tea collection blog » exploring culture with kids

week in review

Allison Fawkes — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:42:26 +0000

This week I’ve been in the mood to explore. From trying a new French restaurant to reviving speaking Spanish with a close friend over tapas, I think there must be something in the air encouraging curiosity. Our writers this week seem to feel inspired to explore this week too and their articles reflect it.

In TRAVEL, Sheila Lammers writes about how her family sees the world with their military dad. In the same section, Stephanie Precourt shares with you a great new way to travel with family. Over in CURIOSITY, Dana Lightstone shares reflections on celebrating Diwali with her little citizen. We also have posted a RECOMMENDATION for some really great bilingual dolls.

We are always looking for new writers to share their stories of exploring with their little citizens. Please email us submissions or questions if you are interested in joining our team.

We hope you are inspired to explore this week!

The Editor

children's clothing - girls dresses - baby clothes

celebrating diwali in new york

Dana Lightstone — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:42:20 +0000

This past weekend we celebrated Diwali (the Indian new year) in a restaurant in New York with about 50 other adults and numerous children –some Indian, some not. We are not Indian, but I have spent a lot of time in India and speak Hindi and always like to find ways to encourage my daughter Zoe to learn about this amazing part of the world. We often celebrate Indian holidays with our Indian friends, make frequent trips to Queens or uptown for the best Indian food, and we look forward to taking our daughter to India at the first chance that we get.

Diwali is a Hindu festival which is known as the festival of lights and is celebrated with four days of burning lanterns. Diwali celebrates the marriage of the Hindu deities Lakshmi and Vishnu (though there are theories which dispute this origin). In India and Nepal Diwali is a national holiday.

I remember celebrating my first Diwali in India. In the South Indian town that I was living in it was tradition to decorate everything inside and outside of the house –computers, cows, living spaces. Tea lights were set up throughout the home and fireworks went off in the sky for four very noisy days (and nights) as a thank you to the deities for things on earth. Everyone wore new clothes for the holiday and took a bath in the morning before putting on these new clothes.

Today Zoe was dressed in an Indian outfit and ate Indian food while Bollywood music played in the background. She scribbled on coloring books of Hindu deities and lanterns. She loved the food and had a great time playing with the other kids. My hope is that as Zoe grows up Diwali, as well as other Indian holidays and customs, will be something that she recognizes as a familiar and fun celebration that we do every year.

children's clothing - girls dresses - baby clothes

recommendations: bilingual dolls

Allison Fawkes — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 17:42:15 +0000

I just came across Language Littles dolls today. What a great idea for raising your little citizens! The dolls say 25 to 30 kid friendly phrases in ten languages. You can buy your little one a Spanish, French, Italian, Russian or even a Greek speaker. If you want to introduce your kid to Spanish, Lizzie can help you out. When you press her right hand she says a series of greetings. Her left hand holds the words for numbers and animals and her knee says “Te Amo.” What a great way to introduce new languages to your little citizens!

children's clothing - girls dresses - baby clothes