‘Kababayan Kids’ storytelling teaches children about culture, history
Kababayan Kids team; Photo from kababayankids/Instagram
A day away from the digital realm could give kids time to interact with the real world. Good thing Kababayan Kids is returning to the Menlo Park Library in Menlo Park, California, for a day of storytelling.
If you’re in the area and want to inspire your kids with educational activities this weekend, Menlo Park Library at 800 Alma St. is the spot for you.
On Saturday, March 16 from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., the whole family can revel in an hour of fun activities that teach children – from preschoolers to fourth graders – about Philippine language, culture and history.
Not just sitting to listen to Filipino-English stories, your little Filipinx can sing along, learn Filipino words and get artsy with crafts.
If they’re not yet familiar with adobo or mano po, this event can be their lightbulb moment as they learn new words and immerse in Filipino culture.
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“As always, free and for all ages! We’ll sing, we’ll play, and we’ll learn some Tagalog!” announces Kababayan Kids on Instagram. Tagalog meets English in this educational mash-up, offering a fun and unique learning experience.
Also let’s not forget that Tagalog, with its rich blend of origin (Spanish, Malay, Chinese and English), is the fourth most spoken language in California given the large population of Filipinos in the state.
Kababayan Kids was founded by three Vallejo-based Filipina moms, Christine Lucero, Bien-Elize Roque-Nido and Charlene Argate. They met while attending UC San Diego, and coincidentally moved to Vallejo to raise their children.
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While searching for Filipinx activities for their kids, they found that although Vallejo has a large population of Filipinos, there was a lack of activities for their kids. So, they decided to do something about it.
What started as an idea for Tagalog story time has developed into a Tagalog parenting collective that now spans from Vallejo all the way to Canada.
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“We’re excited to meet families just as passionate about Filipinx history, culture, and language,” shared Kababayan Kids on their website.
Spreading Filipino community love, they held a storytelling session at KUBO Long Beach last Feb. 24. In addition, they celebrated Black History Month, sharing stories about Vallejo-based Black Filipina singer H.E.R. from the pages of a book.
They have also curated a treasure trove of inspirational children’s books. Filipino English books like “ANG MGA GUMAPANG_GAPANG: House Bugs and Creepy Crawlies” and JOSE RIZAL: The Great Lives Series” are among the books sold on their website.
This weekend, let the Filipinx of the future set sail on a cultural adventure — all while enjoying Filipino English stories.
