So much of what is discussed here at Culturally Competent Kids has to do with taking some kind of action or participating in some sort of activity. This post is about something quieter and a little more introspective: observation. Don't worry - for those of you who love to talk (I may or may not be one of those people), there is a part of this that involves talking, but much of this is about seeing more and speaking less. There are a number of components in this post. Even though it seems simple, don't skip the first one. It may be the most uncomfortable one, but it's also the most important.
Do Your Own Observations: This is of yourself and others. Take some time to observe your surroundings. Who do you see? What interactions do you observe? Who do you gravitate towards? Who gravitates towards you? What about your family, friends, and kids? What do you see in their interactions and behaviors?
Encourage Your Kids To Observe: Point out some of the things that you observe and then - here's the hard part - don't say anything for awhile! Let your kids see what you see, hear what you hear. They also need to discover new things, to come up with their own observations without constant commentary from adults. They may ask questions, which you can and should answer, but don't generate all the questions yourself. Let them ask their own.
Have the Discussion: Ok, now it's time to talk. What did your child observe? Was it different from what you saw? Are there patterns in your life around diversity? What questions does your child have for you? What questions do you have for your child? Did anything surprise you or make you uncomfortable?
Brainstorm Ways to Make Changes: Ok, so now what? Once you have observed and discussed, what should you do with your newfound information? Do you want to change anything about your town, your school, your community, yourself? Talk to your child about changes you can both make. Changes you can make together or alone. Big or small, doesn't matter. Teach your child that changing themselves can change others and therefore change the world. A seriously powerful message.
Will you try this with your kids? What did you observe in yourself and others? What did your kids observe? Leave a comment below. Check back next week for letter P. Sign up for the newsletter so you'll never miss a post. You'll get weekly tips and tricks delivered right to your inbox. Share with your friends, family, & community!
Dr. Sweeney is a licensed school psychologist and cultural competence expert. Here are her musings on life in a multicultural world.
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