Some view his composure under pressure and multicultural empathy as important attributes of his character. Global Wonders, an award-winning educational entertainment DVD series that teaches children, 2-7, about cross-cultural friendships, couldn’t agree more. By exposing kids and families to a kaleidoscope of new cultures of their family, friends, neighbors and world, Global Wonders is helping teach children to become global citizens who are more aware and sensitive to other cultures and traditions.

Even if kids may not be exposed to the multi-cultural influences that shaped President Obama’s upbringing in Hawaii, Indonesia and Kansas, Global Wonders brings the world to them with dazzling animation, live action, fun music sing-alongs and friendly cross-cultural characters. According to an increasing body of research on child development, children who form friendships with children from different cultures are more likely to be viewed by teachers as being more socially inclusive and having leadership skills. Obama’s ease in navigating cross-racial and cross-ethnic divides may be a byproduct of his early exposure to cross-cultural friendships developed during his formative years.

Just 10 years ago, Lovelace and Scheiner’s preschooler race-relations study in collaboration with Sesame Street, revealed that preschoolers overwhelmingly believed that their mothers would feel negatively (“sad” or “angry”) about their participation in interracial friendships. The researchers, in collaboration with Sesame Street, then created two films, “Visiting Leshia” and “Play Date” portraying African-American and European-American children visiting one another in their respective homes and playing together. Again, after viewing the films, the children were asked how the A-A and E-A mothers of the children in the film would feel about the children’s play dates and relationships. Once again, children’s perceptions of parental response demonstrated that the mothers would be “sad” or “angry.” As a result, the authors recommended to Sesame Street to create skits and scenarios depicting mothers and fathers positively responding to their children’s interracial play dates and friendships for future shows. Ten years later, Global Wonders has done just that.

If you’d like to speak with Rashmi Turner, a first generation Indian-American and mother of two young cross-cultural children who founded the Global Wonders brand, we would be happy to arrange an interview with her.

Best,

Shari Nakakura
For Inspiring Minds Communication/Global Wonders
509/366-7778, nakakuras@aol.com