Cultural Competence A-Z: C is for Computers

How lucky are kids today?

I know I sound like an old fuddy-duddy when I say that, but seriously! How lucky are kids today?!

The internet has revolutionized childhood like no other:
Want to hang out with friends, but can't get to them? FaceTime, group chat, text.
Have a questions but don't have an encyclopedia or can't get to the library? Look it up within 10 seconds.  
Have to know the lyrics to that song you were just listening, because yes it was life-changing Mom! There's an app for that.

It is so much easier to access information that it ever has been. Advances in technology have been truly astounding over the past 20 years. We use the internet for work, play, and everything in between. So why not also use it to learn about others?

You can use computers to learn so much about others. Here are some of my favorite ways to use the computer (and by extension - phone, tablet, etc) to learn about diversity with your kids, increase their cultural competence, (and your own!) and still have fun!

• Go on a virtual scavenger hunt: Create a list of questions and then head to the computer to find out the answers. In which states is same-sex marriage legal?  Just how racially diverse is my town? Just how much to women earn on every man's dollar? This kind of activity can lead to wonderful discussions. Stay tuned to this series for more about that (a teaser for the next week's post...)
  
• Happenings in your neighborhood: Or city. Or county. Or state. What is going on in your own neighborhood that can help you learn more about others? Are there cultural festivals? Museum events? Street fairs? If there's not anything in your own town, venture into the next town over. Sometimes it's easy to get swept up with what we are used to that we forget what else is happening right down the street! The computer can help you find  a new activity to do with the whole family.
• Travel on the cheap: Can't afford a trip to India? Or Australia? Or Zimbabwe? Travel is expensive, but the computer is a lot cheaper (at public libraries, it's free!). Use the computer to find out all sorts of cool things about other cultures. What type of food do they eat? What does the country look like? What do they learn in school? What do their homes look like? Children can learn so much about kids their age around the world with just a click. It's a wonderful exercise in teaching kids about the value of differences as well as the universality of many aspects of childhood and, therefore, humanity.
  
• Got a question? Find out the answer on the internet. Better yet, find out multiple answers and then discuss them. School-aged and teenage kids are starting to be able to take diverging opinions and discuss the pros and cons of each. And then come to their own conclusions. Computers are a great way to practice this skill and learn something new in the process!

Innocent looking computer = Power tool for diversity awareness!

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What activity will you try with your kids first? Do you use the computer to learn new things with your kids? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts. Don't forget to check back next week for letter D. I think this is one that everyone will want to try. 

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