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Tips to teach global citizenship for kids

Teaching global citizenship to kids is easier than you think. Children are so eager to learn about the world. All you have to do is point them in the right direction.

My friend, Michelle, wrote this post.  I’ve known her over 10 years and as long as I an remember she and her husband wanted to go overseas with his job.  They finally got the opportunity and she wrote this fantastic article on helping your kids realize there is a lot more out there and how lucky we are to be born in the United States.

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The term “Global Citizen” has become a buzz word across the United States, it means being part of a global community and taking action for the world.

Elementary schools and middle schools can touch on the subject, but are focused on other studies. IB (International Baccalaureate) schools are heralded as the education of the future, but how do you teach those students to be a global citizen now? How are they getting their global education?

Social justice has been at the front of our attention lately in the United States. However, human rights throughout the world are important all the time. Many things we are talking about in our country are being talked about all over the world.

Group of children holding planet earth over defocused nature background with copy space

As an expat family living in Bangkok, Thailand the access is a bit easier than our family and friends living in the United States. We have the opportunity to go to an International School founded by the United Nations, our children attend school with children from over 60 different countries and are in an IB program from the early years. On a daily basis, they play and learn about different cultures from their friends and are exposed to all the differences between Thailand and USA.

Teaching children to be Global Citizens can also be challenging with the geopolitical climate these days. How do you teach your children and ask them to help change the world when as parents we are protecting them from so many “scary” things? We have found answering our children’s questions simply and honestly works best.

Activities to Teach Citizenship

Watch together

Living on One Dollar a Day is a one-hour documentary about poverty in Guatemala. The age is 7 +, but children as young as five can benefit. Watch the documentary as a family and discuss with your children.

How I am teaching my children to be Global Citizens

Read Together

Follow the Moon Home

Acclaimed activist Philippe Cousteau and renowned author Deborah Hopkinson team up to offer a story of the powerful difference young people can make in the world. Meet Viv, who has a new home and a new school by the sea, and follow her as she finds her way in a new place and helps bring together a whole community to save the sea turtles of the South Carolina coast.

How I am teaching my children to be Global Citizens

Travel Together

Most people don’t realize how affordable international travel is. Be opened minded, airfare is usually the most expensive part, so find a good airfare deal and build an adventure around it! In Vietnam, our family recently did a “homestay” with a Hmong Tribe Family for $15 a night.

How I am teaching my children to be Global Citizens

Do Something Together

My family donates to an organization called Unbound. We sponsor three different children, one from India and two from Nicaragua.

We can write letters back and forth and learn about how they live. One of the boys we sponsor told us about how he has to ride his bike to school for an hour, but it was stolen. It was a huge loss because his family had to take out a loan to purchase it for him.

Another family wrote to tell us their mud house had partially collapsed during the rainy season they were having.

Learn Something Together

My daughter and I downloaded the Duolingo app on our phones and now we are learning Spanish together. Learning a new language can be a great instruction to a new culture.

Also, starting early is a huge benefit for kids when learning a new language. They take to it so easily.

Erin - Suburban Simplicity

Thursday 9th of June 2016

I'll look the documentary up to watch in the next couple weeks when all the kids are home. I'm sure they could all benefit from some knowledge of how things differ around the world. Thanks!