Colombian Culture, Colombia Adoption and Raising Colombian Kids

Colombian kids love to play "Tag" or "Touched You Last," just like kids here in the U.S. do. While we say, "Tag" or "You're It", Colombian kids will say, "La Lleva" (pronounced: Lah YEAH vah). It literally means YOU TAKE IT. While Colombianitos may not recognize the various versions of the game I have played (freeze, nerd, elbow, sticky, etc.). Many like to play the "Touched You Last" version. For those of you adopting preschoolers to older children, perhaps you might enjoy a good game of LA LLEVA. If you play, let me know how it goes.

You want your child to hold your hand while walking down the street. This is not always an easy task. So, you may want to try using this great Colombian rhyme. You chant it while linking arms and skipping. The words are as follows: Dos Caballitos de dos en dos (Two little horses two by two) Alzan las patas y dicen adiós ( Lift up their legs and say goodbye) Adiós Mamá, Adiós Papá, (Goodbye Mamá, goodbye papa) me voy para Bogotá. (I am headed for Bogotá)

This is a very common song, often sung through out the Spanish speaking world. You can play a "Duck Duck Goose" type game while singing this song. There are a few variations -- typically who the singer wants to marry -- be it a widow from the capital ( viudita de la capital) or a young woman from the capital ( señorita de la capital) or even an old woman from the capital ( viejita de la capital). The song that you can listen to below uses the young woman. There are also variations as to the things the woman knows how to do. The fact that she knows how to sew and embroider is pretty universal, however, the last thing listed has multiple versions. Here are the lyrics for the song that you can click on below: Arroz con leche Rice pudding Me quiero casar I want to get married Con una señorita To a young single woman de la capital From the capital Que sepa coser That knows how to sew Que sepa bordar That knows how to embroider Que sepa abrir la puerta T...

In this game, you need several people (6-10) about 3 years and older. Before the game begins you pick 2 children to be the "bridge". Then, these two children each secretly decide what color or fruit or animal they want to be. To make it simple let's use colors -- one child picks blue the other green -- the two children know each other's color, but the rest of the group should not know the colors. You are ready to begin the game. The two bridge children hold hands and raise them up to form a bridge. The other children stand in a straight line ready to go under the bridge. Then you begin singing the following song and the children pass under the bridge then run around to get in line again. The kids continue to pass under the bridge until the last line of the song. El puente está quebrado. (The bridge is broken) Con que lo curaremos? (How will we fix it?) Con casacara de huevo (With egg shells) Burritos al potrero (Donkeys to the pasture) Que pase el rey (Let the Ki...

There is a little saying that most Colombian children learn. It is called El Mico Tití . Most Colombian kids know this saying and often adults will call their children a " Mico " or a " Mico Tití " as a term of endearment. I could not possibly count the times my husband has called our boys MICOS or MICOS TITÍ . Now, here is your chance to learn the saying too: El mico tití (The Cotton Top Tamarin ) paso por aquí , (passed by here,) comiendo maní . (eating peanuts.) A todos les dio (He gave some to everyone) menos a mi. (except me.) In reality, there are several different kinds of Mico Titís . First, is the Mico Tití Melena , known in English as the Cotton Top Tamarin ( Saguinus oedipus ). Next, is the Mico Tití Gris, known in English as the White-footed Tamarin ( Saguinus leucopus ). In fact, in Central and South America there are 21 different kinds of Micos Tití or Tamarins of the Saguinus Genus. But, the Mico Tití Melena and Gris ...

So, your little one falls and scrapes a knee or bangs his head. What do you do? What do you say? Ahh! During the hugs and kisses you can repeat this little rhyme. Sana que sana (Heal, heal) Colita de rana (Little frog tail) Si no sanas hoy, (If you don’t heal today,) sanarás mañana (you will heal tommorrow) Si no dentro de una semana. (If not, within a week) French translation: Guéris, guéris Petite queue de grenouille Si aujourd'hui tu ne guéris pas Demain tu guériras.

AL PINOCHAZO -- In Colombia, this is how randomness is introduced into a selection process in order to make it fair. For instance, when Colombian kids want to decide who gets to go first in a game, they might use this riddle. Here is how it works. One person would point to each participant, say a few syllables of the riddle, then move to the next participant while saying a few more syllables. When the riddle ends with word TÚ (you) that person is selected, or is IT, or wins, or loses as the case may be. When the riddle is said rapidly in Spanish, the moving from person to person ocurs quite naturally. While there may be some minor variations, this riddle is widespread and well known in Colombia. Indeed, in some parts of the country the expression “al pinochaso” often offers an answer to the question of how someone made a certain decision, or how someone was selected for a position or how someone was chosen to receive a privilege (or a punishment!). Thus, it has come to mean that the ...

In all countries, there are traditional children's games. Here in the U.S., what child doesn't know the words to Ring Around the Rosie? Who hasn't, at some point, joined hands with family or friends and sung the words and then laughing fallen down? Guess what? Colombia has it's own version of Ring Around the Rosie! It is called, "A la Rueda Rueda." Now, I know that this is familiar in Venezuela and Spain, but the versions that I have heard from both countries are slightly different from the Colombian version I have learned. So, I now share with you the words, and below -- a video of the song and actions. A la rueda rueda, (All around the circle) de pan y canela, (of bread and cinnamon) dame un besito (give me a little kiss) vete pa' la escuela, (take yourself to school) si no quieres ir, (if you don't want to go) acuéstate a dormir. (lie down and go to sleep). Inevitably, there is a chorus of "Otra Vez" (one more time) or "Más...