My soon-to-be eight year old is thoroughly immersed in today's "pop" culture. He knows the music, and all that. However, he also can tell you all about King Arthur and Camelot, Robin Hood, Davy Crockett, Daniel Boone and a great-great-great-grandfather who was chief of the eastern band of Cherokees. He loves all that is new and modern, but has a respect for, and interest in the past. He can tell you in a flash what sort of music he's hearing, be it classical, jazz, Irish/English/Scottish folk, African and Native American traditional. I intentionally immersed him in all the things that have enriched my life and sustained me for much of my life. On vacations we have done the Disney World/Busch Gardens and all the other "today" kid stuff. We have also spent time visiting extended family in the mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina. At home we go to county fairs, art institutes, powwows, Highland games, sledding, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, folk music fests, etc. We even attend a Native American winter sport called "snowsnake," when there's enough snow. Anyway, I believe if you are willing to take the time and effort to offer an enriched environment, you (and the kids) will reap the benefits. I worked for years at a private psychiatric hospital, primarily with children and adolescents. Whenever possible, I exposed them to some of the same good stuff. Initially coworkers were positive that our "problem kids" would have no interest in, or use for a visit to the Detroit Institute of Arts or harvest festival at a local farm. However, they soon realized they were wrong. Don't underestimate the "thirst for knowledge." Don't dismiss out of hand the value of passing on values. Sometimes you never know which seeds you sow are going to take root. Whether it's Shakespeare or a state forest, give it as a gift to a child as something that "you might not need this now, but know that it will always be there for you when you do," sort of gift. And if none of it seems to be valued now, know at least that you've given the best of gifts.