A good friend of mine, Sally Wagner from Sweet Peas and ABC's (if you don't know her already - you need to. She and her site are amazing), shared this with me last night and I knew I had to post it here. These girls, who look to me like they are teenagers, outline beautifully the importance of modeling for kids. This is an important piece that I hope will make you think a little bit about what you are teaching your kids-directly and indirectly. Enjoy and leave a comment below. Enjoyed this post? Sign up for the newsletter! You'll get regular tips and strategies delivered right to your inbox.
2 Comments
This is the second installment in this blog series. It's based on an article by Terry Cross and colleagues written in 1989 about cultural competence. In the article, the authors talk about cultural competence in relation to organizations and systems. In this blog series, we're attempting to pare it down to the individual and include tips on how to develop these skills in your home with your kids. This post is about the second element, having the capacity for cultural self-assessment. This is exactly what it sounds like; how well someone can look inside themselves and acknowledge their own level of cultural competence. This is such an important skill for kids to develop and parents can do a lot to help it grow. Here are some quick tips on how to help your kid examine themselves as cultural beings:
Did you enjoy this post? Sign up for the newsletter! Instead of having to remember to check out the blog, you will get great information delivered right to your email. Tips, strategies, articles, and videos so you don't have to figure it all out yourself! When you sign up, you will receive a FREE diverse book list for kids of all ages-babies to young adults. Enjoy and tell me what you think!
In 1989, Dr. Terry Cross and his colleagues published an article that defined and described cultural competence. Within that article, the authors listed five elements of cultural competence for organizations. Although this list was developed for systems, institutions, and agencies, I believe that the 5 different elements can be adapted for individuals. So what are these different elements and how can you help your children develop them? The first element is valuing diversity. Values definitely begin to develop at an early age so this is a perfect place to start with your kids. If you want your kids to see the value in what people from other cultures have to offer, try to instill this value early. Here are some quick tips:
Did you enjoy this post? Sign up for the newsletter! Instead of having to remember to check out the blog, you will get great information delivered right to your email. Tips, strategies, articles, and videos so you don't have to figure it all out yourself! When you sign up, you will receive a FREE diverse book list for kids of all ages-babies to young adults. Enjoy and tell me what you think! This is a very, very cool little article about some really, really cool kids. I had no idea this school existed, even though it's only about an hour away from my house. The fact that these kids care enough to do something to save and preserve this place is so touching to me. What tugs at my little heart-strings even more is that not one of these kids is black! These kids are the epitome of what we teach here at CCK-if you truly care about diversity, you care about ALL diversity. Not just the diversity that affects you directly. If that's the case, you don't really care about diversity-you care about yourself. And let's face it folks, that's different. So check out the article, applaud these children (yes, children!) for the amazing and important work they are doing, and use their work to inspire us to look beyond ourselves. Like the new hashtag? I just came up with it (I swear-I checked Twitter and nothing came up!). So use it!!! Often! Let's start a movement!
Did you enjoy this post? Sign up for our newsletter! Instead of having to remember to check out the blog, you will get great information delivered right to your email. Tips, strategies, articles, and videos so you don't have to figure it all out yourself! When you sign up, you will receive a useful book list for kids of all ages-babies to teens. Enjoy and let us know what you think! The Oscars are tonight, or as I like to call it, my personal Superbowl. I love everything about the Oscars - the glitz, the glamour, the celebs, especially the red carpet. But I'm thinking about not watching this year - and not just because I'm sick (and I am - with strep throat so please send some well wishes - I need 'em!). The Academy just seems to be going backwards with its nominations - and it's hard to watch without feeling like the whole thing is, well, just off.
The following article helps articulate some of the issues that come along with #OscarsSoWhite. People of color are just not being nominated at a rate that reflects their numbers in the American population. Not one of the actors and actresses nominated this year is a person of color. Not. One. Even the Academy has acknowledged the issue and has pledged change. You can't get the Oscar Paycheck Bump if you don't win. You can't win if you're not nominated. You can't be nominated if there aren't quality roles on there for you. Don't get me wrong, I love me some Jennifer Lawrence (who doesn't?!?!?) But I want this article to extend to more people of color, not just to up-and-coming women in general. So check out the article and let me know if you'll be watching. I haven't decided yet, so let me know your opinions for or against. It'll give me something to do as I suffer through this sickness. Thanks for brightening my day! Did you enjoy this post? Sign up for our newsletter! Instead of having to remember to check out the blog, you will get great information delivered right to your email. Tips, strategies, articles, and videos so you don't have to figure it all out yourself! When you sign up, you will receive a useful book list for kids of all ages-babies to teens. Enjoy and let us know what you think! This is an incredibly powerful video from a father to a daughter. Take a watch and talk to your kids about it. Boys, girls, does not matter. They all need to hear this message. Also, it is important to keep in mind that this doesn't look the same for all couples. Gay couples' households look significantly more egalitarian. Check out this article for more information. According to the Washington Post, straight couples have a lot to learn from gay couples. Did you enjoy this post? Sign up for our newsletter! Instead of having to remember to check out the blog, you will get great information delivered right to your email. Tips, strategies, articles, and videos so you don't have to figure it all out yourself! When you sign up, you will receive a useful book list for kids of all ages-babies to teens. Enjoy and let us know what you think!
I love talking with teenagers about issues of diversity. In many ways, they are still just kids and providing them with new information and knowledge is incredibly gratifying because of the way they just soak it up. However, I am also always shocked by how much I learn from teenagers when I talk to them as well. So many adolescents are quite introspective and they think about things in a different way than I would. They tend to be quite candid too, if given the opportunity to be honest. The following is really interesting - both for teens and adults. All kids will eventually become adults and lead the social and economic growth of our country. They deserve to know what they are getting into; what they are inheriting. The following is a moving infographic (who doesn't love a good infographic??) that outlines the current economic realities of American society. It's not a lecture or a passionate plea for change. It just lays out the facts. Teenagers will eventually enter the work world (sooner is better than later-right parents?) and should understand the impact of where they might fall within this infographic. So share it with them and have a discussion about it. What are their thoughts about this chart? Where do they think their family lies? Where do they want to end up and why? If you have a conversation with your teen (or your class if you are a teacher), leave a comment below and let us know what things came up that surprised you. Even if the video does not give you any new information, I almost guarantee that your teen will. http://www.utrend.tv/v/9-out-of-10-americans-are-completely-wrong-about-this-mind-blowing-fact/ Did you enjoy this post? Sign up for our newsletter! Instead of having to remember to check out the blog, you will get great information delivered right to your email. Tips, strategies, articles, and videos so you don't have to figure it all out yourself! When you sign up, you will receive a useful book list for kids of all ages-babies to teens. Enjoy and let us know what you think! This picture has been circulating all over social media. It is absolutely beautiful. I got the chills when I first saw it. Check it out and leave a comment below about what your reaction was when you first saw this incredible picture.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/02/20/this-photo-of-obama-and-a-little-visitor-at-a-black-history-month-celebration-says-a-lot/ Did you enjoy this post? Sign up for our newsletter! Instead of having to remember to check out the blog, you will get great information delivered right to your email. Tips, strategies, articles, and videos so you don't have to figure it all out yourself! When you sign up, you will receive a useful book list for kids of all ages-babies to teens. Enjoy and let us know what you think! One of the philosophies of Culturally Competent Kids is that talking about diversity does not have to be a drag. Yes, having hard conversations is important. Yes, it is essential to confront things that might make you uncomfortable. But I think it is also important to find a way to make the conversation uplifting. In my practice in Washington DC, one of my philosophies is to work towards your goals from a place of strength. Yes, there are areas that need to be improved, but if all you do is focus on your deficits, it is hard to see how you will be able to work your way out of crippling depression or anxiety. So, I want to take that approach here with CCK as well. I know that we have a long way to go, but what areas of improvement have you seen in our society that surprised, astounded, or amazed you? I'll start... When I was in grad school, I taught a class on diversity for four semesters. I remember in my first semester telling the class that I did not think that I would see a Black president in my lifetime. Two semesters later, I was eating my words because Barack Obama had become a serious contender for the presidency. I was never so happy, or so shocked, to be proven wrong. Whether or not you agree with his political views, you have to admit that Obama being elected (twice!) was significant progress. It makes me wonder what's possible in the next 10, 20, 50 years. Take a quick minute and fill out the anonymous survey about where you have seen progress and what you predict will happen in the coming years. I will report back on what you all have said so we can reflect on how far we've come and get excited for where we are going. I hope that this invigorates and inspires you-I know it will inspire me! Did you enjoy this post? Click below to sign up for our newsletter! Instead of having to remember to check out the blog, you will get great information delivered right to your email. Tips, strategies, articles, and videos so you don't have to figure it all out yourself! When you sign up, you will receive a useful book list for kids of all ages-babies to teens. Enjoy and let us know what you think! When I have an article or something quick to share, I'm now going to post it as a blog quickie. You won't have to set aside a lot of time to read it, just a little something to get you thinking. Enjoy this one about fashion-one of my favorite subjects as a teen (I still love it!). If you have a fashion-obsessed teen or tween at home, check out this article and discuss with them. Defining standards of beauty is a big deal and so important to young people. This article showcases steps in the right direction.
Did you enjoy this quickie? Sign up for our newsletter! Instead of having to remember to check out the blog, you will get great information delivered right to your email. Tips, strategies, articles, and videos so you don't have to figure it all out yourself! When you sign up, you will receive a useful book list for kids of all ages-babies to teens. Enjoy and let us know what you think! |
AuthorDr. Sweeney is a licensed school psychologist and cultural competence expert. Here are her musings on life in a multicultural world. Archives
February 2017
CategoriesInterested in writing a guest blog post? Contact me for more information!
|