Bedtime is a great time for families to spend quality time together, to encourage reading, and enjoy rituals, songs, and stories that are unique to each child's family and culture.
Sleep is also a way to explore other cultures... Did you know cultures around the world have very different sleep habits? Create learning activities that focus on sleep and culture.
Dream a Rainbow by Carlotta Penn celebrates fantastical dreams and adventures in Ethiopia.
Encourage Multiculturalism at Bedtime
Look for bedtime books which tell stories from around the world to encourage kids to take their knowledge, imagination, and dreams around the world!
Encourage Bilingualism
Do not be hesitant to read to children in a language other than English! Bilingualism is correlated with improved cognitive abilities, and bilingual children develop more advanced metalinguistic skills (Woolfolk, 2019, p. 188). Children who are read to in any language experience advantages as they develop both receptive and expressive vocabularies (Woolfolk, 2019, p. 185). So bedtime stories in any - or multiple - languages all instill a love for reading and encourage emerging literacy and language skills!
“A culturally relevant pedagogical approach is beneficial in all classrooms.” (Woolfolk, 2019, p. 249)
Create Cultural Connections
Teachers can create homework which invites parents to share their cultural funds of knowledge (Woolfolk, 2019, p. 199) through bedtime stories and songs which have been passed down in their families. Invite students to share books or recordings with the whole class, or to create a presentation with the help of their parents/caregivers on their unique bedtime rituals and where they came from.
Appreciate Diversity
Bedtime rituals are different all over the world. Have students explore the ways their own cultures or those of others around the world differ...
What is a siesta?
What are al fresco naps?
What are worry dolls? ... Find out about 9 Sleep Habits from Around the World
What is part of your bedtime ritual?
Prayers?
Bath time?
Sharing a bed or sleeping alone? ... Find out How Parents Tackle Bedtime Around the World
More fun resources...
References:
Abrams, A. (2017). 9 sleep habits from around the world. Time. Retrieved from https://time.com/4713813/sleep-habits-napping-siesta/.
Howard, J. (2018). How parents tackle bedtime around the world. CNN. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/05/health/baby-bedtimes-parenting-without-borders-explainer-intl/index.html
Free High Quality Documentaries [Username]. (2018). The incredible sleeping habits of the Japanese. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/NvQGatTsprU.
Penn, C. (2017). Dream a rainbow. Carlotta Penn.
SourceFed. (2012). Sleep habits around the world! YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/L3bsHVp6zjQ.
Woolfolk, A. (2019). Educational Psychology (14th ed.). New York, NY: Pearson.
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