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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! 
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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 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!
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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!
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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 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!
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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. 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!
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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. Happy 4th of July everyone! I love pretty much everything about this holiday. Especially living in DC, there is so many festivals, parades, pomp & circumstance, as well as arguably the best fireworks display around! Even though I enjoy this day as a fun time with friends and family, it got me thinking a little about what our freedom really meant. Truth be told, this holiday only meant freedom for a select few - namely White males. Women and Black people (and all other people of color) were not free at all! Women did not have the same rights as men in 1776 - not even close! So were they really free? And Black people - I mean this one is pretty obvious. Freedom wasn't granted until 1865 with the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. And even then? Questionable... So check out the video for ideas on how to talk to your kids about this. And then print out the page below for a quick list of potential questions and comments. When do you feel women and minorities were truly free? Are they now? What do you think your kids will say about this? What other tools can you use to show them the freedom differential between groups of people? 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. Admittedly, this week is less fun than usual, but it's also incredibly important. It's all about talking to kids about what happened in Orlando. You don't want to scare little ones, so the shooting itself is not necessarily what you want to discuss, but that violent act is not the only thing that happened in Orlando. Homophobia, transphobia, heterosexism - that also happened in Orlando (and happens much too frequently throughout the U.S. and the world) and ignoring the underlying issues isn't helping anyone. This week is about giving kids tools and empowering them to better understand these concepts so that they can combat them. Think that this isn't an issue for your little one? Think again. I first remember hearing the word 'gay' used as a negative connotation when I was 6 (I remember who said it too). Yes, that was in first grade. My first year at elementary school in the suburbs of New York City. My previous school included kindergarten and was one of the most loving environments ever (still is - shout out to The Seed!). While I was there, I didn't understand that anything a person was could be seen as negative. Then I went to first grade and 'gay' was synonymous with bad. It was confusing at first, but it didn't take long before I 'got' it. I still didn't agree, but I also didn't speak up until I was much older - we're talking late high school and college here. It's not that I didn't hear gay slurs throughout elementary, middle, and high school, I just didn't know what to say. You can't ensure that your kids will always say something - and they don't have to all of the time - but you can provide them with the tools & language so that if they want to speak up, they can. Because I wanted to, I just didn't. What is your first memory of hearing slurs against people who are LGBTQ+? When did you learn to speak up (never is a legitimate answer!)? How will you help give your kids the tools and language? Leave a comment below. As stated above, this week's video is less fun, but I hope you find it inspiring & empowering.
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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 week is a little different from the norm, but it's not unprecedented. Just like we did a special JFFF on Mother's Day, this week we are focusing on Father's Day. Happy Father's Day to all the amazing dads out there! We are using Father's Day as an opportunity to think about and discuss our own ideas about maleness and masculinity. This seems fitting as traditionally, being an involved father was not thought of as a very masculine thing to do. And men were certainly not supposed to actually show true affection towards their children. I'm thankful that some things have changed. That men who shower their children with hugs, kisses, and other signs of affection are much less likely to be seen in a negative way. Affection is not effeminate; it's human. But we still have a long way to go. I've received some feedback that you would like to see me talk about current events more, so I'm incorporating some of my thoughts about the Brock Turner case into this week. The connection between masculinity and sexual conquest is undeniable and I believe it contributes to a culture that excuses, or even condones, sexual assault. Disclaimer - this week's video is not for little ones. So this week is an opportunity for you to think about your own views on masculinity and how you are presenting that to your kids. Men have an important responsibility to change their behavior, but women contribute to our culture as well and also share the responsibility to change it. Check out the video and the one-page guide on ideas for how to get started. While, admittedly, this week's video is less 'fun', it is all about making these conversations less intimidating and more accessible. I think we accomplish that here. Have you ever examined your own views about masculinity? If not, what is/was holding you back? How will you introduce the topic to your kids? If you have already, what was the most surprising thing that they told you? 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 love this week's item! I think it's one of the coolest, most unique things I've seen of late. It's for those kids that love comic books. In some ways, this series of comic books is just like most of the ones you've seen. It's got superheroes, villians, cool storylines, and compelling characters. The thing that makes these comics different is that the superhero kids are Muslim! And the "99" references the 99 attributes of Allah in the Koran. What an awesome way to introduce the religion of Islam to kids! In this day and age when Islamophobia is rampant, it's really important to do so. After you watch the video, print out the page below for a quick reference guide on the comic books and suggestions for ways to use them. There's also a link below to buy the books in the series. What do you think about having a comic book series centered around a religion? Will you introduce your child to these? Which characters do you find most compelling? Do you think that these comics accurately represent Islam? Why or why not? 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. This week's item is LEGOS!!!! I mean, it doesn't get any better. Anyone else out there have a child who is completely Lego obsessed? My son is - it's pretty much his favorite activity and I know a ton of other kiddos who feel the same way. So this is a great way to infuse some diversity into your child's play without it feeling forced. I mean, they're going to be playing with Legos anyway, why not give them people to play with who are more representative of the population? This is the Lego Education Duplo World People Set. Basically, it's a diverse group of Lego people so that when your child builds castles or houses or parks or anything else with their Lego Duplos, they can put all different types of people in those scenes. So cool. After you watch the video, print out the page below for a quick reference guide on the Legos and suggestions for ways to use it. There's also a link below to buy this set. How did your child play with the Legos? Did they gravitate towards a certain person? What did you notice about how your child played with these people? Leave a comment below. Most of all, enjoy. And don't forget to HAVE FUN!
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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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