Activity: Planting Seeds of Respect

Learning to appreciate, respect, and understand social diversity is just the beginning of a child's journey to become socially and culturally mature.

Materials:

• small bag of potting soil
• small clay or plastic potting containers
• planting seeds
• tongue depressors or ice cream sticks, paper, marker, and glue for flags

Directions:
Showing others, especially those that might be new or "different," in your neighborhood or circle of friends that you appreciate them just as they are is a great way to build friendships. Help your child show someone new or "different" respect by planting small container(s) with something that will bear fruit or flower with little maintenance. Make a small flag with the wording "New Friends" or "Welcome!" to stick in each planted pot. Accompany your child to share this kind gesture. Afterwards, discuss other ways that you and your child might communicate respect toward someone else new or "different."

Take It Further: Ask you child to share personal thoughts about how others show him/her respect at home and at school. Then use one or all of these ideas to carry this concept farther and to encourage your child to build relationships and show others respect by helping your child to:

• Cook up a delicious batch of cookies to deliver to a new neighbor or friend.
• Invite a new or different friend over to watch Clifford on television or read Clifford books together.

With a Group: Take the ideas of "planting seeds of respect" one step further by planting a community garden that everyone can enjoy. Plan the garden as a group. Make a list of jobs that will need to be done throughout the seasonal growing time, like watering and keeping the garden clean. When the garden is in bloom, have a planting session for everyone to dig up and replant a beautiful plant to give to someone special. Clean the garden and prepare for the next growing season.