In This Issue: Preparing Global Kids for a Culturally
Diverse Population
JamboKids Newsletter
from JamboKids Company, Inc.
and Richard Rawson, Psy.D.
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Newsletter to those in your network.
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Preparing Global Kids for a Culturally Diverse Population
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Now that 45 percent of U.S. children under age 5 are part of a
racial minority, children need additional skills for coping with
the increased globalization of our society.
Do you know of at least one family who has adopted internationally?
Does your child attend school with children from different ethnic
or multicultural backgrounds? Do your family or business
relationships reflect our increasingly culturally diverse
population?
More than likely, your answers to one or more of these questions
is "yes." Inter-country adoptions increased from 5% to 15% of all
adoptions in the U.S. from 1992 to 2001, and the number of immigrant
visas issued to adopted children coming to the U.S. increased 13%
from 2002 to 2005.
Along with a continued rise in our population's ethnic diversity,
there is a growing need to heighten our children's awareness and
understanding of other cultures. As parents, we are also faced with
the challenge of promoting positive character traits and values in
our children that help them cope with the demands of a global
society.
Parents, educators, and others interested in helping children grow
up with a positive self-image and good character need the proper
tools to promote positive childhood character development. They
also need to be promoting the qualities of character that are
universally recognized by people of many religions and cultures.
Mastering the skills that will help our "global kids" get along
with others, develop their curiosity and intellect, acquire an
open mind, accomplish goals in the face of opposition, and build
the civic strengths that underlie healthy community life is the
subject of this series of articles.
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A discussion of building positive character traits in children
begins with a proper understanding of which values and skills are
the most important and which ones transcend national and cultural
boundaries. The fields of positive psychology and character
education have done much in the past decade to scientifically
define, study, measure, and encourage application of the character
strengths.
Research into the areas of character development has identified
a stable set of 24 character traits that are valued in almost
every culture in the world. These characteristics are the most
well researched collection to date of the positive traits most
valued by moral philosophers, religious thinkers, and educators
across different eras and cultures.
You might be surprised to learn that many twenty-first century
North American values -- such as self-esteem, good looks,
assertiveness, autonomy, uniqueness, wealth, and competitiveness --
are not universally desired in different cultures across the world.
These values are not necessarily bad, they just don't represent
those traits that are most often associated with the concept of
"good character" across the globe.
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For additional information on this topic, and to obtain "A Parent's
Guide to Promoting Positive Character Growth -- Helpful Tips,
Discussion Prompts, and Activities to Enhance Your Child's Positive
Character Development," contact Richard E. Rawson, Psy.D. or visit:
www.jambokids.com/GrowWithUs/ResourcesForParentsAndEducators.htm
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About the Author -- Richard E. Rawson, Psy.D.
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Dr. Rawson is a licensed psychologist in private practice
who has been helping individuals and families for over 20 years
to make desirable and sustainable changes in their mental and
emotional well-being, and improve their effectiveness in their
careers, relationships, and personal lives.
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About JamboKids Company, Inc.
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JamboKids celebrates cultural diversity and promotes positive
character development in children ages 3-8 with a new line of
exciting adventure storybooks, huggable soft fabric dolls, a fun
interactive web site, and educational resources for parents and
educators.
***
The JamboKids characters represent children from many different
backgrounds from all over the world. They serve as culturally
relevant role models for their young readers and viewers, exhibiting
positive qualities of character that are universally recognized by
people of many religions and cultures.
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Send Us Your Feedback About JamboKids
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We are very interested in hearing from our customers and subscribers.
Please send us your comments and tell us your thoughts and suggestions.
Let us know what you like about our products, newsletters, web site,
or other items. Email us at feedback@JamboKids.com.
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About This Newsletter and About Your Subscription
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© 2007 Richard Rawson, Psy.D. All rights reserved. You are free
to use material from the JamboKids Newsletter in whole or in part,
as long as you include complete attribution, including live web
site link. Please also notify us where the material will appear.
The attribution should read:
"By Richard Rawson, Psy.D. of JamboKids Company, Inc. Please visit
the JamboKids web site at www.JamboKids.com for additional products
and resources for promoting positive character development in global
kids." (Make sure the link is live if placed in an eZine or in a
web site.)
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To subscribe to the JamboKids Newsletter: www.jambokids.com/Register.htm
Past Issues: http://www.jambokids.com/newspress.htm
Until next time, all the best,
Richard Rawson, Psy.D.
JamboKids --
Helping Kids Get Into Character
www.JamboKids.com
P.O. Box 564
Great Falls, VA 22066 USA
Telephone: 703-759-0023
Facsimile: 703-991-9162