Teaching Children to Love their Hair

Christine Aldrich is a children's author who recently published her first children’s book, Braiding Crowns of Friendship. It's a story about an African American girl who learns to love her hair, and in doing so she helps to teach others about the beauty in diversity. When Christine wrote the book, she pulled from her own life experiences growing up in a predominantly white school where she didn't see a lot of other children who looked like her. If you’re a parent, then you know that all of the lessons we teach our children are not academic. Some lessons deal with life, self-worth and confidence. Regardless of whether you are raising a boy or a girl teaching your child the proper way to groom their hair is important. Stay tune and listen to this conversation and send us a message to let us know how you’re teaching your children to love their hair.

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Something to Explore:

Did you know that the men in the Afar tribe use cow fat and butter to style and maintain their hair? The Afar people are indigenous to Northeast Africa. They are also ethnic Cushite people. Their curls are obtained with sticks and butter, which helps the hairstyle last for several days, and the cow fat and butter protect their hair from the sun's heat. Learn More.

African Proverb

Wealth is like hair in the nose: it hurts to be separated whether from a little or from a lot. ~ Malagasy Proverb

Word of the Episode

Taiwo means first born in Yoruba. 

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Grown Folks Section: Meet Christina Aldrich who discussed Teaching Children to Love their Hair

Christine Aldrich has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of California, Irvine, and a Master's degree in Counseling from Cal State University, Fullerton. She has worked with low-income families in higher education for over twenty years. For the last six years, Christine has served as the director of the Extended Opportunity Programs and Services and the Cooperative Agencies Resources for Education (EOPS/CARE) at Compton College.

Recently, she decided to write children's books to help educate young African American girls on how to increase their self-esteem, build their confidence, and teach them how to love their skin tone and hair texture. Her mission is to help young girls realize that everyone is unique and  should celebrate who they are because of their wonderful differences.