This new video of kids trying snacks from South Africa is both hilarious and important

Here at Parent24, we love sharing videos of kids, as innocent as they are, exploring and explaining things to the world. Whether it’s in trying coffee for the very first time or explaining and attempting to define what love is, we always find ourselves laughing, and sometimes, even secretly impressed by responses.

• Also read: How to talk to your kids about this crazy little thing called love

HiHo Kids, with over a million subscribers, is a great channel that is great at letting kids try and explain foods from around the world, new toys and gadgets and meeting interesting and different people. They post a new video on their YouTube channel every day. And one of our new favourites has got to be their Kids Try Snacks From South Africa.

• Also read: An anthropologist explains why we love holiday rituals and traditions

The YouTube channel is doing an excellent job of encouraging kids to explore new traditions and cultures. Coming in contact with people and cultures that are different to yours, can help reduce stereotypes. This makes others seem less far away and different, highlighting that we are all more alike than we think.

BJ Epstein writes about the power of diversity in children’s story books, specifically:

“We know that children’s books can act like both mirrors and windows on the world. Mirrors in that they can reflect on children’s own lives, and windows in that they can give children a chance to learn about someone else’s life…

"Along with the increased worries today about immigrants, refugees, and general 'otherness', some societies seem to be headed towards a sense of false nostalgia…

"Given this is not how the world is or should be, we owe it to young readers to show them reality in the books they’re reading. Perhaps then the next generation will be less frightened of the 'other' if they get to meet them and learn about them from an early age.”

• Read more about Epstein’s research here: Why children's books teaching diversity is crucial

Check out more videos of Kids Try below, and watch their reactions to Pakistani, Jamaican and Australian food. From a South African’s point of view, it’s not the same as seeing those reactions to biltong and Peppermint Crisp, but it’s equally pleasing to see.

Have you found a way to introduce your children to other cultures? How have you brought this into their every day routine? And what pure South African foods would you like other cultures to try? Tell us by emailing chatback@parent24.com and we may publish your comments.

Read more:

• Christmas traditions around the world
• WATCH: We could learn a thing or two from the way these kids see difference
• These Zarpies: avoiding stereotypes when talking to kids

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