This conversation is intended to initiate discussion about the surroundings in which you were raised. The idea is to learn about similarities and differences in which people grew up.

Family Activity

Everyone take turns describing the neighborhood where you grew up.

Describe the houses, apartments, or farms. Were they big or small? Did they house one generation multiple generations of a family?

What were the rules for children in the neighborhood? Where and what did they play? What kind of freedom did they have to roam around the neighborhood? Did the neighborhood feel safe? What sights and smells do you most remember?

What kind of jobs did your neighbors have? What race and religion were most people in your neighborhood? Were most people's race and religion like yours or different from yours? If most people were the same race and religion as you--how did you learn about people of different races and religions?

How do you think your life might be different from people raised in other neighborhoods?

Children’s Activity
Have children draw a picture of their house. Be sure to include trees, pets, and anything else that may define the house. At the bottom of the picture, have them list their 5 favorite things about their neighborhood.