Category Archives: Canada

Spring Traditions Around the World

Posted on April 12, 2013 | 8 Comments

I am part of a world-side, diverse group of bloggers called Multicultural Kid Bloggers who write about their experiences in multicultural parenting. Every month we host a different blogging carnival, which focuses on a relevant topic, and includes perspectives from (literally) around the world. For example, we discussed teaching heritage to your children, and talked about winter traditions around the world, and the importance of family traditions. Join us on facebook, Twitter or pinterest to meet other multicultural, globally-minded parents.

This month’s carnival is all about our Spring traditions. Continue reading →

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Posted in Africa, Around the World, Asia, Australia, Australia and Oceania, Canada, Celebrations, China, Europe, Malawi, Mexico, Poland, The Americas, The Netherlands, United States

Tagged spring, traditions

Inukshuk: Arctic Art from the Inuit

Posted on January 29, 2013 | 10 Comments

Imagine walking across the vast tundra, and coming across a human-sized stone structure. Inukshuk (plural: inuksuit) means “likeness of a person” in Inuktitut (the Inuit language), and is a pile of (unworked) stones arranged by the Inuit into the shape of a human being. They are sometimes seen as representing the strength and determination of the Inuit people, who live in one of the Earth’s harshest climates and terrains. Continue reading →

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Posted in Arts and Crafts, Canada, Polar Regions, The Americas, United States

Tagged Alaska Inuit, indigenous

Monarch Butterfly Art for Kids

Posted on October 31, 2012 | 17 Comments

It’s Monarch migration season- when 100 million monarch butterflies fly from Canada and the northern US south to Mexico for the winter. Learn more about monarch butterflies with these great resources. Kids: can you follow their migration path on a map? Why would butterflies (and some birds!) go south for the winter? When do you think they will migrate back north? In Texas this October, we’ve been seeing the voyagers pass through our garden to sip on some of our butterfly weed and lantana. Here is a cute and easy craft that even the little ones will enjoy as you learn about these fascinating creatures. Continue reading →

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Posted in Animals, Arts and Crafts, Canada, Mexico, The Americas, United States

Tagged butterflies, migration

DIY Shrinky Dink Flag Bracelet

Posted on July 8, 2012 | 4 Comments

Last week our friends moved away; they were British expats, living in the US, and now moving to Canada. We wanted to give their daughter something small and special to take with her, so she would remember her time here. All over pinterest I have been seeing DIY shrinky-dinks: plastic that could draw on, and then heat in the oven to shrink down. We decided to commemorate the 3 flags as beads on a bracelet.

Continue reading →

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Posted in Around the World, Arts and Crafts, Canada, Europe, The Americas, UK, United States

Tagged flags

5 Children’s Stories with American Indians

Posted on November 28, 2011 | 3 Comments

When The Shadbush Blooms- Kid World Citizen

"When the Shadbush Blooms" by Carla Messinger with Susan Katz tells of contemporary and traditional "sisters" and the cycle of the seasons.

In choosing multicultural literature, there are many great titles, and some pretty awful stories too that perpetuate stereotypes. When choosing books about Native Americans, it is imperative to make sure the story does not depict indigenous characters inaccurately or negatively, nor lump together various tribes and people into a general and indistinct group. There also is a tendency to erroneously teach young children about tipi-living, feather-wearing, tomahawk-carrying “Indians.” Native American people are not static or extinct; in fact they are contributing members to society, with deep-rooted traditions and values that are pertinent to our world today. Here are 5 wonderful children’s books to begin the conversation about American Indians. Continue reading →

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Posted in Canada, Literature, The Americas, United States

Tagged education, fiction children's books, indigenous, multicultural, Native American

Pumpkin Activities: Halloween in the US and Canada

Posted on November 1, 2011 | Leave a comment

Candy Corn, a typical Halloween candy

This year we are hosting an exchange student. Understandably, she is excited about Halloween tonight and asked us some questions “Do you have to dress up to get candy?” “Can I come with you guys?” and “How much candy can we get?” She had seen Halloween in movies based in the US, but wanted to know what it was really like. My kids were happy to explain the part about trick-or-treating: candy and dressing up sum up the Halloween experience. But where on earth did these traditions start? How did it evolve from a religious holiday into a secular, child-friendly event, that brings communities out into the evening? Before I present some fantastic pumpkin ideas to do with your kids, let’s look a little at the history of Halloween. Continue reading →