There are a few things I can always count on to always get my boys’ attention, even on tough days.
- Anything having to do with mixing baking soda and vinegar
- The story of David and Goliath in The Jesus Storybook Bible
- TV shows about random, everyday people in other countries (Bizarre Foods is our new favorite)
They are boys.
They love the explosions (however tame), the action, and the adventure.
I have come to accept and even appreciate, that the best way to really help them learn, is to connect our study to something boyishly exciting. When I do, they both surprise me with how much they retain. It’s more fun, more engaging, and more focused on their strengths, rather than their differences.
The downside of this type of learning is the amount of planning time I need to create fun, engaging activities that correspond to their interests. (Like that time my son saw an episode in which someone prepared and ate crickets as a delicacy. He was convinced we should go to Mexico and try it ourselves. For reals. We settled for a YouTube video on how it’s done, and then tried our hand at homemade tortillas, but you get my point.)
Give Your Child The World
I am always on the lookout for resources that will make out of the box, engaging learning easier for me, but no less interesting for my boys. Give Your Child The World is my new best helper and does just that.
Written by my sweet friend, Jamie Martin (full disclosure here – I LOVE anything and everything that Jamie writes, so it’s not a huge surprise that I am a fan of this book), Give Your Child The World takes all the work out of planning fun ways to help my boys develop a global mindset.
In it, there are carefully selected reading lists, organized by region, country, and age range (ages 4-12). Each listing includes a brief description of the book, its themes, as well as any content of which parents should be aware, and a well-developed index even sorts the recommendations by historical time period.
My boys learn best through experience. Reading a good story about people and culture, always helps them understand and engage in learning – so the reading lists are a huge help. But my absolute favorite parts of the book are the “Global Perspective” boxes. In them, everyday parents answer the question, “How do you give your children the world in your home?” The answers are insightful, and provide so many practical ideas for making the world come alive for our children, without passports or even leaving the house.
I am grateful for Jamie’s heart to help families cultivate a love of our world – especially in a time when there are so many competing voices speaking hate and fear.
Want a copy?
I have good news for you!!! Although Jamie was kind enough to send me a copy of this book in advance, I had already pre-ordered it on Amazon, so I ended up with two copies.
If you are interested in my extra copy, please leave a comment here on the blog, or on the Not The Former Things Facebook page. I will randomly choose one winner from the mix and send it along for you to enjoy.
Giving your child the word doesn’t have to be difficult. This book makes it fun, inviting and most importantly, doable for this already overwhelmed mom. That, and there are plenty of options for learning about global foods and customs that will fascinate my boys.
I think this is a win-win.
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