h3>\n

If you don’t already, eat cultural foods.\u00a0 Exposing your child to a variety of foods can encourage adventurous taste buds and even decrease picky eating<\/a>.\u00a0 Modeling your willingness shows your child it’s okay to explore.\u00a0And if you have to gag it down, well, it shows your kids you’re still willing to try!\u00a0 If you need some ideas, this article shares what kids all over the world are eating for breakfast.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

Try cultural food nights!\u00a0 Pick a culture and try a new recipe.\u00a0 Spice it up for a holiday: \u00a0Irish food for St. Patricks Day, \u00a0Mexican food on Cinco de Mayo, Jewish food on Passover, Chinese food for New Year.\u00a0 The world’s the limit!<\/p>\n

Listen to Diverse and Cultural Music<\/h2>\n

\"teach<\/a><\/p>\n

Besides the myriad of benefits<\/a> that come from learning any kind of music, learning cultural music can increase concentration<\/a> as children listen to new sounds and language they are not familiar with.\u00a0 Cultural music also further develops language skills.<\/p>\n

\"teach<\/a><\/p>\n

Learning cultural dances increases physical development, emotional and social development, and love for diversity.<\/p>\n

At UDA Creative Arts Preschool<\/a>, for world week we are counting to ten in Spanish, learning Spanish songs, and making our own maracas.<\/p>\n

Parents Can:<\/h3>\n

Music is the universal language.\u00a0 Every culture loves music! Cultural music has evolved into diverse instrumentation and genres.\u00a0 Try listening to different music stations in the car.\u00a0 If you live in Salt Lake County, you can also download and stream free music from the SLC Library<\/a>, which has a large selection of diverse and cultural music.<\/p>\n

Dance!\u00a0 Turn on diverse music and twist while you tidy up.\u00a0 Cha cha while you change clothes.\u00a0 Boogie while you brush your teeth.\u00a0 Help children feel free to sway, stomp, and twirl the way the different styles move them.\u00a0 Bonus: \u00a0the groaning just may turn into giggles!<\/p>\n

Explore Cultural Art<\/h2>\n

\"teach<\/a><\/p>\n

Art is defined<\/a> as the conscious use of skill and creative imagination, and every culture through time has expressed themselves through art.\u00a0 \u00a0Art is the perfect way to teach preschoolers culture and diversity!<\/p>\n

\"teaching<\/a><\/p>\n

Children naturally have creative imaginations, so art is their language.\u00a0 For world week we made Japanese fish kites.<\/p>\n

\"teaching<\/a><\/p>\n

Allowing children open ended art activities builds confidence and continues the development of their imagination and creativity.\u00a0 Adding the cultural element adds appreciation for other peoples and their expression.<\/p>\n

Parents Can:<\/h3>\n

Inspiration for cultural art can be found in books, art museums, or for those of us on a time crunch, on Pinterest<\/a>.\u00a0 But to help you out, here are a few ideas we found online.\u00a0 Help children pay attention to patterns, colors, and mediums other cultures like to use.\u00a0 How can they use those same elements to create their own imaginative expressions?<\/p>\n