Culturally Diverse Parenting
Amy and Joe are madly in love with their baby daughter. They are full of dreams and aspirations for their daughter who they plan to raise in a traditional, two parent household. Joe is a 5th generation Californian with ancestors from Ireland and Germany. Amy is a third generation Japanese-American. Amy and Joe want their little girl to appreciate both of their cultures. Raising their daughter to enjoy a rich cross-cultural heritage can be enhanced when considering the following:
- Both parents consciously try to learn as much as possible about each other’s cultural and lifestyle experiences.
- Parents can learn about each other’s family history by sharing photo albums, family heirlooms, and personal childhood keepsakes.
- When a family member dies, it is important to capture the essence of their life with accomplishments, songs, and mementos.
- It is helpful to retrace your family history through internet and library searches.
- Cultural festivals and local cultural events help families experience their cultural backgrounds together.
- Families should plan to travel to their ancestors’ homelands to learn more about their culture.
- Some children benefit from learning a language spoken by their grandparents or other forbearers.
- Children may attend a culturally focused preschool, elementary school, Saturday school, or summer school camp.
- Parents should encourage their children to participate in the Rotary Club Cultural Exchange Program, school cultural exchange programs, sister city programs, and church or service learning cultural exchange programs.
Happy cultural experiences with your family!
Joyce
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