Petra’s Planet gives Top 10 Ideas for Children on How to Explore Different Cultures

June 22, 2012 - PRLog -- According to research conducted by the Visit Birmingham campaign, a fifth of parents believe that children learn everything they need to know about culture and history at school. It was also reported that today’s children are more likely to think of ‘culture’ as modern technology and fast food restaurants.

With this in mind, Petra’s Planet http://www.petrasplanet.com/ the new Virtual World aimed at children between 6 and 11 years, has compiled 10 Top ideas for children to explore different cultures, using a variety of activities and learning tools which are free to use and fun! These ideas have been integrated into Petra’s Planet which is uniquely produced to reflect a fun Virtual World filled with diverse cultures.

Tomi Heinonen, CEO of Dramaforum, the company behind Petra’s Planet said: “It is so important in a multi-cultural world to educate our young children about other cultures. Petra’s Planet is a Virtual World that offers a culture based platform where children can communicate with other children in different countries, in a completely safe environment.”

Petra’s Planet is a Virtual World for children which only uses safe chat; a communication tool involving scripted speech chat trees, making this form of social networking safe and secure for children using the site. The Virtual World provides a Parents Section where parents can find out further information. This section also offers them the opportunity to communicate directly with the Petra’s Planet team if they have any comments and feedback or queries’; again ensuring that parents feel their child is safe whilst playing Petra’s Planet.

Top Tips:
1.Get your children interested in the different foods available from around the world, whether that is Chinese takeaways, having fun making homemade Sami Pancakes or Mediterranean couscous.

2.Integrate with new people that are from a different cultural background to yourself and ask them questions about their culture as well as talk to them about your own.

3.Take a day trip as a family to different cultural markets and festivals to get a real feel for the atmosphere.

4.Get together one evening a week as a family to learn a new way to say the basic, ‘hello’, ‘goodbye’, ‘thank you’, ‘my name is’ in a different language. Also get your kids to have a look at the different writing techniques and symbols used in different cultures, e.g. Hindu and Arabic. It’s great fun learning new ways to spell your name!

5.Experience different music from other cultures like Gospel, Bhangra music, Yoik and Djembe drumming; you might be pleasantly surprised. You can experience many of these music types in the Petra’s Planet Virtual World.

6.Sit with your children one rainy day and look at a big map of the world. Kids may ask questions that you are unsure of; the internet can always help you here. This way you AND your children are learning something new and interesting.

7.Get involved in some charitable work with your children that support the more deprived areas from around the world. This way your children will appreciate what they have and enlighten them to help others as well as learn about other cultures.

8.Kids love to be active so get them involved in a new sporting or dance activity which has derived from another country like Thai Chi and Kung Fu, Belly Dancing and African Dancing.

9.Explore different animals and where they live in the world as well as what they like to eat and drink. It’s also important to express which animals are rare and protected. Kids love to draw, so this is something they can do whilst researching animals from around the world.

10.Make your children aware of other celebrations that take place around the world, by reading stories from other countries. These celebrations could be Diwali, Hanukah, Chinese New Year and Patti Pongal – a Sri Lankan Festival.


Editor’s Notes

Petra’s Planet

Petra’s Planet was created by Dramaforum Oy, a Finnish media company specialising in children’s products.

The virtual world has been inspired by Eevamaria Halttunen’s book series with the same title and based on the adventures of seven year old Petra who finds a way to travel around the globe. The virtual world continues the theme of curiosity, safety and adventure.  

The team are passionate about valuing childhood, partnering with UNICEF in Finland, and keeping Petra’s Planet as commercially free as possible.

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