Children are not born having an understanding of culture and diversity, so it’s necessary to teach them about these subjects early on in childhood. Even as toddlers, they are exposed to people of different cultural backgrounds, making it all the more important to help them gain a better understanding of themselves and the people around them. By supporting kids in exploring their cultural identity, you can help them feel safe and comfortable with their own culture, as well as that of others.

Here we look at the ways you can teach young kids about diversity and the importance of developing cultural awareness:

Use helpful resources
One of the simplest ways you can instill an understanding of racial identity in your child is to choose learning materials that introduce the subject. Multicultural flashcards are a great example of teaching materials that help kids learn new words, while allowing them to recognize different cultures through images. Seeing their culture represented in educational materials can give kids a sense of identity, so it’s a good idea to use them in the early learning phase.

Showing videos that break down the subject of diversity is also helpful in making young learners understand this rather difficult concept. You can also use books that highlight the beauty of uniqueness and discuss respect and inclusivity in an age-appropriate manner.

Discuss differences in culture
As kids grow and start to form their own opinion about themselves and other people, it becomes crucial to guide them so that they learn to appreciate their cultural background, and the traits that are unique to them. When talking with kids about this subject, it’s best to welcome any questions they may have about differences in appearance and cultural practices.

By having an open discussion about these things, you help heighten their awareness and allow them to further their learning. The goal is for kids to have a basic understanding of things related to culture, so they are equipped with the right knowledge to practice inclusive language and behaviours as they grow.

Support learning
At the age of 3, children start to become grounded in the language, behavior, and rules of their family members and teachers. It is also at this age that they start to develop curiosity about physical characteristics of people of different racial backgrounds.

Because kids at this age have limited capacity to process information regarding differences in skin color and complexities of group categories, it is our job as parents to be supportive of their exploration and identity development. If there is something they are confused about regarding the subject, you can make use of everyday experiences to teach them about it in a way they can easily understand. Ask them questions, be patient in answering theirs, and encourage them to appreciate their individual culture.

Engage in activities that help in their learning process
Kids are big on playing and having fun, so why not make it an enjoyable learning experience for them? Make scrapbooks that tell stories of what your family loves doing together as part of a tradition, or create a family tree and awaken your kid’s curiosity in their family ties. The important thing is to do activities that will encourage your child to find out more about their cultural background.

Helping kids embrace diversity is another goal to keep in mind. To support them in this regard, you can introduce activities that teach them about the differences in race, traditions, gender, and language. An activity that involves saying greetings in different languages should be fun for kids. You can also let them try different cuisines and tell them something interesting about those, like where the cuisines originated from and where they are most popular.

Don’t forget about music
Kids are naturally drawn to music. They may dance to some old beats or pretend like they’re blowing into a saxophone while you play some of your favorite tunes. And since we are going beyond the textbook to teach kids about their cultural identity, what better way to make things engaging for them than through music.

Let your child listen to some music and share trivias about the roots and influences of certain musical genres. Introduce songs that are unique to your cultural background, and that are played only on special occasions and festivals. This can give your child the feeling of belonging to a group of people who share the same beliefs, practices, and traditions.