Understanding The Immigrant Experience With Kids
It can be difficult for kids to understand and connect with recent immigrants, especially if they do not have many opportunities for meaningful intercultural interaction. However, it is crucial to help children develop a compassionate and fact-based understanding of the immigrant experience.
10 Ways To Understand The Immigrant Experience
Inspired by Rachel Godsil, co-founder of Perception Institute, here are ten ways to get started.
- Acknowledge personal connections to immigration. Discuss where family and friends come from and their immigration stories.
- Explore similarities and differences between immigrant experiences. Look at how and why certain types of immigrants have been welcome or unwelcome in certain places and time periods.
- Avoid generalizations and embrace complexity. Listen to individual stories to gain a more nuanced understanding of the immigrant experience.
- Share experiences with immigrants to reduce bias. Participate in shared experiences with immigrant families, such as attending the same school, joining sports teams or performing arts ensembles, or sharing meals.
- Use maps to gain a global perspective. Mark the places in the world where family, friends, teachers, and neighbors come from and where recent immigrants come from.
- Observe the positive contributions of immigrants and the positive influence of immigration. Look at how immigration has influenced fashion, dance, music, film, technology, law, and sports.
- Debunk myths and stereotypes. Recognize and challenge the concept of a “normal” or “real” American.
- Use accurate terminology. Use the term “undocumented” instead of “illegal” immigrants and discuss the challenges these individuals face.
- Find a balance between empathy and self-care. It is important to empathize with the immigrant experience, but it is also important to take care of oneself and avoid emotional overload.
- Consider attending Camp Kupugani to broaden kids’ experience of diversity. At Camp Kupugani, children can interact with peers from diverse backgrounds and gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for different cultures.
Step Out Of The Social Box
By following these ten steps, children can begin to develop a more compassionate and informed understanding of the immigrant experience. Attending Camp Kupugani can also provide children with the opportunity to experience diversity firsthand and build relationships with individuals from different backgrounds.
Fuente: Padre