Hip Hop Speaks to Children

Hip Hop Speaks to Children, is a great book to help celebrate, not just Black History month, but also the arts, poetry and reading.  It has different songs and poems that you can also listen to, with the audio CD that comes with the book.  I often play it when my daughter is doing crafts or just hanging around the house.  She loves it! It makes her move and groove and encourages her to practice rhyming words.  It's also a fun way for kids to learn about some amazing black artists.  For example, there are poems and songs by everyone from Maya Angelou, Tupac shakur, Lauryn Hill, Mos Def and Martin Luther King Jr.  I bought my copy at a wonderful book store, that I buy most of my daughters books from.  They have an amazing, diverse, and inclusive collection of children's books. Here's a link to their site :)
http://www.anotherstory.ca/

Black History Month

To celebrate Black History month, here are some activities that are going on in our city for kids and families.  

At the Royal Ontario Museum, on February 19, 20 and 21st, there is going to be a celebration of Africa's culture and heritage.  Music performances, films, drumming workshops, a scavenger hunt through Africa, family tours of the ROM's exhibition El Anatsui : When I Last Wrote to You about Africa, as well as crafts inspired by the special exhibition.  Check the link below for times, it sounds like a lot of fun!


http://www.rom.on.ca/programs/rom_kids/family/index.php?ref=showinfo&program_id=6739

http://www.toronto.com/blackhistorymonth?action=spot_5_663315 

Shadeism

Dearest Clarity
I just finished watching this short documentary on shadeism, and I thought it was something that should be shared.  I have a child from mixed roots and I'm always trying different ways to help her stay connected to who she is.   She has already began asking questions about why her skin is different then mine? or why is her brother darker than her? why can't she comb her hair like her friends can?  This tells me that her awareness of different colors and races is opening up bigger and bigger.  

As a parent of a child who comes from two different races, I think it is so important to surround them with both sides of who they are, encourage them to love who they are, and teach and show them that beauty comes in all different colors, shapes and sizes. This is especially important because most of who or what they see in the media, only represents one or two races which is mainly on the light side. 

This video is a perfect way to start thinking about these issues and remind ourselves that they exist.  Especially as a woman and mother coming from a Canadian/Italian background, it's not something I have had to necessarily deal with.  Watching videos or reading books, talking to people of different color or races and understanding these issues, is a necessary part in bringing our beautiful children up to be comfortable in their own skin.

Just click on the link below to get to the video.  Enjoy!


http://vimeo.com/16210769

WAKA WAKA!

Dearest Clarity,
When we were in Italy all the kids there were always singing this years world cup anthem, Shakira's Waka Waka ( This time for Africa) It was sooooo cute, and my daughter loved it. She would get right in there with them a do the dance and sing along. As soon as I heard the song, I loved it too. I even got right in there with all the kids! lol! (It was pretty funny!) Now that we are home, we have passed on the song and dance to the two little girls I take care of, and of course they love it too. My daughter and I looooove to put it on and jump around and dance. There is something so magical and freeing about the song and video. It's uplifting, cultured, beautiful and positive. I think it's a great feel good song to let out some energy with your kids, and it's a great work out! I encourage you to try it out, you'll be surprised how much fun it is!