Explore the wonders of heritage and ancient worlds with our curated collection this August! Enjoy bedtime stories, imaginative tales, and themes of DNA, genetics, and cities. Discover activity books and captivating stories about communities and ancient civilizations, uncovering the fascinating legacies that connect us all.

Reem Madkour shares her expertise on the subject. She is an Arabic children's book author, mother, engineer, and the Co-Founder of Dardasha, a company created to instill a love for the Arabic language and its early development through engaging books and toys.

When raising children in an ever-increasingly globalized world, it can become challenging to instill a sense of culture and identity, but is also such an essential part of their personal development and in helping them understand the world around them and appreciate the diversity that exists in our communities. There are so many benefits to exposing our children to their culture and heritage and also to that of others:

1. Fosters Empathy and Understanding
By being exposed to different cultures, children can learn to appreciate diverse perspectives and experiences which can instill a send of compassion and kindness.

2. Promotes Open-Mindedness
Children who are exposed to lots of different people and ideas tend to be much more accepting of those differences. This can help them become more adaptable and resilient in a globalized world where they will inevitably interact with people from all sorts of backgrounds.

3. Enhances Cognitive Development
Learning about different cultures stimulates a child’s curiosity and critical thinking. It encourages them to ask questions, try new creative experiences and this can create a very enriching educational experience.

4. Builds Cultural Awareness and Identity
By understanding their own culture in the context of other cultures, children can develop a stronger sense of self and identity. This cultural awareness and appreciation are essential for raising well-rounded and respectful global citizens.

Tell them a story… Using storytelling and books with beautiful illustrations can be such a fun and accessible way to immerse them into the beauty of their land and traditions, as well as the traditions of others. Take their experience to the next level by finding someone from that culture and asking them if it would be possible to engage in some activities and experiences that highlight their traditions. Think about stimulating all five senses.

• Taste: What are the culture’s most famous foods? Taste them with your child and describe the flavors.
• Smell: What is that country most known for. Do they export a specific type of fruit? What are some of the local flora and fauna?
• Touch: What is their traditional dress? What materials are they made of?
• Sound: What language do they speak? What does their music sound like?
• Sight: What are some of their most famous monuments? What is their landscape like? Is it hilly or mountainous or arid?

As an example inspired by our Palestine book, a five-senses experience of Palestine might look like this:

• Taste: Musakhan and Maqlooba finished off with the sweetness of Knafeh!
• Smell: Olive oil soap, thyme (Zaatar) and the oranges of Jaffa.
• Touch: The intricate details of embroidered thobes.
• Sound: Palestinian folk songs sung from the olive groves.
• Sight: The golden Dome of the Rock in its capital Jerusalem.