September—a time when your children are returning to school, meeting new friends and enjoying new experiences—is a perfect time to learn about how
they are the same and how they are different from others around the world. Valuing these similarities and differences is an important step towards teaching tolerance and appreciation for the many cultures with whom we share this planet. You can begin at home by celebrating your child’s own uniqueness.
Think of all the things that make your child who they are: a certain hair color, eye color and skin color, particular likes and dislikes, distinctive personality traits and a name that might depict a certain heritage. Use your child’s fondness for talking and learning about him or herself to build a positive self-image, one in which they are proud of where they came from. The more you speak and act in a positive way regarding your child’s unique qualities, the more likely they will be to accept and appreciate others for their uniqueness as well. Looking at the differences in your own family is a great way to start, because, although you might look a little different or act a little different, you still love each other and share many similarities.
Think of all the things that make your child who they are: a certain hair color, eye color and skin color, particular likes and dislikes, distinctive personality traits and a name that might depict a certain heritage. Use your child’s fondness for talking and learning about him or herself to build a positive self-image, one in which they are proud of where they came from. The more you speak and act in a positive way regarding your child’s unique qualities, the more likely they will be to accept and appreciate others for their uniqueness as well. Looking at the differences in your own family is a great way to start, because, although you might look a little different or act a little different, you still love each other and share many similarities.
One especially important aspect of learning appreciation is culture. Some families are very active in their culture while others might have gradually lost touch with it over the generations. Regardless, all parents can help their child learn to appreciate their heritage by:
- Providing them with a history of where their family came from
- Sharing cultural events, family traditions and celebrations
- Helping Children create a costume form their culture
- Reading Stories from their countries of origin
- Locating where countries are on the map or globe
- Working together to cook a traditional meal
Once you have laid a foundation for your child to appreciate him-or herself, then you can begin to build and appreciation for others. Think of what the world would be like if we all learned at an early age to look at others with an open mind with the intention to discover and share what makes each of us special! All our lives would be enriched!
Join us for our Celebrating Cultures Event! See our Facebook pages for more details!
Discussion Question: How do you celebrate your child's uniqueness and teach them about their heritage?
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