In 2020, the world has turned upside down. We have been regulated to our homes for our safety. This situation means most parents have to home school or have your kids in the house more than usual. I know this is driving some parents crazy, but this is an excellent opportunity for first-generation parents. During this time you can teach your culture as another subject. Expose them to what they would have learned if they went to school in your home country. Here are three ways to expose your children to your culture.
1.Read Literature from your country
2.Listen to your cultural music
3.Watch shows from your culture
4.Connect with Family and friends often
Read the Literature from your county
Every culture has Literature from kids’ nursery rhymes to elaborate stories. When everyone is home, now is the best time to tell those cultural stories. Find books online or even the old books you read to give to your kids to read. Make books readily available throughout the house; read to small children regularly; let your kids see you reading for fun; talk about the books you’re reading over dinner. Some parents also have success hosting book clubs at home for older kids and teens, with snacks, games, and discussion around a shared book.
Listen to Cultural Music
Everyone loves music, but your kids more than likely are exposed to the cultural music of the country they live. Singing and music play an essential role in telling your children about your culture. You will find that music exposing them to your culture’s theater, television programs, movies, worship rituals, holidays, celebrations, and government and military ceremonies. Music can become part of our family culture and a natural part of your children’s childhood experiences at home.
Watch shows from your culture.
Parents today have more control over what their children watch and enough options to expand their viewing experience. With several options to choose from local T.V to Netflix, there are various places where you can find shows from your culture. If you can not find any show from your culture on a major outlet, search the internet. Use various times to show them the programs you would watch as a kid or documentaries, which speaks about your country and culture. Some of these shows are good enough that you might form a shared television interest, and, at the very least, we have your next long car trip covered.
Connect with Family and friends often.
Social distancing is a crucial way to slow down the spread of the COVID-19. This situation means you will not see Family and friends who live a reasonable distance from you. Family and friends are one of the best ways to expose your children to your culture. How so, well, when you speak to others from the same background as you, they tens to use natural dialect and references. This interaction allows children to pick up tones and accents better they cold from books or even the television. However, not because you can be physically in front of folks does not mean you can’t still speak or interact with them. You can even spend time with your loved ones via video chats such as FaceTime, Zoom, Google meet, or Skype. Have a virtual coffee date, dinner party, or even a game night. By rethinking the concept of visitation, we can stay socially connected with our loved ones from a distance.
Which ever way you decide to remember your family looks to you to help with guiding them through this time. Relax because you are doing great.
