How to give your child an edge in a global America.

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Choosing the Right School for Your Child

As the political landscape of America catches up with the lives of the everyday person, many American children still view the world in terms of "us and them." The truth of the matter is, unless our children learn to understand other cultures the way that we are understood by the rest of the world, our children will be at a disadvantage.

Hosting an exchange student in your home is a great way to expose your children to other cultures in a safe and loving enviornment. I found a young lady who has helped many families signup to host an exchange student. Host families receive compensation while helping their own children learn about other cultures through hosting an exchange student.

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These students are often called "au pairs," and you can generically "Google" au pairs to get more information. Keep in mind, au pairs are not babysitters, as they are here to "learn about America."

In addition, if you feel comfortable sending your children to another country for a short or extended period of time, you can "Google" exchange student information. This is a great way for kids to learn and experience other cultures and languages. I was an exchange student during the summer between my junior and senior year of high school, and it was a great once-in-a-lifetime experience. Going during the summer doesn't require your child to know the language of that country, but certainly would be helpful. If your child goes during the school year, they will need to know the language fluently.

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