Comments on: “The Danger of a Single Story” and Teaching Kids to Avoid Stereotypes

By: International Day of the Girl #dayofthegirl -

International Day of the Girl #dayofthegirl - — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 08:21:40 +0000

[…] Kid World Citizen has a great post on “The Danger of a Single Story” and Teaching Kids to Avoid Stereotypes […]

By: kidworldcitizen

kidworldcitizen — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 13:24:04 +0000

Someone also shared these: Max by Rachel Isadora
Oliver Button is a Sissy by Tomie de Paoloa
Sparkle Boy by Leslea Newman

and said there is a Clive book here about a little boy who loves all things sparkly: http://alldonemonkey.com/2017/02/17/books-encourage-creativity/?fref=gc&dti=385828031489730

By: kidworldcitizen

kidworldcitizen — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 17:04:36 +0000

In reply to Ettina.

OK- one friend got back to me and I am waiting for one more! Here is a book she recommended: http://blog.leeandlow.com/2017/06/15/sparkle-boy-by-leslea-newman/?fref=gc&dti=385828031489730

By: kidworldcitizen

kidworldcitizen — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 15:55:21 +0000

In reply to Ettina. Let me ask around to see about a book for you! :)

By: Ettina

Ettina — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 16:51:52 +0000

One of my favourite ways to present varied narratives is by looking for books written by authors from diverse backgrounds, or failing that, books with positive reviews from reviewers with similar backgrounds to the characters (eg, books about Deaf people that Deaf reviewers liked). It’s not a perfect strategy, since as Chimamanda said, authors from different backgrounds can get sucked into the single narrative, but it does help.

Now, if only I could find a kid’s book about a gender-nonconforming boy that isn’t about him getting teased for being gender-nonconforming. Or a kid’s book about about a trans kid that isn’t about them discovering their gender identity. Any recommendations?

By: Denise Jones

Denise Jones — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 23:14:17 +0000

In reply to kidworldcitizen. Thank you!!!

By: kidworldcitizen

kidworldcitizen — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 19:52:25 +0000

In reply to denise jones. YAy!!!! I am so excited you are doing this with your kids!!!! Definitely check out the "literature" tab for tons of excellent suggestions! :)

By: denise jones

denise jones — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 15:34:14 +0000

I know this post if from many years ago but I hope it’s still active, I just found it! I’m a preschool teacher and want to take my kids “around the world” this year. I want to hit several countries from the larger continents, one- or two from the smaller throughout the next year. I was so happy to see your post-most of the things I am finding are definitely based completely on stereotypes. I’m looking for some good books for ages 2-4, do you have any wuggestions?

By: kidworldcitizen

kidworldcitizen — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 18:19:41 +0000

In reply to mamamzungu. Thank you so much! I'm sure your children will have incredible perspectives; I love to learn from families raising their children in a culture that is not the same as their own. Maybe I can get you to write a guest post:)?

By: mamamzungu

mamamzungu — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 17:43:05 +0000

Terrific post and I’m so glad to have found you through multicultural kids blogs! We are Americans living in Western Kenya so my kids are growing up without the negative or one-dimensional views at least of this part of the world. But I love this reminder to expose people (and not just children) to the full narrative of every place in the world.

By: kidworldcitizen

kidworldcitizen — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:37:04 +0000

In reply to Maria. Maria- that's a great idea- demonstrating that the people are happy and productive, and the country is beautiful- instead of pigeon-holing it to a "war-torn" or other negatively slanted category. I love this:) and will use it with my own kids.

By: Maria

Maria — Fri, 25 May 2012 14:35:00 +0000

Lovely post. I know that they are not acurate either, but I enjoy watching travel shows to get a “sunnier” look at other cultures. They don’t typically go very deep into the complexities of different places but they do tend to show that all peoples have exciting and interesting things to share with the world. For example, if you only watched the news you would only ever get a narrow vision of the Middle East as a violent place with a punished and punishing people. But if you watch a travel documentary at least you get a look at the people working, cooking, building, and creating. You can identify some commonalities. It’s not a whole picture but it does give a richer view.

By: kidworldcitizen

kidworldcitizen — Fri, 25 May 2012 10:57:38 +0000

In reply to kidworldcitizen. PS- I would love for my kids to go an exchange- how cool that you went when you were 11!? That's awesome! I didn't know they had programs for kids that young!

By: kidworldcitizen

kidworldcitizen — Fri, 25 May 2012 10:57:00 +0000

In reply to Mud Hut Mama. I love that idea! We are currently hosting an exchange student for the academic year- she leaves in a couple of weeks. We were doubly lucky because she is both Ethiopian AND Norwegian, her family having immigrated from ET to Norway. So we get to eat Norwegian pancakes in the morning and injera with wot for dinner;).

By: Mud Hut Mama

Mud Hut Mama — Fri, 25 May 2012 09:45:11 +0000

Such an important post. Thank you for sharing it. I love your ideas. Another great way to expose kids to a wider story is to participate in international school to school exchanges. Growing up we were often a host family for international students and those experiences really widened my world view. I also had the opportunity to travel to Mexico when I was eleven as part of an exchange and live with a host family for three weeks. That was when I was bitten by the travel bug! Even if traveling abroad isn’t an option, becoming a host family for few weeks can offer countless opportunities to learn about another culture and make that human connection.