Title: Growing Up Global: Raising Children to Be At Home in the World
Author: Homa Sabet Tavangar
Genre: Parenting/How-To
Click here to listen to the companion podcast with April Perry and Homa Sabet Tavangar.
Brief Summary: This is hands-down the best book I’ve ever read about helping children to develop a healthy, beautiful, meaningful perspective of the world. Here’s what I wrote on my Amazon review:
I consider myself to be one of Homa’s most enthusiastic (and hungry) students. I’ve never been outside of North America, and although I live in a very diverse part of California, I just haven’t done a very good job at “globalizing” my children yet. I feel like everything she’s teaching me in this book is information I’ve been CRAVING.
In the first chapter alone, I took a whole page of notes–great websites to visit, books to buy, conversations to have with my children, ways to incorporate maps and international music into my home, etc.
My children are at great ages to start implementing this seriously (4, 8, 9, and 12), and I honestly can’t wait to learn more. Thanks for putting together such a fabulous resource.
This book is fun to read and it excites me to action, but it doesn’t overwhelm me. I know you’ll love it.
Parts I liked Best:
(1) I love how Homa makes this whole process simple. She shows us how to incorporate global thinking into our everyday lives. For example, one chapter is called, “Be a Friend.” and it includes six ways that the “Golden Rule” is expressed within six different faiths. What a great conversation to have around the dinner table!
(2) There’s another chapter on play, which features tons of ideas to give our kids a break from the video games and help them participate in active games that are played around the world. From board games like Backgammon and Mancala to outside games like “Conquer New Lands” and “Sea Serpent,” children can learn to have fun while also learning about other countries and cultures. (There are lots of birthday party and holiday ideas, as well.)
(3) Looking for fun ways to teach your kids about geography?. I love Homa’s ideas like posting a map in the kitchen, talking about where your fruits and vegetables are grown, or discussing the location of events in the news. This book has opened my eyes to creative, exciting ways to get the kids talking about the world . . . and not in a “stuffy classroom” kind of way.
How This Book Made an Impact In My Life, Especially as a Mother:
I want to be a deliberate mother. That’s why I run The Power of Moms. One time I saw a framed saying that said, “Home: Where Your Story Begins,” and I thought, “Wow, what kind of a home am I creating for my children?” I want our home to be a place where we are learning, growing, broadening our minds, learning new languages, cooking new recipes, reading world literature, keeping up on current events, and thinking of ways to serve those who are in need.
Sometimes it feels so overwhelming, and just getting everyone dressed, fed, and to their various activities is more than enough to fill my plate. But the ideas in Growing Up Global are things you can do along the way. You’re already on the computer, watching movies, playing games, eating food, celebrating holidays, and having discussions. It’s simple to incorporate a global focus into these activities . . . and create a stronger, more unified world along the way.
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I love this book as well! Simple ways that families can bring global activities into our homes, and teach our children about the world community (of which we are all a part).
I would love to read this book, I am trying to raise my kids to be good world citizens, to embrace their culture as well as all cultures and to be bilingual!
I’d love to be able to get this book – my kids are Indian growing up in the US and I would love to share cultures of the world with them
Looking fwd to reading it. Thanks April for the overview. X