Overview:
A group of nearly 50 parents turned elementary school recess into short, engaging cultural celebrations, encouraging presence, curiosity, and inclusion among students through hands-on exposure to diverse cultures.
This school year took place during a time when conversations about diversity, immigration, and education seemed to be everywhere, leaving a quiet uncertainty about belonging. Many parents and teachers wonder how they can continue to create environments where every child feels seen, safe and truly belongs.
In my children’s elementary school, the answer began to form in an unexpected place: recess.
What started as a simple idea quickly turned into something exciting. Around 50 parents came together to organize a series of cultural celebrations for the students in a fun and engaging way. These sessions take place outside during recess, with parent volunteers, crafts, and music filling the air. It was fun, energizing, and a great opportunity for students to relax.
Students learned salsa steps during Hispanic Heritage Month. They color rangoli patterns during Diwali and discover everyday inventions that shape our lives during Black History Month. During the Lunar New Year, they received red envelopes. During Ramadan, students add notes of kindness to the growing “kindness tree”.
And it’s only March.
Each celebration lasted only a few minutes, but the impact still lingers. Children run from lunch to work tables, curious and excited. During these exciting times, diversity becomes something children associate with fun, creativity, and discovery. Create a special sense of connection.
And that is a powerful gift.
The General Idea Revisited
Before my own children were of school age, I worked as a school counselor at this small private school known for its commitment to diversity and inclusion. One of the highlights is the way parents participated in cultural celebrations with students.
Families are dedicated to sharing the holidays, traditions, and stories of their culture. The events were simple, sometimes a bulletin board display, and sometimes gifts or cultural activities – but they created meaningful opportunities for children to learn about each other.
When my children started public school, I hoped they would face the same situation. I wanted them to see the beauty of the many cultures represented among their classmates and feel the joy of learning about a wider world.
Their school had a wonderful tradition. Each fall, families organize an International Festival that brings together more than twenty countries. Parents host booths and share food, culture, and stories from around the world. It is a fun event that brings the whole community together.
For a long time that felt good enough.
But recently, many of us have felt a new need to increase cultural understanding in the areas we share. If the world outside sometimes feels divided, our schools can be places where curiosity, kindness, and connection grow stronger.
Why Exposure Matters
Multicultural education is simply a practice of helping children understand the many cultures and experiences that make up our world. It is a necessary lesson that resists the decades of racism and prejudice that our places may unknowingly carry. Each of us has a family story of culture and migration, and diversity education is about respecting everyone’s story.
It encourages curiosity rather than fear of difference.
Research consistently supports this approach. Research shows that when children interact with people from different cultural backgrounds, prejudice decreases and empathy increases. Schools that foster inclusive environments also report lower levels of bullying and stronger feelings of belonging.
Developmental research also suggests that exposure to different perspectives before the age of ten plays a very important role in shaping how children understand others later in life.
And the truth is, America’s classrooms already show incredible diversity. According to the US Census, about one in four students in the United States speaks a language other than English at home. In my children’s primary school alone, families speak more than eleven languages – and probably more.
Schools are truly miniature versions of the wider world – a great place to nurture cultural curiosity.
Holidays and Heritage Committee
Supporting this kind of learning has always been close to my heart. As a social worker and school teacher, I have seen how powerful a diverse education can be in helping students feel connected to one another.
When our dedicated PTA president invited me to support the new diversity program, I was more than happy to support.
In today’s climate, the language around diversity can sometimes feel complicated. So we kept things simple and welcoming. We called our group the Holidays and Heritage Committee.
We started by posting a flyer and hosting a meet and greet at a local restaurant. Without realizing it, we are creating a community of parents who are committed to providing our children with meaningful cultural learning experiences.
The response was unbelievable.
About 50 parent volunteers, representing more than ten cultural celebrations during the school year. Each parent signed up to help host a holiday or heritage event that felt important to them. The parents were encouraged, and their hearts were full.
On that day, 50 parents in our town made a plan to make a difference.
Getting the Same Start at Your School
The beauty of this model is that it is simple.
Cultural celebrations at school do not need to be elaborate or time-consuming. Small exposure times can spark great curiosity in children.
Here are a few steps that helped us get started:
Identify the coordinator.
A PTA volunteer or staff member can help organize the program and communicate with families.
Invite families to participate.
Parents can sign up to host celebrations linked to holidays or cultural traditions they are familiar with, using the school’s guidelines.
Keep activities interactive and age appropriate.
Simple crafts, music, games, or storytelling work well.
Work with school leadership.
Share plans with the principal or PTA to ensure that activities remain consistent and appropriate for all students.
We welcome more volunteers.
Many parents are happy to join in when they see events happening.
Most of our activities only take 10-15 minutes during recess, making it easy for schools to support themselves.
Some of our examples include:
- Hispanic Heritage Month: students learn salsa dance steps and start a conga line
- Diwali: students make rangoli art and get henna stickers
- Black History Month: students tested everyday inventions such as the golf tee and the super soaker
- Lunar New Year: the children found their zodiac animals and did calligraphy
- Ramadan: students write notes of kindness on the community kindness tree
Parents hold their own event once a year, which keeps the commitment manageable and fun.
Small Times, Big Impact
Although our PTA Holidays and Heritage Committee is still new, the magic is already visible.
My kids are enthusiastically showing off their new salsa moves.
A curious reader pauses to ask what that cool henna sticker represents.
A second grader rushing to the nearest table to get to the Ramadan event first.
The third grader proudly shares that he is celebrating the Lunar New Year at home as well.
Parents stationed our Black History Month volunteers around town to celebrate the celebration.
Children of volunteers are proud: “This is my mother!”
These small moments are where discovery comes from.
Be the Change
This is how change happens – step by step, little by little. Maybe it’s our very active PTA, the openness of our school principal, or our proactive parents. When parents, teachers, and communities come together with curiosity and compassion, something powerful happens.
Children begin to see the world through a wider lens. Instead of asking, “Where are you from?” they began to ask, “What is the story of your family?”
As Mahatma Gandhi once reminded us, we can be the change we wish to see in the world – and that change can start right in our schools, even during recess.
Together, we can spark something special in our communities, turning the break into a fun celebration of culture, curiosity, and connection. By investing in our schools and showing up for our communities, we are shaping not only the experiences of our children today, but the leaders—and the world—of tomorrow.
Yes, we can change the world for our next generation and yes, your school can too.
