Culture & imagination

Even before we knew we were going to Kenya, international awareness was an important part of our household. We wanted our children to grow up with eyes and hearts bigger than their immediate surroundings, and we sought to incorporate influences from other countries into our lives in natural ways -- our food, our home, our discussions. Since our kids are still young, that has also meant finding playthings that capture their imagination and spark their curiosity about the world. Some of our recent favorites:

Battat Global Glowball
The kids' uncle gave them this mini globe for Christmas, and it has been a huge hit at our home. The globe lights up and plays tunes and sounds from around the world. While the kids love dancing to the music, it has also served as a handy tool to point out different continents when we answer their world-related questions.

Multicultural books
The Shelfari group above is an amazing resource of multicultural children's lit, and I regularly mine it for additions to our library reading list. We were particularly delighted to discover author Rachel Isadora, who reimagines classic fairy tales from an African standpoint -- a welcome breather from the typical Disney fare. Our favorites: Rapunzel and The Twelve Dancing Princesses. 

Mini-me paper dolls
These printable paper dolls hit so many of my toy criteria: they are customizable, portable, simple, imaginative, affordable, and reproducible. We've been fans of the dolls for years, and I was ecstatic to learn that this year's Outfit of the Month Club will showcase Girls Around the World, starting with an outfit from Korea. (But if I'm being honest, I don't think the artist can ever top this series.)

Other ideas we love:

• We sponsor a little girl with World Vision, which has opened up great conversations about how we can help others around the world.
• A Little Passports subscription will take your child around the world from the comfort of your home.
• International dolls with a message of making a difference -- the Hearts For Hearts Girls have it all.