Healthy Parents Healthy Kids

Holiday Fun Time!

pfutures — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:23:40 +0000

Winter break from school means more time at home for kids, but this time of year also means a busy holiday season for parents. Although the holidays can be stressful, they can also be a great time to reconnect as a family and grow closer together. Here are a few activities to help grow as a family when things get busy.

-Plan a family game night! This activity is great for families with kids of any age. It can allow the whole family to get involved over a time of laughter and friendly competition. Game nights can also create a natural environment for conversation. Try some classic family favorites like Sorry, Candy Land, and Go Fish, and check out some of the newer games available for families like Cranium, Mad Libs, and Catch Phrase. If your kids tire of the games you have at home, why not consider swapping games with another family in your neighborhood to give some “new” games a try?

-Bake or cook! Kids love to eat things that they’ve made themselves, and even young children can be involved with aspects of baking and cooking, such as decorating cookies and helping to shape bread dough. Spending time in the kitchen can help to build family togetherness as you show kids how to follow directions and make up tasty results. For some easy-to-make recipes (even for kids with special dietary needs), check out the “KidsHealth” link at the bottom of this post.

-Volunteer! The holidays are a great time of year to give back to our communities, and what better way to do so than to give of your time. Reading to residents in nursing homes, helping with animals at the humane society or animal shelter, and sorting canned goods at the local food pantry are just a few ideas of ways for parents and kids to get involved in giving back. Helping others builds togetherness as a family, and it’s a great way to teach and show your kids about the things that your family values. Visit the “All for Good” website at the bottom of this post to find volunteer opportunities in your community.

-Visit your community! In the busyness of everyday life, it’s easy to forget the great, low-cost opportunities available right in your own community. Maybe your town has a park with a great playground, or perhaps your city has a fun museum. During the holidays many communities host special events, like parades and concerts, so check your local newspaper and news stations for ideas. It’s amazing the fun family events that may exist right in your own community!

-Have a family craft night! Many kids love to make things with their hands or express themselves through artistic activities, and doing these activities together can build family togetherness. Showing interest in your child’s creative work can also help to build his/her confidence and provide natural opportunities for talking about your child’s interests, skills, and talents. Making a craft as a gift for others (for example, making a thinking-of-you card for a relative) can also be a great way to help children get involved with helping others while having fun expressing their creativity. If you need some ideas, check out the “Kaboose Craft Finder” link. You can search craft ideas by child’s age, holiday, difficulty level, and even materials used.

-Be up for spontaneity! Sometimes the best family memories are built around an impromptu trip to the grocery store that turns into a scavenger hunt or a dish-drying competition between your children after a meal. Ask your kids about the things they enjoy and dislike, what their thoughts and dreams are, and what they value, and you may be surprised by the excellent conversations that result. Look for the little moments throughout the day when you can connect with your kids and they with you. This time you spend together is never wasted when you are invested in your kids and show them you love and care.

Suggested Websites Recipes for kids and parents, including those with special dietary needs http://kidshealth.org/parent/recipes/index.html

Search for volunteer opportunities in your community http://www.allforgood.org/

Craft ideas for all ages and skill levels http://crafts.kaboose.com/craft_finder.html

Elementary Age Brain Development

Robin Donaldson — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 19:49:09 +0000

Think about all we have to learn in elementary school. The knowledge and the skills that we acquire during these years form the basis of all future education. So it is particularly intriguing that during this age period, the elementary school years, the brain is uniquely receptive and capable of receiving all of this information.

Between the ages of seven to eleven, the brain experiences an incredible growth of neurons. Neurons are the cells that process information in the central nervous system. While they make up only 10% of the cells in the brain, they are solely responsible for communication in the brain. It is the neurons that process, encode, and store information, skills, and abilities.

During the elementary school years, neuron growth explodes. The only other age in which neural growth is similar is during infancy and toddlerhood, another key period of development in which skills and knowledge also expand tremendously. So what does all of this neuron growth mean? It means that during the elementary years, the brain is primed and ready to take in all the things that children need to learn in order to be successful; in school, socially, and even physically. The brain is ready to act as a sponge and soak up everything that a child is exposed to during this time.

As parents and educators, it is important to take advantage of this readiness of the brain to learn and structure the environment so that our children are capable of learning. This includes diet, exercise, caring adults, and enriched environments.

We have all heard about how diet is important to healthy living and how a poor diet can increase our risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and other potentially dangerous diseases. What is less discussed is the impact that diet can have on the brain and its ability to learn and store information. Foods that are high in fat and sugar have a negative impact on the brain. However, foods that are high in anti-oxidants and omega-3s actually provide neurons with more energy and allow them to grow and form stronger connections thus enhancing learning. Diet is one thing that parents can directly control for their children.

Exercise also impacts brain health as much as the health of the body. Exercise is one of the single most important things you can do to enhance brain growth and development as well as efficient brain functioning. Exercise increases oxygen flow in the brain and oxygen is the fuel for neurons and neural growth. Exercise primes the neurons for learning and increases the chances that the information will be properly attended to and processed. The simple act of walking to school in the morning can put your child at an advantage of being ready to learn.

Because the brain is uniquely ready to absorb information at this time, the elementary years are the perfect time to expose children to sports, music, second languages, arts, and social experiences. By expanding their experiences, we can expand the skills that they acquire during this time.

It is important to know that the abundance of neurons will not last forever. In the early adolescent years, the brain will prune away those neurons that have not been used. While this is a very natural and necessary occurrence which increases brain efficiency, it demonstrates the principle of “use it or lose it.” We can give our children a head start in life by taking advantage of their readiness to learn and providing them with the diet, exercise, and experiences necessary to grow into successful adults.

Robin E. Donaldson, M.A., L.M.H.C. National Safe Place Program Development and Research Director

AAA Offers Suggestions for Parents of Teen Drivers

sherrydean — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:12:41 +0000

Most likely, it’s hard to believe that your child is old enough to be a new driver. It probably seems like just yesterday he or she was beginning school and, as a parent, you might be panicking a bit. One doesn’t have to be an expert to know that young drivers are involved in more traffic crashes and die more frequently than any other group of drivers. Therefore, it’s more important than ever for parents to learn what they can do to help their teen become the best possible driver they can be.

Know and understand your teen – Not all teens are ready to drive at the same age. Teenagers mature, develop emotionally and become responsible at varying rates, which parents need to gauge as they determine when their teen is ready to drive.

Be a responsible role model – Parents’ actions behind the wheel influence the driving behavior of their teens so drive as you want them to drive.

Provide driver’s education and practice – Inexperience is a major factor in new driver crashes which is why Indiana requires 50 hours of supervised practice driving – 10 hours at night – before applying for a driver’s license. A quality driver education program is a great place to start; however, they only provide basic knowledge and skills. It is imperative that parents practice with their teen also. Work with your child on observing other drivers, identifying potential hazards, controlling speed, following other vehicles at a safe distance, deciding when to move safely into traffic, and how to communicate their intentions to other motorists. To help, download a copy of AAA’s Parent Driving Guide at www.aaa.com/teendriving.

Keep teen drivers free of passengers – Extensive research indicates that teen passengers create a significant distraction for inexperienced drivers who need to focus their full attention on the road. The presence of even one teen passenger almost doubles the risk of a fatal crash compared to driving alone. Indiana law prohibits passengers for the first 180 days of driving unless accompanied by a licensed driver over 25 years old.

Limit Night Driving – Nighttime driving is restricted from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. during the first 180 days unless accompanied by a licensed driver over 25 years of age because teen crashes spike between 9 p.m. and midnight. It is critical that parents practice night driving with their teen to help prepare them for driving alone or with friends in the future.

Encourage teens to get enough sleep – Teens need about nine hours of sleep every night, but many fall short due to various reasons. This affects vision, hand-eye coordination, reaction time and judgment.

Eliminate distractions – Distractions such as cell phone use, eating, etc. contribute to nearly 80 percent of all crashes, and the risk of a collision increases by 400 percent when talking on a cell phone. Indiana law prohibits teens under 18 from using any type of telecommunications device while driving except for making emergency 911 calls.

Create a parent-teen driving agreement – Parental involvement and communication is critical in preventing teen crashes. Having rules, restrictions and consequences for the teen’s driving written down in advance establishes driving as a privilege and not something to be taken lightly. If the teen breaks a family driving rule, consequences should be enforced. Discuss and review the contract regularly.

Make smart vehicle choices for teens– As the family member most likely to crash, a teen should drive the safest vehicle the family owns. Consider vehicle type (sedans are generally safer than sports cars, SUVs and pickups), size (larger vehicles fare better in crashes) and safety technology (front and side air bags, anti-lock brakes and stability control systems) when selecting a vehicle.

For more information, visit: www.teendriving.AAA.com/indiana

Teaching Children About Responsibility

Jane Haywood — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 18:09:08 +0000

The goal in raising children to be responsible is to teach them and equip them with appropriate skills. The key word here is teach. As parents, we are their first teachers. The best way to teach a child responsibility is little by little and day by day. Here are a few tips to help you teach your child about responsibility.

• Start when a child is very young. When a child can walk they can pick up their toys. When they are three or four they can learn to dress themselves. When they are five or six they can learn to make their bed and help at mealtime by setting or clearing the table. By the time they are eight or older they should have a whole list of things they can accomplish.

• Make sure your child is healthy and rested before teaching something new.

• Be patient, it takes time to learn new responsibilities.

• Give lots of encouragement and praise.

• Teach them by your example and then let them do it.

As a young parent, one of the ways I taught my toddler to pick up toys was to have a cabinet in the kitchen just for toys. When I got out my pots and pans or other items in the kitchen, my child would get his toys out of his cabinet. When it was time to put things away in the kitchen, I taught him to put his toys back into his cabinet. He loved having his own cabinet in the kitchen and he learned very quickly to pick up his toys.

When my daughter was old enough to try to dress herself, she put her clothes on inside out and backwards. She was so proud of herself. I was in a hurry to go somewhere and first thought I would change her clothes for fear someone in the store would think I was an irresponsible parent. Thank goodness I let her go to the store just the way she dressed herself. The days that followed were days of teaching and learning that built her confidence and self-esteem.

Sometimes parents make mistakes and children teach parents about responsibilities. I remember when I taught my children to make their beds in the morning before they left for school. When they were just learning and after they left for school, I would go into their bedrooms and changed how they made their beds. Soon my children stopped making their beds in the morning before school. I was upset with them and asked them why they stopped doing their morning chore. Well, of course, you know the answer to my question. Why should they try to make their beds when I would change all their hard work and remake their beds.

What it all means is to be an active responsible parent and role model for your child. Children are like little sponges. They absorb everything they hear and see!

Helpful websites- www.parents.com/kids & www.accountablekids.com

Fun time with your child, Every Day

Amy Shankland — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 20:44:53 +0000

With work, household chores, and outside activities for both parents and children, it can be tough to find time to have fun with kids each and every day. But we only have them under our roof for a short time. Having some fun, even if it’s just ten minutes here and there, can really strengthen the bonds with our children and create great memories.

One thing I’ve emphasized in my newspaper column is to have dinner with the entire family as often as possible. I know it’s not realistic to expect a sit-down, five course meal every evening. But try for at least four nights a week, even if it’s just a half hour with some pizza. Some of the best times my husband John and I have had with our boys are sharing stories at the dinner table. We can get downright silly, and I’ve often left the dining room with my sides hurting from all the laughter.

How about having some fun on your way to work, school, or running errands? This past summer, my sons and I often rode our bikes to and from the Boys and Girls Club. It was a great opportunity to get some exercise and enjoy some beautiful mornings together. When we’re in the car, John will often place his phone on its holder on the dashboard and we take song “requests”. The four of us have discovered some great tunes this way. We also try to walk to as many places as possible. Even if you’re not close to any restaurants or retail establishments, a 20 minute walk around the neighborhood can give your family the chance to discover some new sights in nature.

Why not try out each other’s hobbies? I’m not a video game person by any stretch of the imagination. But one of my sons’ games intrigued me with its characters and music last spring. I sat down and played it for a half hour one night, with my son coaching me. I did terrible in the game, but I ended up laughing to the point of tears at how silly my poor character looked. The boys got a kick out of my reaction, even if I never will be an advanced video game player. They’ve also tried out my new hobby, hula hooping, on more than on occasion with me. I’m reading the Harry Potter books along with my son, Jacob, as well, which has led to some lively discussions.

Try to fit in little surprises here and there to have some fun. I surprised my sons a month ago by showing up one Friday to the Boys and Girls Club to take them out to lunch at Matteo’s in downtown Noblesville. It was a bit of a splurge for me, but we had a great time sitting in the shade outside, looking at the sights all around the square, and experiencing some new tastes.

Finally, have a little fun before the kids go to bed. I enjoyed reading to my sons at bed time when they were little. Now that they’re older, I’m going to ask them to start reading a few minutes of their stories to me once school begins this fall. My husband likes to get in one last tickle session with the boys before they go to bed as well.

It’s not always possible to take a big vacation or get away for a few days to have fun. Remember to incorporate bits of fun with your children each and every day and the whole family will benefit!

It’s Not Discipline, It’s a Teachable Moment

Jane Haywood — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 19:57:18 +0000

Whether facing a toddler temper tantrum or a back-talking adolescent every parent struggles to find the best way to discipline children.

The problem may not be the kids so much as the way parents define discipline. Childhood experts say many parents think discipline means punishment. But often the punishments parents use end up reinforcing the bad behavior instead of correcting it. Surprisingly the most effective discipline typically doesn’t involve any punishment at all, but instead focuses on positive reinforcement when children are being good.

“Defining discipline is really important,” said Dr. Ginsburg, author of ” A Parent’s Guide to Building Resilience in Children and Teens,” published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. “When I tell parents this you see their faces and they say: ‘It’s not about punishment? It’s about teaching?’ That changes things.”

But effective discipline is more difficult for busy parents because teaching and positive feedback take a lot more time than simple punishment, noted Dr. Shari Bariin, Chief of the Division of General Pediatrics at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt University.

It was Dr. Barkin’s study of more than 2,100 parents that reported that 1 in 3 said they could not effectively discipline their kids. Forty-five percent reported using time outs, 41.5 percent said they removed privileges, 13 percent reported yelling at their children and 8.5 percent said they used spanking “often and always”.

Parents who resorted to yelling or spanking were far more likely to say their method of disciplining did not work.

Many parents’ discipline methods don’t work because children quickly learn that it’s much easier to gain a parent’s attention with bad behavior than with good. Parents reinforce this by getting on the phone, sending e-mail messages, or reading the paper as soon as a child starts playing quietly and by stopping the activity and scolding a child when he starts to misbehave.

While time-outs work for helping young children calm down and regain control of their emotions, many parents misuse this method. Parents often lecture or scold children during time-outs or battle with kids to return to a time-out chair.

Another problem is that parents miscalculate how long a time-out should last and how much a parent should say to their child regarding a situation.. A child in a extended time-out will become bored and start to misbehave again to win attention. Doctors advise no more than a minute of time-out for each year of a child’s life and to use about six words to begin time out. An example would be – No biting – go to time out.

A better method for younger children doesn’t focus on bad behavior but on good behavior.

Discipline is more difficult in the teenage years as children struggle to gain independence. Studies show that punishments like grounding have little effect on teenagers’ behavior. In several studies of youth drinking and drug use .the best predictor for good behavior wasn’t punishment, but parental monitoring and involvement. The best method of keeping teenagers out of trouble is to know where they are, know who is with them and spending time with them regularly.

That doesn’t mean teenagers shouldn’t be punished. But parents should set clear rules that allow children to earn or lose privileges. You want them to understand that the freedoms they get are directly related to how they demonstrate responsibility.

Retrieved from

www.nytimes.com/09/15/2008/health/healthspecial2/15discipline

Mending and Rebuilding Relationships

Marli Hamm — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 21:44:28 +0000

Many parenting theories stem from the belief that all parents love their children unconditionally and only want the best for them. While this may be the case, it is unfortunate that a loving relationship doesn’t necessarily mean a healthy relationship. In today’s world of broken families, blended families, two-income families, extended families, and a handful of other circumstances, maintaining the parent-child relationship may seem challenging.

The goal to long-term, healthy relationships with your children is to parent with a spirit of cooperation versus dictatorship. Your children are a direct reflection of your parenting style. If your child’s behavior isn’t meeting your expectations, the best approach to rebuilding your relationship is possibly a simple adjustment to your parenting approach.

In his book, Mending the Broken Bond, Dr. Frank Lawlis outlines a 90-day answer to developing loving relationships with your children. The first steps to getting started are simple and effective. Step up and be the role model your child needs. It is important to understand how important a parent is to a child. Your children crave parent-child interaction. Always give your best to your children and you will receive your child’s best in return. You may want to learn more about your parenting style and explore your family values. Sitting in on a parenting class or parent support group may get your creativity flowing.

Walk your talk. Family values are the guiding principles and internal compass of a family’s truths and standards. It is not only essential to teach your children family values, but to follow those values yourself. Children really are like sponges and will recognize when there is a difference in what you’re telling them and your own behavior. Be prepared to explain yourself if you don’t follow your own guidelines. Holding a family meeting is one way of reviewing family values.

Open the lines of communication. It is significant enough to stress again, children do want to share with their parents; they desire a positive relationship and meaningful contact. Focus on listening now, even to the little, seemingly meaningless things. Open communication now will decrease the chances of a tragic situation occurring in the future because your children don’t feel they can talk to you. Strive to set aside a few minutes each day to ask your child how he feels and truly listen to his reply.

Always find a common ground. Negotiation may seem like a foreign parenting skill. However, finding a win-win solution to both common and difficult problems is the essence of a cooperative spirit. Not only does everyone walk away feeling satisfied, negotiation teaches children tolerance, patience, and respect for others’ feelings and desires. Try practicing cooperation in a fun and exciting way one time a month by involving everyone in a family activity.

Dr. Lawlis says, “It is your responsibility as a parent to get actively engaged in nurturing, shaping, teaching and guiding your children. This requires you to be proactive rather than reactive”. Spend time now with your children and the love you create will benefit them and you throughout a lifetime.

Mending the Broken Bond is an excellent resource for healing unhealthy relationships and getting your parent-child connection back on track. The above four steps are an overview of the first five days of Dr. Lawlis’ 90-day plan. You can find this particular book at your local library, and can check out more about Dr. Lawlis at www.franklawlis.com.

Lawlis, Frank. Mending the broken bond. 2007. Free Press. New York, New York.
www.franklawlis.com. Retrieved August 9, 2011.

Suicide – What you need to know.

Justin Wesley — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 03:48:11 +0000

In 2007, nearly 35,000 people living in the United States took their own lives making suicide the eleventh leading cause of death (American Association of Suicidology 2010). The statistics are mind blowing given the statement by former Surgeon General of the United States, Dr. David Satcher, that “Suicide is the most preventable form of death” (2000). Despite the prevalence of attempted and successful suicides in the United States each year, the topic is rarely covered in local and national media markets.

The subject of suicide has been largely taboo in America, and myths that are often accepted as fact have helped create a problem that often goes overlooked. One common misperception about suicide is that discussing the issue with an individual will plant the idea in his or her head, and will increase the likelihood of the individual to commit suicide. However, Dr. Paul Quinnett, president and CEO of the QPR Institute, suggests that asking someone directly about suicidal intent lowers anxiety, opens up communication, and lowers the risk of an impulsive act (Paul Quinnett 2007). He teaches that how to phrase the “suicide” question to someone is less important than simply asking the question. Dr. Quinnett does state to avoid posing the question like, “You’re not thinking of suicide, are you?” (Paul Quinnett 2007) Do you know why? The question is phrased in a way that encourages a negative response.

There is no specific checklist that can identify a person considering suicide, but being cognizant of changes involving the people around you could save a life. People that are considering suicide might be very direct, and say things like, “I wish I were dead,” or, “I have decided to kill myself.” Some might use coded messages like, “Pretty soon you won’t have to worry about me.” Others might not say anything, but you may notice a change in behavior. Perhaps they begin giving away prized possessions or show a sudden interest or disinterest in religion. They may have recently experienced a drastic situational change such as the loss of a spouse or diagnosis of a terminal illness.

Dr. Quinnett’s QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) approach to addressing suicide is something that can be done by everyone. If you suspect that someone might be considering suicide, it is important that you ask him or her or find someone that is comfortable asking them about intent. A direct approach can be taken when asking about intent, “Are you thinking about killing yourself?” You can also take a less direct approach, “Do you ever wish you could go to sleep and never wake up?” The most important part is that you ask the question.

Dr. Quinnett’s next step is to persuade an individual to stay alive. If someone has identified that he or she are considering suicide it is important to give them your full attention and offer any form of hope. It is important to utilize active listening skills, and ask the individual if they will let you access help for them, “Will you let me help you get help?” Your willingness to listen and efforts to instill hope could make all the difference.

Finally, it is important to refer a person to the appropriate help. It is helpful to be aware of community resources, and be knowledgeable of ways to access help. One way to access help at anytime is the National Hotline for Suicide Prevention at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Do not be afraid to ask the person who else might help. Family? Friends? Pastors? If you or someone you know might be considering suicide, there is hope. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact me, Justin Wesley, at Promising Futures of Central Indiana at (317)773-6342. For more information about QPR for Suicide Prevention, visit their website at www.qprinstitute.com.

The Importance of Couples Spending Time Together… Without their Children

Sarah Joyce — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 18:39:21 +0000

Do you ever feel like the only interaction you have with your spouse is, “Who is getting the kids from daycare?” “Is it my turn to make the bottle or yours?” or “Not now honey, I am too tired.” If so you are not alone. Many parents, whether of young or older children, often get so bogged down with daily life that they don’t have time to spend with each other. If this is the case then you need to make it a point to spend quality time with your spouse: WITHOUT the kids. Putting your spouse after kids all the time causes stress and tension in a marriage and that ultimately affects the happiness of the children. Children are extremely receptive of our moods and behaviors. If we are not connected to our spouse the children feel that. There is question whether or not children of parents who have poor relationships may suffer academically and behaviorally. When parents are happy and have a sense of connection, the kids will also be happy and connected. Isn’t that reason enough to spend time reconnecting to your spouse? Of course couples can easily come up with reasons not to go out, with a big reason being finances. Couple time does not have to mean expensive dates or extravagant outings. Some ideas include: Putting kids to bed early and making dinner together, sitting at the table with candles and a glass of wine, watching a movie, or strolling through a park holding hands. If there was an activity you and your spouse enjoyed doing before having kids then that would be a perfect activity to engage in again. Whatever made you fall head over heals is what you should return to. Of course, planning a night out is also fun and can be exciting. Plan ahead and make reservations in advance so that you are more apt to follow through. Schedule a monthly babysitter so the date is set every month and you will not have to worry about not having someone to watch the kids. All these things are doable and can be adapted to meet the needs, likes, and interests of the family. Another important part of couple time is child time. Despite what we may think and believe children do want to spend time away from us and they do enjoy/thrive when given the opportunity to explore their own world. Having date night gives children the opportunity to spend time with other care takers, whether family members, babysitters, etc and they too will be able to reconnect and foster better relationships with you. Bottom line….Enjoy each other again sans kiddos and the family will become happier, healthy and more connected.. Check out Parent Magazine, ivillage.com, and babycenter.com for more ideas, tips and advice.

Teaching our children about Diversity and Acceptance- Part 2

Stephanie Lyons — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 18:34:31 +0000

Here are some practical and fun ways to learn, interact, and experience different cultures and lifestyles as a family: Read books together- there are many books for all ages and reading levels that share stories of diversity and acceptance Books for younger children :

Don’t Laugh at Me by Steve Seskin and Allen Shamblin
The Colors of Us by Karen Katz
The Family Book, by Todd Parr.

All three books are colorful and share an important message about how everyone is different. The book Don’t Laugh at Me also addresses the issue of bullying in regards to diversity. The Colors of Us demonstrates through the colors of familiar items such as food or spices that every individual is different, not just black, white, or brown. The Family Book shows the many varieties of families and that each are special. Listen to music from other cultures. While in the car- tune your radio to a station that you wouldn’t normally listen to. Country Station- WFMS 95.5 or Radio Latina, WEDJ 107.1 Attend Cultural activities and fairs in the community. Examples include:

Indianapolis Middle Eastern Festival
Indianapolis Italian Street Festival
Indianapolis Irish Festival,
Indianapolis International Festival
Indianapolis Greek Festival
Fiesta Indianapolis
Pow Wows (www.500nations.com)
Black Expo Summer Celebration
Pride Fest

Watch movies that show diversity and acceptance:

Aladdin
Kung Fu Panda
Mulan

Plan family vacations around visits to cities that have a cultural neighborhood- i.e.) Little Italy, China Town, Harlem, and Amish areas. It is known that a family that eats together stays together so during meals enjoy food that represents other ethnicities. – Food is a major representative of different cultures and is an easy way to generate conversation with your family. At home research and make recipes from other parts of the world or that represent other cultures. Going out to eat? Try an ethnic restaurant that you haven’t had. There are many great ethnic restaurants in the Indianapolis metro area to try. Visit Yelp (www.yelp.com) or Urban Spoon (www.urbanspoon.com) to search for one near you. While having your family meal, engage in interesting conversations around the topics of diversity and culture. Things you can talk about include:

Before dinner have each family member write down 5 words or self-descriptive phrases. At dinner have everyone share what they wrote. Talk about how each individual is different in the family and how we accept those differences.
During holidays discuss what other religions may be celebrating and what customs are used in the celebration.
Have each family member share what diversity and acceptance feels or looks like. An example of what the power of diversity looks like to me is an orchestra. As individual instruments each plays beautiful music, however, as a whole; the music is more powerful and dynamic.

Have your family talk about the following topics:

When and why your family came to the United States.
What your background is in terms of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion.
What obstacles did your family members or ancestors face as immigrants, and how did they deal with them.

Tell us what you think! – We would love to hear from you with additional ideas on how your family approaches diversity. What have you found beneficial and helpful in your family discussions? What activities have you done that your family has enjoyed and benefited from? Definitions: Diversity means differences. Culture is the set of values, structures and practices held in common by a group of people, how are usually identified by ancestry, language, and traditions. Multiculturalism is often used to mean an environment in which differences among people and groups are recognized, respected, and valued—they are seen as positive and desirable, rather than negative or threatening. Types of Diversity Include: Race, ethnicity, culture, language, sex, physical ability, mental ability, sexual orientation, age, dress, class/socio-economic, religion, etc..