Overview:
A group of nearly 50 parents transformed elementary school recess into short, engaging cultural celebrations, fostering belonging, curiosity, and inclusivity among students through hands-on exposure to diverse traditions.
This school year has unfolded during a time when conversations about diversity, immigration, and education seem to be everywhere, leaving a quiet uncertainty about belonging. Many parents and educators are wondering how to continue creating spaces where every child feels seen, safe and like they truly belong.
At my children’s elementary school, an answer began to take shape in the most unexpected place: recess.
What started as a simple idea quickly became something joyful. Nearly 50 parents came together to organize a series of cultural celebrations for students in the most fun and engaging way. These moments unfolded outside during recess, with parent volunteers, craft activities, and music filling the air. It was lively, energizing, and the perfect recess getaway for students.
Students learned salsa steps during Hispanic Heritage Month. They colored rangoli patterns during Diwali and discovered everyday inventions that shape our lives during Black History Month. During Lunar New Year, they received red envelopes. During Ramadan, students added notes of kindness to a growing “tree of kindness.”
And we are only in March.
Each celebration lasted for only a few minutes, but the impact lingers. Children run from lunch toward the activity tables, curious and excited. Through these cheerful moments, diversity becomes something children associate with fun, creativity, and discovery. It forms a special sense of interconnection.
And that is a powerful gift.
A Familiar Idea Revisited
Before my own children were school-aged, I worked as a school counselor at this small independent school known for its commitment to diversity and inclusion. One of the things that stood out most was how parents participated in cultural celebrations with the students.
Families volunteered to share holidays, traditions, and stories from their cultures. The events were simple, sometimes a bulletin board display, and other times cultural gifts or activities –but they created meaningful opportunities for children to learn about one another.
When my children started public school, I hoped they would experience something similar. I wanted them to see the beauty of the many cultures represented among their classmates and feel the excitement of learning about the wider world.
Their school already had a wonderful tradition. Each fall, families organize an International Festival featuring more than twenty countries. Parents host booths and share foods, traditions, and stories from across the globe. It’s a joyful event that brings the whole community together.
For a long time, that felt like enough.
But lately, many of us have felt a renewed urgency to nurture belonging and cultural understanding in our shared spaces. If the world outside sometimes feels divided, our schools can be places where curiosity, kindness, and connection grow stronger.
Why Exposure Matters
Diversity education is simply the practice of helping children understand the many cultures and experiences that make up our world. It is a necessary lesson that counters decades of racism and prejudice that our spaces may unknowingly carry. Each of us has a family story of culture and migration, and diversity education is about honoring everyone’s story.
It encourages curiosity rather than fear of difference.
Research consistently supports this approach. Studies show that when children interact with people from different cultural backgrounds, prejudice decreases and empathy grows. Schools that foster inclusive environments also report lower levels of bullying and stronger feelings of belonging among students.
Developmental research also suggests that exposure to diverse perspectives before age ten plays an especially important role in shaping how children understand others later in life.
And the truth is, American classrooms already reflect incredible diversity. According to the U.S. Census, about one in four students in the United States speaks a language other than English at home. At my children’s elementary school alone, families speak more than eleven languages –and likely even more.
Schools are truly small versions of the wider world –a wonderful place to nurture cultural curiosity.
The Holiday and Heritage Committee
Supporting this kind of learning has always been close to my heart. As a school social worker and educator, I have seen how powerful diversity education can be in helping students feel connected to one another.
When our dedicated PTA president invited me to support a new diversity initiative, I was thrilled to support.
In today’s climate, language around diversity can sometimes feel complicated. So we kept things simple and welcoming. We called our group the Holiday and Heritage Committee.
We began by sending out a flyer and hosting a casual meet-and-greet at a local restaurant. Without realizing it, we were building a community of parents committed to giving our children meaningful cultural learning experiences.
The response was incredible.
Nearly 50 parents volunteered, representing more than ten cultural celebrations throughout the school year. Each parent signed up to help host a holiday or heritage event that felt meaningful to them. Parents were motivated, and hearts were full.
That day, 50 parents in our town made a plan to make a difference.
Starting Something Similar at Your School
The beauty of this model is that it’s simple.
Cultural celebrations at school do not need to be elaborate or time-consuming. Small moments of exposure can spark big curiosity in children.
Here are a few steps that helped us get started:
Identify a coordinator.
A PTA volunteer or staff member can help organize the schedule and communicate with families.
Invite families to participate.
Parents can sign up to host celebrations connected to holidays or cultural traditions they know well, using school guidelines.
Keep activities interactive and age- appropriate.
Simple crafts, music, games, or storytelling work beautifully.
Work with school leadership.
Share plans with the principal or PTA to ensure activities remain inclusive and appropriate for all students.
Welcome additional volunteers.
Many parents are happy to join once they see the events happening.
Most of our activities last only 10-15 minutes during recess, making them easy for schools to support.
Some of our examples include:
- Hispanic Heritage Month: students learned salsa dance steps and started a conga line
- Diwali: students practiced rangoli art and received henna stickers
- Black History Month: students explored everyday inventions like the golf tee and super soaker
- Lunar New Year: children discovered their zodiac animals and practiced calligraphy
- Ramadan: students wrote notes of kindness for a community kindness tree
Parents host their event just once per year, which keeps the commitment manageable and fun.
Small Moments, Big Impact
Although our PTA Holiday and Heritage Committee is still new, the magic is already visible.
My own children enthusiastically demonstrating their new salsa moves.
A curious student pausing to ask what that cool henna sticker represents.
A second grader rushing to the closest table to reach the Ramadan event first.
A third grader proudly sharing that she celebrates Lunar New Year at home too.
Parents stopping our Black History Month volunteers around town to praise the celebration.
Volunteers’ children beaming with pride: “That’s my mama!”
These small moments are where belonging emerges.
Be the Change
This is how change happens –step by step, bit by bit. Maybe it’s our fiercely active PTA, the openness of our school principal, or simply parents showing up. When parents, educators, 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 begin asking, “What’s your family story?”
As Mahatma Gandhi once reminded us, we can be the change we wish to see in the world –and that change can begin right in our schools, even at recess.
Together, we can spark something special in our communities, turning recess into a joyful 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.
