Teaching your child about his family heritage can be a great way to learn history, special cultural traditions and an appreciation for his ancestors. It’s never too early to start sharing this information! We’ve put together some simple ways you can help your child learn about where his family came from.
Build in Traditions
While you’ll likely want to create your own special traditions for your family, you can incorporate cultural traditions into your celebrations as well. Talk to your own living relatives to see if there are any customs specific to your family that you could share. If not, do research to see what is common for people of your heritage. This could include special music, food, dance or other customs. Not only will this help educate, but it can also be something fun and unique for your child to experience.
Look for Events to Attend
Does your city have cultural clubs or groups that host events related to your family heritage? These can be a great way to get your child interested in everything that comes along with being French, German, African American, or whatever ethnicity you may be. Events like this may be even more popular around major holidays. It can also be the perfect opportunity for your child to meet new friends.
Use Entertainment and Interactive Options
Kids love watching movies and reading books, so pop into your local library to see what kind of literature you can pick up on your heritage. You can also use YouTube to find fun videos and search for quizzes, coloring pages and other fun activities that can keep your child entertained while also teaching him about where his family came from.
Teach the Language
If you or your partner speaks another language, start teaching your child this language as well. The earlier he begins learning, the easier it will be for him to pick it up and grow as a bilingual child. Knowing another language is an incredible way to keep your child and your family connected to your heritage. It can also be great down the line if you choose to visit another country where this language is spoken.