Embrace the Excitement OF THE
2012 Olympic Games “I got the gold!” blurted my 7-year-old after finishing his broccoli before anyone else at the table. “I got the silver!” said my 5-year-old. Both boys then encouraged my 2-year-old daughter to hurry up and finish her vegetables before mommy or daddy so she could win the bronze. This ritual takes place most nights at my house ever since my children watched the 2010 Winter Olympics on TV. While we don’t actually give out any medals, my children like the distinction of being called the winner. I like the fact that they are excited to eat their vegetables. The 2012 Summer Olympic Games will be held July 27–August 12 in London, England. Aside from being family-friendly television—and inspiration for a healthy dinnertime game—the Olympics can provide excitement, education and entertainment for the whole family. It’s not as fun to just sit on the couch, passively watching the Olympic events—we prefer to get involved in the events. Encourage your family to embrace the Olympic spirit and join in the fun. Here are some ways to get started.
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www.metrofamilymagazine.com | July 2012
Cultivate Cultural Curiosity More than 10,000 athletes hailing from 205 countries will compete in the 2012 Summer Olympics. Expand your family’s knowledge of the world by locating the countries on a world map. It can be eye opening for a child to realize just how many countries there are in the world, each with a rich history, people and culture. You will probably need the internet handy as little-known countries like Tuvalu, Comoros and Lesotho may make this task challenging for both children and parents. Add to your child’s Olympic experience by exploring different nations’ cuisines. Choose a variety of ethnic meals to prepare. You could try your hand at afelia (pork marinated with coriander), a traditional food from Cyprus. Experiment with Vietnamese noodle soup, called pho. For dessert, try baking paw paw tarts—little papaya pies—a favorite of many residents of Liberia. A quick internet search will uncover many recipes for these dishes. Pride of citizenship is evident when witnessing the Olympic athletes sporting their country’s colors, uniforms, waving flags and singing their national anthems. Watching the Olympics with your child is a good time to explain the importance of citizenship and to teach them the words to our national anthem.