Meet Xander, the Global Kidizen from the USA!
When we wonder about people and places we don’t know, we learn so much more about our world and ourselves – and just how much we all have in common too.
As the parent of a seven year old, this is one of the most important things I want to teach him.
I want to inspire him and other kids to discover different cultures, embrace others and cultivate a community of belonging for all. I know, first hand, how much my heart has been opened by connecting with others from around the world, and I want to share that experience, through play, with you & your littles.
Like many countries, there are a multitude of cultures and identities in the United States. I want to share why we chose Xander as the first of the Global Kidizens from the US. The inspiration for our brand started in 2015 with a young boy from Houston, named Dane. He closely resembles the current version of Xander...and my son, Matteo. At For Purpose Kids, we believe in embracing lived-experiences, which is why we work closely with development partners for each character. We felt it was important to maintain a connection to our origin story, and also acknowledge the responsibility that we have in raising boys in the United States. With privilege comes responsibility and that is something we take very seriously.
Let’s Meet Xander from the United States and find out what brings him joy!
Hey y’all (Y-awl)! That’s how you say “Hello” where I’m from. My name is Xander (ZAN-der) and I’m 8 years old!
I. LOVE. CELEBRATIONS.
Some other fun things you might like to know about me:
I love playing baseball, my favorite thing to eat is macaroni & cheese, and I love balloons, probably because they remind me of celebrations! Sometimes I feel scared about not being liked, or not fitting in, but when that happens, I think about what I can do to spark joy in someone else, and that usually makes me feel better.
Now that we’ve told you all about Xander, we invite you to share his story with the kids in your life and engage in a conversation with them about what seems similar and what seems different between their lives and Xander’s life. It is in this discussion that we begin to nurture curiosity and wonder in the minds of our children about different cultures around the world, and this lays the foundation for building empathy* at the earliest of ages. Something I think we can agree we need a lot more of in this world.
*For additional tips on building empathy, please don’t forget to grab our FREE DOWNLOAD, 5 Tips to Build Empathy in Kids, available here.
Oh, one more thing! As a special offer for our community, we’d like to offer a free gift to welcome Xander into your home. Use code GLOBALKIDIZENS at checkout for 10% OFF of Xander or any of her friends on our website today!
Our Commitment:
For Purpose Kids is committed to helping kids and families journey through a world of global cultures with diverse characters and imaginative stories that build empathy, connection, and belonging.
Our hand-knit, all natural cotton, fair trade Global Kidizen dolls and stories cultivate wonder and acceptance of others around the world by highlighting similarities and celebrating differences through play and storytelling in a unique and fun way.
