attachment is the first friendship and, among other things, a securely attached child can trust or believe that we hold him/her in mind. “Attachment is part of how the child learns whether or not the world can be trusted — parents, caregivers, family members,” observes Turner. “A child who sees adults demonstrating friendship and caring will know that having a friend is an exchange of the heart and mind.” Be it school or community, exclusion still remains the number one problem. It makes it hard to witness the traits of empathy and kindness — “Everyone is welcome here” and “You can’t say you can’t play.” Turner makes a valid point. One of the most important words for an adult to say to a child is, “Look!” That implies putting our phones, iPads, and other screens away and paying attention ourselves to what there is to see, hear, taste, smell, and feel. As the child’s observation skills develop, the best question for an adult to ask a child is, “What were you thinking about when you asked that question?” When you make such authentic conversation, you are speaking with children. For instance, when a child overhears a racist comment and relates the incident to you, pay close attention to the information being shared and listen for their take on it. After hearing the whole story, change the script for them, if necessary, and show them what is right. You could say, “In this family, we work toward loving everyone,” Turner emphasizes. COMMUNITY’S ROLE IN ENCOURAGING GOOD CITIZENSHIP The National Civil Rights Museum just
celebrated King Day, drawing around 7,000 visitors from around the country to be part of the event. “Museums represent truth,” remarks Freeman. “I think museums are safe spaces for children and adults to learn and be comfortable asking questions that they may not be able to get answered from their parents or friends.” She adds, “While museums like ours have a specific mission to pass on history that is focused on treating all people with dignity and recognizing the diversity of our world, even museums that don’t specifically focus on history share a cultural component and teach diversity inclusion by having diverse people represented in their exhibits.” Turner talks about the importance of participating in consciousness-raising events where children come to understand what it means to be a human within the context of other human beings. The Lipman School observes annual Peace Day in October as a way to counteract fearful events such as 9/11 and begin a lifelong conversation about making peace. Last year the school had 14 countries represented at their Multicultural ‘Peace-Nic’ Lunch. Other highlights of the celebration included “Wings of Grace” Peace Dove Release and a performance and a sing-along with Dr. Thomas Moore, an early childhood consultant and children’s recording artist based in Charlotte, North Carolina. “Tolerance only brings us so far together,” concludes Turner. “Acceptance means we offer our own talents and gifts of the heart and mind and ask others to do the same so that we all are better for the outcomes.”
IDEAS FOR WELCOMING THE WORLD INTO YOUR HOME • Take advantage of family-fun outings that celebrate culture and history. Globe-Trotting Family Day @ Dixon Gallery and Gardens takes place on Saturday, February 17, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Free. 761-5250. Celebrate Black History Month through Dance @ GPAC takes place on Tuesday, February 20, at 7 p.m. Free. Reservations required. 751-7500. • Discuss world events together during dinnertime. Look into kid-friendly news sites like Youngzine and DOGOnews for topics. • Learn a foreign language as a family. Check out Mango Language Learning, available through Memphis Public Library and Germantown Community Library. • Explore different cuisines through cooking and baking food from another country. Try international gourmet recipes from the Kids Cooking Activities website. • Share stories of the world. For ideas, attend Cordova Branch Library’s International Story Time: South Korea on Saturday, February 3, from 11 a.m. until noon. Free. 754-8443. Go to memphisparent.com for a related story Giving Your Children a World View. ME EM MP PH H II S SP EN M PA AR RE NT T .. C CO OM M
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