Each month, this series introduces fun and impactful healthy habits to help families with kids and teens prioritize physical, mental and spiritual well being – fostering a lifestyle of shared growth and lifelong wellness. Healthy habits built together are the ones that last a lifetime.
Our world is more connected than ever before and, with so much visibility to the world, it’s a true gift to help our children appreciate life beyond their own lived experiences. Anyone who has spent time around children knows how curious they are about people who don’t look, sound or do things differently than themselves. While their curiosity may sometimes spark discomfort in the idea of singling out someone with differences, it can instead be a powerful doorway to appreciating other cultures.
Why Cultural Appreciation Matters Long Term
Our children are growing up with rich diversity around them! When children learn to respect and appreciate different cultures from an early age, it shapes how they view the world even as teens and adults. As parents and caregivers, we have an opportunity and responsibility not to teach “tolerance” but to raise humans with interest and respect for the many cultures that make up our communities. Creating open dialogue and visibility to these cultures outside our own brings kids up with bigger hearts, kinder perspectives and more inclusive world views.
How to Create Intentional Exposure to Other Cultures
Studies have shown that early exposure to diverse cultures and experiences help children develop increased social and emotional intelligence, stronger problem solving and richer critical thinking skills. Attending events rooted in different cultures such as a Diwali celebration or Passover dinner with friends can give them respect and understanding as well as spark interest in new things. Many adults who have prioritized travel, learning world languages, enjoy international cuisine and more were once children who were given opportunities to appreciate how others live, believe, eat, dress and celebrate.
Simple Ways to Get Started
Here are a few ideas on how to incorporate culturally diverse experiences as a family.
#1 Explore the World Through Food
Some families wait for travel to open the door to try new foods, but a simple trip to the international aisle at your local grocery store works just fine! Plan a themed dinner around a country or culture you’re learning about or watched in a movie this month. Try recipes from friends or online or head to a new restaurant to try foods together.
#2 Make Diverse Media Part of Your Routine
Open up interesting and inclusive conversations with your kids by including books, documentaries and even cartoons and movies from other countries and cultures. Encourage questions and curiosity, being open to answering what you can and together finding out any answers that you don’t know.
#3 Attend Local Cultural Events
You can find family friendly events in your community that are centered around music, food, dancing, art and traditions from other cultures. You can find events online or in your local newspaper with everything from Juneteenth celebrations, Lunar New Year festivals, Greek or Spanish food festivals and more!
Creating Practices That Last a Lifetime
How our children treat others begins with what we model in our home. When we thread cultural appreciation into the natural parts of life, we raise kind, curious, globally minded humans who are ready to thrive in a diverse world!
