Modern living is important in the terms of technological development and educational benefit but when it comes to raising a child, teaching them about our culture and heritage is an absolute necessity. Children who are aware of their cultural heritage are more likely to respect diversity and different ethnicity. Other than being respectful, learning about the cultural heritage would provide your child with a sense of belonging and it would help them develop a unique identity for themselves. In addition to the benefits to your child, introducing them to your cultural heritage would ensure that your traditions are carried forward into the next generation and would not be lost with time.
Here are some simple ways you can teach your children the importance of cultural heritage:
Incorporate Cultural Traditions
Whether you have first-hand knowledge about your family’s cultural lineage or must go back to preceding generations, you can still integrate some prominent traditions for your family today. Explore your family’s cultural origins and discover what practices might match your family’s lifestyle. It could be celebrating the country’s/ state’s most famous festival or including customs into holidays that you already celebrate. Or assign one day to immerse your family into your chosen cultural activity, serving the festive food, speaking in your native language (if appropriate and possible), or watching movies from the same domain.
Include the Language
Parents who have migrated from different countries and states are likely to be already teaching their children their native language and dialect. But, usually, kids in later generations may not learn the language of their relatives. And that could be a loss on a child’s growth, as there are multiple advantages of learning other languages. If you have close relatives in your family who communicate in another language, take advantage of their linguistic abilities.
Scour Through Your Family Tree
Don’t know what your family’s origins are? You can go and check websites to discover your family tree. Even if you had to go back several generations to discover what countries/ states your family came from, it would be fun and educational to acknowledge the cultures and histories of your heritage.
Begin with the Earlier Generations
Earlier generations can be a great source for your child to learn about your cultural heritage. Grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, and uncles who are originally from other parts of the country can offer insight and great lengths of information about your native place. Make your children spend time and interview these relatives, asking questions about where they grew up, the types of foods they consumed, traditions they practiced, activities they performed together, and the holidays they celebrated. Discuss which of these traditions your family might be able to carry forward into the next generation.
Enlighten through Books and Movies
A plethora of books is available to teach kids about other states. Read aloud these books to your younger kids and incorporate books with characters from states of your family’s heritage and encourage your teenagers to choose books that describe your culture and history. You can also arrange a family movie night featuring a movie that takes place in that part of the country, and then communicate the differences and similarities when compared to your hometown.
Carrying forward our cultural heritage through our children is a way to take pride in our culture and to ensure our practices would be carried over time. With ever-changing dynamics and the introduction of new practices around the world, this practice will keep our traditions tact and safe.