72 Comments

  1. Malavika Roy
    03/15/2018 @ 6:13 am

    This is such a powerful and an eye opener blog for me as a mom and as a blogger. I have a child, who is struggling to speak both languages( of mine and my husband’s), however, he understands both but prefers to speak only English. This blog is a conscious reminder to start doing what I strongly believe in.

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      03/15/2018 @ 8:41 am

      Wow! This has made my day! I agree, we just need to simplify what it is we are passionate about, and take tiny steps towards our goals every day. Thank you so much for taking the time to comment Malavika. If you are interested, I have a FB group to support parents like us who want to raise multilingual readers. https://www.facebook.com/groups/ReadYourWorld.MultiracialResources/
      Please feel free to join us, you would be most welcome!

  2. Ashley | Look for Little Helpers
    03/14/2018 @ 9:57 pm

    I love this! I am constantly diversifying my library at home with my kids and several of the books you’ve mentioned are in our favorites list!

    My son is starting kindergarten next year in a Spanish Immersion school which I’m so excited about. I need resources on how to support him since I don’t speak any Spanish myself! I’m so excited for him to have this opportunity, despite my own lack of knowledge in that area.

    We are constantly trying to explore other cultures and ways of life without bias or judgment. It’s a start!

    Thanks for your perspective and for helping us make a global education a priority.

    I’ve been admiring you and your blog for a while now and am excited to learn and grow from your work ❤️

    Ashley | Look for Little Helpers

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      03/14/2018 @ 11:08 pm

      This has made my day Ashley. Thank you for being such a loyal supporter! I am so thrilled for you to start your new adventure of Spanish immersion with your little. I would love to connect with you further in my Facebook group that is full of amazing people like yourself. We are all in this together!! https://www.facebook.com/groups/ReadYourWorld.MultiracialResources/

      • Ashley | Look for Little Helpers
        03/14/2018 @ 11:11 pm

        Oh, I’d love to! I will join the group. Thank you for the information and the invitation to join you!

  3. Chevelle
    07/07/2017 @ 4:11 am

    Love this! I want my children to be well-rounded and well-travelled. That’s so important to me!

  4. Kelly
    06/13/2017 @ 8:18 pm

    This is super interesting! Will be sharing with my sister for sure. Thanks for sharing!

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      06/13/2017 @ 11:55 pm

      Wonderful!! Thanks for sharing Kelly!

  5. sandra
    06/12/2017 @ 11:59 pm

    Thanks for the book suggestions! I love to read…now I have a few more ideas.

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      06/13/2017 @ 2:41 am

      Awesome Sandra!! Hope this multicultural list takes you on wonderful adventures with your kids!

  6. Daisy
    06/12/2017 @ 12:38 pm

    Thanks for inspiration and great ideas… this would help me in raising my trilingual kid … very challenging but your work inspires me always!

    https://figmentsofimaginationwordpresscom.wordpress.com/2015/12/26/a-new-mom-coping-with-baby-blues/

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      06/12/2017 @ 7:05 pm

      Thank you Daisy! What an amazing accomplishment for your trilingual child! Keep up the great work Mama. It will pay off in spades!

  7. Jenn
    06/11/2017 @ 2:20 am

    I completely agree with this! My son is 8 months old (today!) and we have been exposing him to books since his first month. We try to travel yearly, with international travel being every other year. We will continue to do that. I learned three other languages other than English, which sadly, I have not kept up with. I’m hoping my son picks up one of them and they will come back to me!

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      06/11/2017 @ 2:36 am

      Yes to all of the above Jenn!! You got this mama!! Languages will come back and now you have someone to teach who thinks everything you say is AMAZING. What is so fun is that our kids pick up the languages so fast. My daughter constantly corrects my pronunciation as we have learned languages together. Your son is so lucky to have you investing in his future with your dedication to books, travel, and languages. Bravo mama!! Happy reading and happy trails!

  8. MJ
    06/10/2017 @ 3:16 pm

    Reading is so important for kids. I raised my kids with the love of books.
    They are very smart adults now.

    Reading for a child opens their imagination and creativity.

    The mind is a muscle that must be used and reading is the best way to work out.

  9. Nina Misteli
    06/10/2017 @ 2:52 pm

    Amazing article! I love that there are people out there actually caring for their kids on such a level! Bravo!

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      06/10/2017 @ 3:09 pm

      Thank you for your comment and your kind words Nina!

  10. CW
    06/10/2017 @ 6:01 am

    This is what we strive for with our kids. Prepping them for the future global world and not just that with raising them globally, they think differently too.

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      06/10/2017 @ 1:46 pm

      Yes, thinking differently is vital to future global citizens being tolerant and open minded! Thanks CW!

  11. Monica
    06/10/2017 @ 5:55 am

    I love this! I’m not a mom yet, but I’ve always thought that when I am I’d want to raise my kids to read and travel and not accept what other people tell them about the world, that they should go see it and make decisions for themselves.

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      06/10/2017 @ 1:47 pm

      You are ahead of the game Monica!! Your future kids are so lucky to have such an enlightened mama! Cheers!

  12. Caitlin Patoka
    06/04/2017 @ 1:59 pm

    I couldn’t agree more! Especially the joke about Americans only speaking one language… when my international friends share how many languages they speak, it’s embarrassing!

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      06/04/2017 @ 2:03 pm

      I agree. When I hear my friends talking and they say “I ONLY speak 4 languages”, I am in awe!

  13. Camela
    05/17/2017 @ 5:10 am

    I love this! It’s super important to have kids that are globally aware and responsible citizens.

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      05/17/2017 @ 9:43 pm

      Hear hear Camela! Thanks for commenting!

  14. Keesha
    05/17/2017 @ 3:30 am

    This is a wonderful post. Good job mom.

  15. Fi Morrison
    05/17/2017 @ 3:30 am

    These are great suggestions, particularly books. I love books because you can start them from a very young age. I have my son engaged with books (he is 9 months, been around them from day dot) and is a great way to build their awareness of the world around them. Thanks for sharing!

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      05/17/2017 @ 12:08 pm

      Wonderful! Your son has a fabulous mama! Keep up the good work with reading!

  16. Luci
    05/16/2017 @ 6:12 pm

    When I’m looking for another book to read after I’m done with the ones that I already have, I am going to check out one of these for sure.

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      05/16/2017 @ 7:05 pm

      Wonderful Luci! Let me know how you enjoy them!!

  17. Sarah
    05/16/2017 @ 10:03 am

    I’ve seen quite a few of your posts now and I just love them all! It’s so important that we read to our children, and equally as important WHAT we read to them. Great post!

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      05/16/2017 @ 10:10 am

      Thanks Sarah! That is so wonderful to have you check out many of my blogs. I really appreciate the feedback. I feel with children. literature is like food. You want to consume only the best! Cheers!!

  18. Heather
    05/15/2017 @ 11:31 pm

    I love this. Children watch parents and that’s their greatest influence.

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      05/15/2017 @ 11:43 pm

      It’s both a great advantage and a heavy responsibility right? Thanks for commenting!

  19. Hannah E
    05/15/2017 @ 10:27 pm

    My daughter is a book FANATIC! It didn’t happen overnight though. Thank you for the wonderful read.

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      05/15/2017 @ 11:42 pm

      Agreed. Putting in the work is tough sometimes. I just want my 6 year old to go to bed quickly sometimes. But the payoff, oh my. Thanks for reading!!

  20. Selma Bacevac
    05/15/2017 @ 10:19 pm

    As a tri-lingual adult who learned all three languages before the age of 13, I have to say that I feel honored to be able to navigate the world the way I do. When we plan trips or when friends/family are planning trips away from home I am their go to person. Also, there are awesome studies to show that kids who speak more than one language and travel well, tend to develop a higher level of intelligence and social skills. Great read – thank you!

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      05/15/2017 @ 11:45 pm

      Amazing!! I think the advantages multilingual adults have are absolutely AMAZING. Languages are tough for me who started at age 13 but that doesn’t slow me down from giving my all. My kids have better accents than I ever will though and I absolutely love it!!:)

  21. Robin
    05/15/2017 @ 6:23 pm

    My kids hate reading. I don’t really make time for it either, so I don’t know how to convince them that it’s important.

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      05/15/2017 @ 6:31 pm

      It’s hard to force it for sure. You can make it fun by starting with comics or magazines or even reading the subtitles on their favorite television show and muting the sound.. baby steps.:)

  22. Tracy Babler
    05/12/2017 @ 3:21 am

    Great book recommendations!

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      05/12/2017 @ 12:20 pm

      Thanks Tracy!! I know you are also an authority on book recommendations so I am excited to use them when our amazing Reading Adventures journal arrives!!

  23. Candace
    05/12/2017 @ 1:40 am

    Books, travel and language skills are things I will be teaching my children from an early age!

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      05/12/2017 @ 1:58 am

      That is awesome Candace!????????

  24. Kimberly Hsieh
    05/11/2017 @ 12:44 am

    Traveling for sure! I love to travel 🙂

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      05/11/2017 @ 1:25 am

      Planes, trains, and automobiles. I will take them all!!????

  25. Sincerely Ophelia
    05/11/2017 @ 12:24 am

    This is very true and good. I think it’s so important to raise globally minded kids. Thank you for sharing.

    XOXO //
    SINCERELY OPHELIA

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      05/11/2017 @ 1:24 am

      Thanks for commenting Ophelia!

  26. Jan
    05/10/2017 @ 7:56 pm

    It’s so important! I was raised reading tons and tons of books and learning about other places! It really makes for more tolerant, well rounded people!

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      05/11/2017 @ 1:24 am

      I am so happy to hear it had such an impact on you. Exposing our kids while they are young lasts for the rest of our lives.

  27. The Darling Diaries
    05/10/2017 @ 7:48 pm

    Agree with all three. Especially in the modern technology world. We have to remember our children still get value from the oldest forms of learning.

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      05/11/2017 @ 1:26 am

      A good old fashioned book is still magical in a world of smart phones, kindles, podcasts, etc. ????????

  28. Mary Leigh
    05/10/2017 @ 6:53 pm

    Excellent post! I also try to read a lot with our little one. It makes a huge difference!

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      05/10/2017 @ 7:05 pm

      Good for you mama! I agree, the difference it makes is worth the effort!

  29. A. Forzani
    05/10/2017 @ 2:35 pm

    This is an excellent article. You hit so many of the priorities for raising culturally aware children who are engaged and interested in the world around them. The wonderful thing about books is that they are available to all who have access to a library. Even those who may not have the resources to travel can learn so much about the world, the people and the cultures around them. Great job!

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      05/10/2017 @ 2:38 pm

      I could not agree more. I am currently trying to write children’s books using my own kids as inspiration to travel the world through books! I am feeling so motivated after receiving feedback like yours! Cheers!

  30. Jeannette
    05/10/2017 @ 2:32 pm

    Such good advice in this article! I started learning French when I was 9, and it’s had an immeasurable impact on my life! Not only did I end up doing a master’s degree in Paris, I became a lifelong lover of all languages.

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      05/10/2017 @ 2:35 pm

      Wow that is incredible! We lived in Mauritania, West Africa the past two years and my French is still embarrassing! I don’t want my kids to struggle like I do. I love that my 6 year old has to translate for me!! Cheers! Thanks for commenting!!

  31. Esmeralda
    05/10/2017 @ 1:48 pm

    This is so good!!! I don’t have kids yet but this was such a helpful post! I love the way you think & I agree!

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      05/10/2017 @ 2:27 pm

      Great feedback! I am blushing over here!! Thanks for the encouragement Esmeralda!

  32. Thena
    05/10/2017 @ 5:10 am

    I love this post! We read so much in our home and would love to travel full time if possible with our children!

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      05/10/2017 @ 7:19 pm

      Me too! It doesn’t matter where the plane is going, I want to be on it!:) Thanks for commenting!

  33. Seppy
    05/10/2017 @ 2:48 am

    LOVE this! Even though I don’t have children yet, I love the idea of coming up with ideas of how to raise globally minded kids – that’s so important for the future!

    Traveling is a big one and exposing them to culture through books and arts is so important. I hope I can become a type of mommy that has time to do stuff like that with them.

    Great blogpost, love how thoughtful it is and what a unique subject!

    http://www.elleisforlove.com

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      05/10/2017 @ 2:50 am

      Thank you for the encouragement! I am excited you found it valuable, even though it’s not applicable now! I really appreciate the feedback!! Cheers!

  34. Jackie
    05/10/2017 @ 2:42 am

    What would my three priorities be for my kids?

    Language – I am already teaching them Spanish along with English

    Crafts – I am a crafty person and I would love for my kids to love the arts

    Books – I’ve always loved books. This would be a great escape for them.

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      05/10/2017 @ 2:48 am

      Those are amazing! I have always wanted to be an artist. My daughter excels and I am always amazed. I was more into sports and did not ever slow down enough to cultivate any talent I might have had. High five to you for helping your kids become multilingual! Thanks for commenting!! Cheers and happy reading!

  35. RM
    05/10/2017 @ 1:19 am

    Love this!!! I love that my kids have a deep love of reading! 🙂

    • Bethany M. Edwards
      05/10/2017 @ 1:26 am

      Well done! You have given your kids a lifelong gift! Thanks for commenting!

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