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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. How many of you have a little girl or boy who loves their dolls and stuffed animals? This week's item is definitely for you. My little girl is incredibly attached to her dolls; she carries them around everywhere. Even though these dolls are quite large - I think that my daughter would attempt to drag them all over the house as well. This week's item is called Heart For Heart Girls and they are dolls from all over the world. They have dolls from Laos, Belarus, and Afghanistan, just to name a few. So you get a great sturdy doll that will last quite a while that will also teach you something about a country that you may have not been to. Or if you have or your family is from there - you actually have a doll to represent your culture - hooray! Check out the video and then print out the page below for a quick list of potential questions, comments, and activities to engage in with your kids as you are playing with these dolls. There's also a link to buy them - and there are lots of girls to choose from. Which dolls are you most interested in? How will you use these to learn more about a particular region, cultural group, or country? What other diverse doll options are out there? Share suggestions with us or leave a comment below. Most of all, enjoy. And don't forget to HAVE FUN! 
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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. I don't know about the rest of you, but I have been absolutely glued to the TV over the past week. It's the Olympics and it has taken over! I have always loved the Olympics and the summer games are my favorite (sorry winter - I love you too!). And these 2016 games seem to be more historic than others. For reasons phenomenal (Simone Biles & the Final Five!) and not so great (I'm looking at you Ryan Lotche). One historic event that especially tugged at my heartstrings was the win by the other Simone - the fabulous Simone Manuel. Her win as the first African-American to earn an individual gold in swimming is more symbolic and significant than many people think. It immediately made me think of another book given to us by my mom (seriously, would we even have a children's book collection without her?!?!) called Freedom Summer by Deborah Wiles & Jerome Lagarrigue. It's about two boys growing up in the Jim Crow south and the fact that they can't swim together in the public pool. It is a fantastic book and a fantastic way to explain the significance of her win. It is not just about an American person of color winning gold - it goes deeper than that. And truly understanding the context helps us to appreciate just how special this strong, beautiful, poised young lady is. 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 it - which I highly recommend. Do you know any Black people that cannot/do not swim? If you are Black - is there anyone in your family who does not swim? What did this win mean to you? Were you aware of the context? Leave a comment below. Most of all, enjoy. And don't forget to HAVE FUN!
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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. Remember the giveaway is still going on, but it ends this Monday! Stay tuned to the end of the video for the information you need to enter! This book is one of my new favorites. It was given to me by one of my favorite people (thanks Mom!) and features one of my favorite illustrators (definitely seek out more of LeUyen Pham's work - it's phenomenal) and the story - well, it's just so fitting right now. Grace is trying to figure out why there haven't been any girl presidents and decides to run herself. She soon figures out that becoming president isn't so easy. The actual story itself is wonderful and adults will recognize more subtle messaging about what is and isn't valued in a presidential race. The book also teaches kids about the election process - the electoral college and how it works. A valuable lesson for all Americans (and anyone else who is interested!). The fact that Grace happens to be a Black female is never mentioned overtly, but it is right there for kiddos to see. It can spark some fantastic discussion and if your kids are old enough to understand the current presidential race, there's a lot of comparing and contrasting that can probably be done. If you want to talk to your kids about politics, but are not sure how to start, this book is a great jumping off point. 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 it - which I highly recommend. What do you think of Grace being a Black girl who wants to run for president? How does that change the story? Do you and your kids think she is the best person for the job? Why or why not? How will you use this book to talk about the presidential race, the presidency, and/or politics with your kids? Leave a comment below. Most of all, enjoy. And don't forget to HAVE FUN!
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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. Be sure to stay tuned to the end of the video for a very special announcement! Don't miss it! I just realized that I have been going a little movie crazy lately here on JFFF. I'm sorry, I can't help it! In the middle of the summer, when it's hot (and it is hot. It is so so hot) I have a hard time mustering up the energy to do much else at the end of the day. And besides, I enjoy it - and so do my kids. Because let's face it - they are running around in the blazing sun way more than I am. Ok, ok, I will fix my movie habit. Soon. Not today, but soon. Until then, we're going to enjoy the latest - it's a Disney movie, so you might have heard about it. The Princess and the Frog. It received a TON of press when it first came out because the 'princess' in the film is the first Black princess Disney has ever done. And it's about time. I mean, this movie came out in 2009, after we had elected our first Black president here in America. Way to be behind the times Disney. No, but really, this is a fun movie that all kids can enjoy - I know mine did. 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. It's a great addition to any kids' movie collection. How does this movie compare to other Disney movies? What about Tiana as a princess? Does it matter that she is not a 'real princess' until the end? 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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About Just For Fun!
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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