We live in a world filled with diversity. Everyone is different and it’s vital that we teach our children to respect this fact from a young age. It is more than likely that some of their classmates in school will have varying cultural, social and religious backgrounds, so our children need to understand and learn how to respect and celebrate these differences. Ignorance is often the root cause of disrespectful behaviour towards people who are different, so the best thing you can do as a parent is teach your children about other cultures. Here’s some advice from an independent school in Hertfordshire.
Celebrate religious holidays
A great place to start on your journey to teaching your children about other cultures is to explore the various different celebrations and religious holidays around the world. Invest in a calendar and mark out things like Chinese New Year, Eid, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Diwali, Easter and any of the other important events throughout the year. Carry out some research into the traditional ways that people usually celebrate these events and potentially have your own little party. This will be educational as well as enjoyable.
Cook meals from around the world
Food is another great way to expand your child’s awareness of different cultures because other countries typically eat different types of traditional meals. Use this as an opportunity to cook with your child using various different ingredients and learn how to serve and eat these meals using alternative utensils, like chopsticks, for instance.
Read books
Reading is a less messy option than cooking a meal but is as equally educational because it will allow your child to transport to any part of the world without leaving the comfort of their home. Take a trip to the library with your son or daughter and let them pick out some books that the two of you can read together. Ask them questions about the characters and consider any cultural differences or similarities.
Be a good role model
When teaching your kids life lessons such as respecting other cultures, it’s important that you do the same otherwise they won’t take you seriously. With this in mind, you should always show respect to others despite their differences and refrain from making stereotypical or racist comments. Even if you’re just trying to make a joke, your child might think its acceptable behaviour. You should also encourage your child to ask questions and use it as an opportunity to explore the answers together.