In a culturally rich nation like US, we’re blessed enough to be given the freedom to practice our own differences. Our real challenge as parents, however, is to pass this level of respect to other children so that they will grow up respecting other people’s culture, no matter how different these are to what they have grown up too. As a Christian based school, we believe that your child also needs to recognize that difference doesn’t necessarily mean it’s wrong.
Furthermore, with the right educational foundation and experience, your child can even grow up to be an internationally acclaimed person. Their cultural empathy will be required at this point in their lives. As your partner in providing academic excellence in Illinois, let us share our recommendations on how you can teach your child to be respectful of the differences in their environment:
- Expose them to culturally rich books and online resources
Thankfully, the Internet has given parents the widest resource when it comes to encountering people of different culture. This is a golden opportunity for you to expose your child to these differences. You can read a book about festivals in another country or watch how other children play. These are simple yet powerful ways for your child to have prior knowledge of the rich differences that are in the world they live in. - Invite other families from a different culture to your home
Whether it’s the new family in the neighborhood or your new colleague in the office, it will be healthy for your child to have a personal encounter and interaction with citizens from another country. They get to experience for themselves that there is such kind of difference and yet, getting along is going to be fun and fulfilling. - Initiate a cultural dinner project with the family
This may require for your time, creativity, and yes, cash, but it’s going to be a great investment for their lifelong learning. You can make this your family tradition for each month, and integrate costumes, language, and culture learning. This way, your child can get to research and study about a particular culture, hence, increasing their knowledge. - Nurture an environment of curiosity
The more that your child feels confident that they can get correct and honest answers from their parents, the more that you’re giving them the opportunity to learn deeper and better. Don’t feel embarrassed about questions that your child asks, such as a particular hairstyle, choice of clothing, or manner of speaking. Instead, use this as an opportunity to highlight the reality of difference, and assuring them that this kind of difference is unique and normal in our world.
With a partnership in our non profit organization in Chicago, Illinois at My Excellency, you can also introduce your child to the children we support in Lomé, Togo. This way, they will know that love and respect are similar no matter which country you come from. For your inquiries, contact us.