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Home School Mom Creates Multicultural Educational Products That Celebrate Differences

© Jennifer James

It's no secret. Mothers will go to extraordinary lengths to ensure that their children are happy in today's world. As best they can mothers shield their little ones from the negativity that adults are all too aware of.

Needless to say, it is troubling when the bad aspects of society taint one's child despite all efforts. It happens to children everyday, but it is a rare occasion when a parent takes their child's negative experience and blossoms it into something that benefits all.

Monica Morgan-Simmons, a stay-at-home mother and founder of Gumbo Kids, did just that. When her daughter, then three, was told by a classmate that she wouldn't play with her because of her brown skin, Morgan-Simmons's maternal instincts went into full gear. "I felt that I could make this a positive thing", said Morgan-Simmons. "I wanted to let my daughter know that she was special."

Drawing off of the dearth of multicultural material on the market and a strong desire to show that all children are special, Gumbo Kids, a multicultural educational company specializing in children's learning tools, was born. "Everyone thought I was crazy", states Morgan-Simmons, but I'm a mom and I know what inspires my child."

Armed with an idea, motivation and the desire to create educational products that reflect all races of children, Morgan-Simmons set off to build a product line that filled the multicultural needs of today's families and schools. With the help of her sister and long-time friend, the Gumbo Kids Company was launched in February 2002. Now, nearly two years later, Gumbo Kids products are in the homes of countless families across the country.

For parents who are looking for educational tools that celebrate their children's unique heritage, Gumbo Kids provides products based on an endearing community of eight diverse children in the Gumbo Kids line. From Izzy, an African-American little girl who loves to sing and dance to Raji, an Indian boy who likes to take pictures, Gumbo Kids boasts a diverse cast of special characters sure to appeal to all children regardless of racial identity.

The Gumbo Kids Company product line includes number flash cards in English and Spanish, an ABC practice pad, decals, as well as a writing tablet among a host of other products.The Gumbo Kids first easy reader and workbook will also be published in the coming months. Gumbo Kids products are sold both online (www.gumbokids.com) and in retail outlets such as select bookstores, the Children's Museum of The African-American Museum in Dallas