It's Just For Fun Friday! On JFFF, we review items and activities that you can do with your kids in order to increase their cultural competence and diversity awareness. I guess that there is a bit of a pattern brewing here on JFFF. Last week, we reviewed a classic book. This week we are reviewing a classic movie. But this isn't a classic Hollywood film (let's face it, the vast majority of those are not at all diverse), it's a Japanese film. And it's just about the sweetest movie I've seen in a long time. It's called 'My Neighbor Totoro' and it was made in 1993 so it has been around for over 20 years. The movie has legions of fans - and when you watch it, you'll see why. And in addition, it has a lot to offer by way of diversity. Now if you are from or live in Japan, then this doesn't offer very much. But if a trip to Tokyo with your kiddos is a wee bit out of budget right now, this is a great flick. It's about two adorable little girls who move to the Japanese countryside with their father to be closer to their mother who is sick and in the hospital. There are a lot of universal themes in here about moving, everyday life, school, and the love between family members. It's just all done through a Japanese perspective. There's also a bit of magic in there - which always draws kids in. I highly recommend watching it with your little girls and boys. So check out the video and then print out the page below for a quick list of potential questions and comments you can ask your kids as you're watching the movie together. There's also a link to buy the movie if you choose. What did you notice about Japanese culture that interested you? Have you ever been to Japan? Would you ever want to visit with your kids? Why or why not? Leave a comment below. Most of all, enjoy. And don't forget to HAVE FUN!
Check back next week for another Just For Fun Friday!
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It's Just For Fun Friday! On JFFF, we review items and activities that you can do with your kids in order to increase their cultural competence and diversity awareness. This book is an absolute classic. It was first published almost 30 years ago, at a time when the subject was more than a little taboo. And that is part of what makes the story so great - it's not taboo at all. The authors talk about Heather's family in a very succinct, matter-of-fact way. Heather Has Two Mommies, so what? The thing that I like so much about this book is that the story is not just about a same-sex couple and their daughter. The author branches out to talk about other types of family diversity. And there is so much visible diversity in the lovely illustrations as well. I'm telling you, you have to pick this one up. It's a classic, plain and simple. And a great way to introduce this not-so-taboo topic to your kids. So check out the video and then print out the page below for a quick list of potential questions and comments you can ask your kids as you're reading the book together. There's also a link to buy the book if you want to have it in your house all the time (and I think you just might). What do you think of the way the topic is broached in this book? When reading the title, did you have a certain perception of what this book was going to be? Did you have this book when you were young? Leave a comment below. Most of all, enjoy. And don't forget to HAVE FUN!
Check back next week for another Just For Fun Friday!
It's Just For Fun Friday! On JFFF, we review items and activities that you can do with your kids in order to increase their cultural competence and diversity awareness. I discovered this movie quite by accident and watched it one night when I had the remote all to myself (always a good thing). While this movie isn't winning an Academy Awards, it is a sweet and wholesome story that the whole family can enjoy together. The movie is called 'A Mile In His Shoes' and is about a boy with Asperger's Syndrome (now diagnosed as Autistic Spectrum Disorder). He has a powerful pitching arm and is discovered by a baseball scout. He's then recruited to play on a local minor league team. I won't give it all away, but as you can imagine, there are challenges as he gets used to the team and they get used to him. So the film highlights something that we don't always think of as diversity, but ability/disability warrant as much attention as race or gender or sexuality. This is a great way to learn more with your kids while kicking back with some popcorn (which makes every movie better). So check out the video and then print out the page below for a quick list of potential questions and comments you can ask your kids as you're watching the movie together. There's also a link to the movie itself if you want to buy it. What did you learn about Asperger's while watching this movie? What surprised you the most? Do you know anyone with a disability that isn't visible? How is that different from disabilities that are more visible? Leave a comment below. Most of all, enjoy. And don't forget to HAVE FUN!
Check back next week for another Just For Fun Friday!
It's Just For Fun Friday! On JFFF, we review items and activities that you can do with your kids in order to increase their cultural competence and diversity awareness. We're checking out another TV show for little ones. I just love these adorable shows that I get to review - they are so much fun! The latest one is called Bino & Fino and it's about a brother and sister who live in Nigeria. The tagline for the show is "Africa for Children" and it's so accurate. The thing I like about the show is that sometimes the topic is really light and relatable, such as making a fruit salad. And sometimes it is more informational, such as learning about the Kingdom of Benin. The characters speak in a sweet, slow,and sing-song kind of way, making this perfect for the little ones. Everyone will enjoy listening to the stories, watching the relationships between the characters, and learning something new. It's got something for everyone! So check out the video and then print out the page below for a quick list of potential questions, comments, and games you can play with your kids based on what you learn on this adorable show. And then click on the link to get the DVDs and other goodies. You can also access some of the shows on YouTube. Were you surprised by the diversity within Africa that you saw within this show? What did you learn when you checked it out? What did you kids appear to enjoy? Leave a comment below. Most of all, enjoy. And don't forget to HAVE FUN!
Check back next week for another Just For Fun Friday!
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This is the place to go to develop your child's cultural competence while still having fun! If you know that your child needs this essential 21st century skill, but find it so overwhelming, you are in the right place. Using everyday items and activities, you can increase the diversity awareness in your home. It's Just For Fun! Never Miss a Post! Sign Up For Our Newsletter Today!
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