Food plays an integral role in our lives. The food we eat is intertwined with culture/traditions and many of our favorite memories are associated with gathering during special celebrations to enjoy food. By exploring and learning about different foods from around the world children can learn a lot about a particular culture. The book Tastes of Lunar New Year by Book by Cheryl Yau Chepusova and Isabel Foo, illustrated by Mori Chiang introduces 12 unique dishes celebrating Lunar New Year around the world (China, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Korea).
After reading this book setting an dramatic play invitation where the children can explore the different dishes through play is great hands on opportunity for exposure. Provide dishes, Asian play food, vegetables & fruit play food, string as noodles, chop sticks, tea kettle, and whatever else you feel would honor the foods of the Lunar New Year.
Since young children learn best through play– a dramatic play invitation allows children to perform/process feelings, gain exposure to new things, learn new concepts, and test their own understandings of the world around them without any pressure and honor their imagination.
The more we are inclusive about celebrating and exposing cultures in classrooms or our homes from a young age, the more understanding, respect, acceptance we provide for everyone within our communities. There is so much beauty in the traditions of cultures from around the world and children deserve to experience it.
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