Plus, music to soothe and motivate, discussing George Floyd, World Oceans Day, in praise of boredom
|  | Sunday, June 7, 2020 | | | | |
 | | PHOTOGRAPH BY GETTY IMAGES | | By Rachel Buchholz, KIDS AND FAMILY Editor in Chief
My mother insists that the reason that I was the only kindergartner in my class who could read was twofold: that every day she’d sit me in front of Sesame Street (her generation’s version of YouTube babysitting), and that every night, my father would read to me.
Parents are likely aware of the benefits of reading to young children. But those benefits—expanded vocabulary, improved comprehension, better listening skills—continue when parents read to kids even after they’re old enough to read on their own. Besides some excellent bonding time, that experience can foster a lifelong love of reading, something that helps kids build empathy, tolerance, and perspective.
And those are things we could all use a little more of right now.
As the country continues to struggle with a historic pandemic, in addition to now grappling with intense protests sparked by the killing of an African American man by a white police officer, parents are understandably worried about how their children are handling it all. And though having a supportive family is an important part of helping kids deal, the right book character can also help children process many of the troubling issues and emotions they’re likely facing right now: no-good-day anger from Alexander, intolerance and lack of compassion against Wonder’s Auggie, and even more serious issues like racism and injustice from To Kill a Mockingbird’s Scout. (For a little kid-escapism, here’s a list of Nat-Geo-recommended books that can transport them to other countries.)
Reading together by starting a family book club is another way to help children process feelings they might be having. Asking children to express how Malfoy’s life might have been different if he had been nicer to Harry Potter and the gang or how they would rewrite the ending to The Giving Tree can give children insight into the importance of empathy, kindness, and generosity. Plus: “Reading relaxes the body and calms the mind,” says Patricia Edwards, language and literacy professor at Michigan State.
All that that can help them make sense of the current state of the world—and maybe understand how they can make it better.
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| | | |
 | | PHOTOGRAPH BY TSALANI LASSITER | | Scientist Rae Wynn-Grant lifts a newborn black bear cub out of a hibernation den during a survey in the Appalachian mountains with Maryland Department of Natural Resources. (The mother bear was tranquilized for safety; the cub was fitted with an ear tag and placed back in the den.)
Why diversity in STEM matters: No one thinks their child is racist, but occasionally unintentional biases (like preferring Elsa and Ariel over Moana and Jasmine) might crop up. That’s why it’s crucial that kids are exposed to people (and princesses) of all colors. And though we’ve seen advances, careers in STEM are still lacking in diversity. That’s a problem, according to Rae Wynn-Grant, a Nat Geo fellow and the only African-American female large carnivore ecologist in the world. (That means she studies bears and lions.) “So many other scientists are trying to save the planet so we can survive,” she says. “Right now we have a bunch of people who aren’t involved because of barriers they face. That makes no sense. For such a critical mission, we need to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to help solve these problems.” Read more about her thoughts on getting kids of color and girls into STEM careers.
Family discussion: Need help for the questions from your kids about George Floyd and the protests on TV? This article might help. It advises parents to embrace hard conversations and listen for value judgments kids may unknowingly place on racial differences. “As parents, we should raise children who can express notions of racial equality … and who can do their own small part to challenge this big problem of racism,” says Ibram X. Kendi, executive director of the Antiracist Research and Policy Center at American University. Other ideas: Teach children about African-American heroes or go on the National African American Museum of History and Culture’s new web portal, Talking About Race. The Nat Geo book The March Against Fear can also bring to life one of the most important demonstrations of the Civil Rights Movement.
The importance of being straight with your kids: Pulitzer-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parks was crying when her 8-year-old son asked her why. She paused for a moment, and told him about George Floyd. “I chose to tell him (in an age-appropriate way) because I want him to know what’s going on. Just like I told him about COVID,” Parks told Nat Geo employees on Thursday. What’s the alternative? she asked. What are we protecting if we choose not to talk about it?
Face it—you don’t have all the answers: Families who aren't black need ways to move beyond their experiences to empathize, says Amber Coleman-Mortley, the director of social engagement at iCivics. “You have to think: How am I being an advocate for making their life better?" Coleman-Mortley told the LAist. "What am I doing to support them?" Here’s what one Minneapolis school did. Or these ordinary people, seeking to help nationwide. Experts encourage letting your kids take the lead on ideas—and really consider their suggestions. Let us know what you come up with, and, at this important time, we could share what you’ve learned with this community. | | | |
 | | PHOTOGRAPH BY TERRY VINE / GETTY IMAGES | | I’m bored: Tired of hearing those words? Would it be good for your kid’s health to … just ignore it? Yup. When your brain has nothing to do, it actually tries to create stimulation, and problem-solving parts start communicating. That can lead to interesting results. “When my kids complain they’re bored, I tell them I’m glad to hear it, that it’s good for their brains,” Johns Hopkins psychiatrist Shannon Barnett tells Nat Geo for this article defending boredom in kids. “Boredom gives them an opportunity to be creative and problem solve.”
I’m tense: Trouble sleeping? Relaxing? Feeling motivated? Here are two NPR Music playlists that might help. The first streams six hours of calming music. Developed for people nervous from the pandemic, it is also useful in these protest-ridden days. The second is called “Songs Giving Us Life,” a set of music from Kendrick Lamar and Frank Ocean to Chaka Khan and Raveena. Guests of NPR Code Switch say these songs are helping them get through these times. (Note: Some of these songs are best for parents’ ears only).
What did grandma do? Sharing old family stories might help in these trying days. According to child development expert Elaine Reese, children who understand their history might deal better when problems come up. “When these children encounter difficulties, they appear to be better equipped to overcome adversity,” she says in a Nat Geo story about genealogy. Some thought starters: Take a virtual tour of the neighborhood where you grew up or play a game of 20 Questions. (The questions are about relatives!) Oh, and with Father’s Day approaching, what’s one big thing you learned from your dad—or granddad, or a mom or uncle who stepped in that role? Let us know!
New buddies: We asked our readers what animals and insects have been prowling outside (and occasionally inside) their homes these days. And boy, you responded: A camouflaged tree frog off a deck in Pennsylvania, a lizard (“our doorman”) on Florida’s Anna Maria Island, or a Gila Woodpecker in a southwestern saguaro. In our world, we’ve seen a red fox, a woodchuck, and the hatching of songbirds in a nest underneath our eaves. See more on our backyard neighbors here.
And here are tips for family members who want to begin bird-watching. | | | |
| TRY THIS: BOREDOM BUSTERS FOR KIDS | |
 | | PHOTOGRAPH BY TOM MIDDLETON, DREAMSTIME | | Keeping kids’ brains active: Tomorrow is World Oceans Day! Help kids celebrate and protect this precious resource by learning about marine animals like sea otters and dolphins, and take a fun quiz about sharks. (Yes, sharks need protecting too!) Check out videos featuring an orca scratching its back and a sea turtle egg rescue, then empower your kids to protect all marine life from plastic pollution.
How close are we to flying cars? Science fiction has inspired inventors on the ideas of flying cars. Uber is developing an airborne ride-share effort, but infrastructure and regulations don’t support it. Meantime, a first step aimed at saving time behind the wheel, self-driving cars, is happening from Beijing to Phoenix, we find in our latest sci fi to science video series.
What’s on tonight? He was the son of a Chinese opera singer. He struggled against prejudice in Hollywood. In the last two years of his short life, Bruce Lee moved back to Hong Kong and made four films celebrating martial arts and East Asia culture that have grown in importance for nearly a half century. The life of the legendary actor is traced in the Bao Nguyen documentary Be Water, which premieres at 9 p.m. eastern tonight on ESPN. Here’s the trailer.
Need some at-home summer ideas? This week, NatGeo@Home will have a fun game in which kids can play as a swarm of krill (trust us—it’s actually fun), an icy craft to make color arches, and an article on how you can take back your weekends. Plus: the start of our Summer Camp Series, ideas on how your children can have summer camp at home.
This newsletter was edited and curated by David Beard and Rachel Buchholz. Have a healthy and a sane (as possible) week ahead! | | | |
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