If your kid is culturally or ethnically different from the majority of other children around him or her, it’s important that you go the extra mile to make sure they are getting positive messages about where they come from. Even if your child is not in a minority group, they can benefit from reading about other cultures. Read on for 3 great resources you can utilise on the web to enrich your child’s cultural exposure.
1. BookSpot.com: This online resource is divided into categories, such as African American, Native American and Asian American. You can read book reviews, find book lists, and even find books in their entirety online.
2. Kidlink.org: This website is a great free resource from a nonprofit organization. It’s got artwork, photos, music, chat and books for children below secondary school age. You can interface in 19 separate languages, learn about all the countries in the world, and participate in games and activities with children from around the world.
3.The Willesden Bookshop: If you want to directly order books about a foriegn country or books that are in a foriegn language, you can choose from popular regions such as Poland & Eastern Europe and the Carribbean. You can select books based upon the age of your child, or you can choose from themes of books like refugee stories and festivals & celebrations. You can also visit the bookstore directly if you happen to live in London.
For additional resources, such as books for children fluent in more than one language, check your local library.
Good Luck!